Just wondering how any of you guys with a 60's Buick lowered yours and by how much.How much of the coil springs did you cut??
My 60 Buick has 2 1/4 turns off the fronts and 1 1/2 off the rears. Front crossmember and framerails sit 3 1/2" off the ground. Had to make new brackets for the rear springs cuz they're pigtailed. Rides like***** tho. Gonna save some $$$ and bag it, like nailhead60.
I replied before I read your post Fraz...so what you're saying is the rear springs are tappered?? I was under my 63 today and they didnt look tapered though..I wonder if the 60 is the same as 63...probably is...if thats the case I wonder if someone makes lowered springs for it..??
The ends of the spring are twisted up tighter than the rest of the spring. I guess from the side they'd look tapered. I just know it as pigtailed, cuz it looks like a pigs tail, that little curl at the end. Your 63's rear springs should be that way. Also, I imagine the rears on it now are a bit tired, and a new set of lowered springs would put you probably right at where you're at now. Heard that some of the rear springs off a later GM, like an mid-late 70's to early 80's Regal or Monte Carlo or Cutlass or ElCo will lower em quite a bit. Gonna test this theory out here before too long.
www.coilsprings.com all 4 springs with a 4"-5" drop for the Riviera came to just over $300 including shipping... pretty damn good price if you ask me... AND the ride is SO much nicer too... oh yeah, the springs are 'pigtailed' on the rear too...
Yeah I think your right about that...I remember hearing that along time ago...Someone mentioned that to me when I wanted to lower my 60 GMC it has tappered springs also...I bought 3" lowering srpings and like you said it*****in rasied the truck up and gave it a cool rake in which I liked and left that way because it rides so damn nice,I heated the the old spings before to lower and holy***** did that*****..I dont want to do that to this car it rides to smooth...
On my '62 Invicta I bought 2" lower front springs from Eaton and cut the rears 1-1/2 turns or so. I had to make some simple cups to mount the bottom of the rear springs to the control arm since I removed the lower pigtail, but it was simple stuff. Added air shocks - rides like a champ - plenty of miles on it.
Depending on how low you want to go... I bought a set of replacement rear springs for a early eighties Malibu from O'Reillys and got about 2" of drop on my '63 Grand Prix for about $75. Bolt right in.
The front of mine was lowered when I bought it and looked good but it wouldnt drive over a shadow, Had to salvage a set of heavier springs out of a Pontiac catalina Late 70 S model same spring length and width for the front , by the time the front spring was cut and heated and lookin good, I couldnt get over a moderate speed bump because of the length !!! And those coil overs in the rear are a tragedy waiting to happen . The dynaflow drive gear went south so I opted to do away with the closed drive and bag it. I just dig the front of those 60s on the ground
I will attach a pic of my dads 66 LeSabre, don't mind the billet wheels, just check out the stance. There is 1 1/2 coils cut from the fronts and just the stock, weak, rear springs. This thing sits right, and rides awesome. -Joe
I believe I cut 2" all the way around the 64. Left the rears tapered on top and made a cup for the bottom. I send a pic when I get home
I think 2" will be fine,but I'm going to go for 3".....still havent decided on what to shoot it..I'm on a tight budget here.
don't know if anyone else has ran into this but if you go to low in the back you run into some tight spaces when running exhaust thru there. i wnat to go a little lower with mine and i'm not gonna bag it. probably another inch out back with air shocks and a compressor and another 2 up front. i think it's 2 down in front now and 3 in the rear but i really don't remember. and they'r the tired old springs to, but it still ride smooth as hell...ken....
Snacky - what shocks did you go with on your riv? I'm sure I asked you before, but after all the*****tails my memory gets fuzzy.......
BARNETT, PTL - thanks for the feedback - the Invicta has been a good one. I've been fiddling with the coupe and minibike so much lately, I haven't really messed with it other than driving it... when I can get it away from Joyce. She wants it as her daily driver.
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