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Front spring recommendations

J

JohnC

Veteran Member
Senior Member
I might have brought this up before… maybe on OCS.
I think I want new springs for my 67. The current springs I bought from one of the parts suppliers 25+ years ago before there were many options. I think I bought BB springs (my car is a SB) thinking they’d be a bit stiffer. It’s a convertible so it’ll never be an autocross beast but I would like it to handle well. I also don’t want it super lowered but also not stock height.
I’ve already got a set of Hotchkiss 1 inch lowering springs for the rear (got them real cheap on CL).
Deciding if I should just use my current springs but cut 1/2-1 coil off for a slight drop or buy new springs.
The car has minimal miles over the last 2 decades so would 25 year old spring with little miles be worn?

For new 1 inch drop spring I was thinking UMI or BMR because they are well priced. Hotchkiss is like 50% more and I’m just not convinced the extra $$ is paying for anything more than a name. Any other brands you like (in the sub 150 buck range)?

I‘ve got a 1 5/16 Helwig solid anti sway bar on the front that I’ll probably reuse and a matched bar on the rear (not sure the diameter). Boxed stock control arms on the rear. Stock control arms on the front. Spindles are powder coated so I’m going to use those (instead of getting drop spindles)
Shocks yet to be determined.
Thanks
 
Watching. I haven't gotten that far yet, but plan a full suspension upgrade on my '67.

The car is still outside under tarps (out of space), but as soon as I finish the Starfire, that'll go up for sale, then I'll work on fixing and finishing the '68 GTO Convertible clone restomod, then on to the '67 Chevelle.

Probably next year for the chevelle.
 
Soft springs are better for drag racing, stiff springs are better for handling. Cut BB springs will probably be in the 400 lb/in range. Uncut, they are around 375.

I'm a fan of UMI stuff, as they're very supportive of the hobby, they go to great lengths to provide USA-made parts, and the company is run by good people.
The street/performance drop springs from most vendors are in the 550lb/in range, and performance-wise you'll see very little difference from one to the next.

As for old springs, they do get lower over time, but their rate does not change.
 
I bought stock springs for a BB W/ac from NPD when I first bought our car 10+ yrs ago but knowing what I know now Id buy from UMI after telling them (Remy?) what my intended use is
 
Are you going to have aluminum heads on your SBC ? If so, I would cut 1 full coil off the springs you have and heat the end and bend it flat- just like the stock spring.
Then if the ride is too harsh, just put stock springs in the front. The swaybar makes the biggest difference and you already have a good front bar.
 
Yea, motor is a 350 with Edelbrock heads and intake. Factory AC. I think you are right, a 1/2 coil might not make much difference. I wasn’t aware of the need to to heat/bend the end flat.
 
JohnC said:
Yea, motor is a 350 with Edelbrock heads and intake. Factory AC. I think you are right, a 1/2 coil might not make much difference. I wasn’t aware of the need to to heat/bend the end flat.
Click to expand...
I think a lot of people skip bending the end flat but I don't see how the spring will sit correctly in the pocket unless you do that.
And cutting one full coil will let you keep the end of the spring exactly where it started. The top and bottom ends are supposed to be aligned a certain way to lock in the pocket.
 
I usually just grind flat the last couple inches of spring so there's no peak load on a sharp corner in the stock stamped A arm pocket.

Either way is a compromise, but I'd rather not heat and change the tempering of the spring. Top end needs to be flat, bottom is not quite as critical.
 
I need to cut some off my front springs. Like John, i bought new big block Springs and haven't used the car that much. I do have a bb engine but it sits too high . Was told they would settle in, but it been several years and they haven't. Need about 1 1\2 to 2 inch drop in front. Used to know how much to cut for desired effect. Car would level out nicely. Maybe this summer.
 
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