The rear springs on a 63 Riv are pigtail style. I saw some posts on here where guys cut the top of the spring (cut off pigtail) and then built some brackets to hold the top of the spring in place.. I am about to do the same thing. I have an idea of how to build the bracket,, but I'm wondering if anyone could tell me how they did it.. maybe your idea is better than mine. first thought I had was to cut a piece of pipe and make it like a cup that the spring will sit in.. but thats no good when the car goes up on a lift. so now I'm thinking like a X or t shaped piece that will go between the 1st and 2nd coil and bolt to stock stud. what do you guys think? Picture of what you did would be awesome! Thanks. Jeff
my riv 1963 was built into a show car in 63 and on the rear lower arms they made spring buckets that the bottom of the spring seated in that was level with the bottom of the arm they were made of very heavy metal and not pretty at all rember a skun cat is a skun cat no mater how you do the job I think my springs are mostly still stock and the upper buckets seem unmodified
Your car sounds cool! I understand the set up, if you jack it up does the spring fall out? or in your case does the rear drop? lets see a pic of your car. it sounds old school!
Remember to use a shorter shock when you're done. If I remember correctly rolleyes, I used Monroe air shocks designed for some kind of light Ford truck. This was way back when.
I'd look into shorter springs first, maybe Moog makes dropped springs for it? I've done shorter springs on stock cars with made up buckets that located on the axle housing, not pretty like you said. I also used chains from the floor pan to the axle to limit how much the axle dropped, again, not pretty but functional. Bob
The most drop I've found with lowered springs is 3". i'm trying to go 4-5".. Actually a place in KC said they would build springs to go lower but it would take 4 weeks. If all else fails I'll go that route. Thanks guys
3rd gen camaros have a rubber insulator that fits into the pigtail at the top and will center a non-pigtailed spring. i've used those with vega/monza springs to lower my chevelles...
Thats an awesome tip! Thank you. In the mean time, i just ordered dropped springs from Coil Spring Specialties. But I'll keep that in mind for the next car for sure.
I just put springs under the ass end of my '65 Riv tonight. Going to do the front Friday or Sat. I'm glad to see you bought some drop springs. After taking mine out I don't see a way to cut coils off. You couldn't put the retaining plate back on. The only way is to build a bucket like Eugene Vik said his car had.
this is the car with the home built spring buckets it also has air shocks on it, kinda old school only got 29,000 miles on it not much of a driver, but it rides good never had any trouble with the springs falling out , but proabbly had a jack or stands under rear end, it hard to get a jack under the automobile I spent 3 mo cleaning the bottom up on this last fall they used about 5/16 plate to make the bucket and it looks like it was done in 1963 by the cut edges
The Jalopy Journal
