Front Spring Help suggestions

Got a 79 camaro front clip welded on my 55 chevy truck and i was wondering about springs and dampers(shock absorbers). i just did the rebuild kit for my tie rods and all the bushings and whatnot. i also just finishes the TCI rear leaf under the axle conversion which supposedly lowers the rear approx 4". so my question is anyone know what the stock spring and damper ride height will be? i dont have either of those and dont want to waste money on stock springs or dampers if they are going to make the front end sit up too high. i'd prefer it to be level with the rear if not a tiny drop in the front. I'm new to this but i see you can order the springs stock, or up to a 1 1/2 inch drop which i'm assuming the dampers need to be ordered accordingly to the drop of the springs? or do you go stock springs and dampers and need drop spindles to accommodate the height i'm looking for? if stock springs and dampers will put me level to my rear i'm good to go, but like i said i dont want to go purchase them and the install and they be way to tall.

 

im not an expert on these but i put a tci front end on my truck and their springs are to tall. i just plan on cutting them. or getting drop spindles. ive done spindles before and i love the outcome.

but usualy i just cut a little off the spring to get what im looking for.

 

any way to determine what spring is needed. i got my 55 chevy truck frame with the camaro/firebird clip already welded in, and powder coated black. i went to a pick yard and pulled the control arms off a 79 firebird and got the whole rebuild kit with the drag link from ricks camaros. didnt grab the springs from that car. went to the auto parts shop to get some stock springs and they asked for motor size and if it has A/C or not. different part numbers for every motor and whether or not they had A/C. Are the diameters of the coils or the heights different based on all of these motors? all the springs need to be ordered since none of the local shops have any of them, so i'm trying to figure out if i need to order springs for a V8, V6, with or without A/C. any way to determine? i just blasted the upper and lower control arms so the part numbers are easily visible if that helps to determine what needs to be ordered.

 

well im not sure but i would assume they want to know for weight. im assuming the A/C would be heavier and as the engines are different weights as well.im sure the more options you tell them the harder the spring will be to compensate for the weight.

i would try stock springs and just cut them in small amounts to get youre desired ride hight.

 

problem is stock for what motor? the first thing they ask is what size motor and then they ask if it has AC or not. i wouldnt be able to tell you if the clip welded in my frame came from a car with a 250 L6, a 305 V8, or a 350 V8. if what you are saying is correct, and all springs are the same diameter, the stiffness and height would graduate from 250 w/o AC all the way up to 350 w/ AC since those options would get heavier and heavier as you went up in size. since i'm running the 235 motor from the 55 truck, im assuming the weight will be closer to the 250 L6 so maybe it would be the best choice? might help it to ride a bit lower if its a little less stiff?

 

I have the same setup, i have not changed my springs yet, but have been told firebird 6 cylinder springs are about right. also ck out eaton springs, they will work with you to get what you need

 

I just went thru this on a 55 dodge pu with 76 camaro sub. if you use small block spring with a small block motor your lower a arms should be parallel to ground under full weight of truck.
mark

 

thanks guys. ill look into eaton and ill go with the small block springs. at least i have a good starting point, now just have to order and install. gotta get this thing rolling so i can get it to the body shop to mount the freshly painted cab.

 

I've done quite a few of the dreaded Camaro subframe swaps over the years, including 2 on my own cars.
There is no answer to your question.
I appreciate your trying to get the exact right spring for your application, but there really is no telling.
Any time you do a subframe swap, there are a few ways (or positions) you can attach the sub to the OEM frame. Depending on where you attach them, or how high or low you make the graft, can determine ride height.
Aso, in my experience, when I place the engin in, after the swap, it inevitably winds up being 4-8 in. farther back that on the Camaro frame. so now you heave a different weight bias, so again, ride height will be different.
So you cannot predict what spring will do what in your circumstances.
Listen to the other guys, and what I do. Find the lightest spring for your application (compensating for engine setback), install it, let it sit for a few weeks, and then trim off a half a coil per inch, that you want the car to sit lower. I wouldn't recommend going more than 1 1/2 coils though, 2 is do-able, but unpredicatable. If you need to go more than that, look into dropped spindles.

 

Any spring you buy from the auto part store will have a spring rate on it, from 6's to big blocks. I'd start at the smallblock springs if that's what your going to have for an engine.

 

chopolds is right it all depends on where the clip was attached for the ride height and the engine set back for the spring the person who did the clip should be able to give you an idea of the ride height.you want to keep the lower control arms parallel with the ground for the best ride