Hi ALL,

I purchased a Hotchkis 1916 kit (BB Sport Coil Springs Set (4) 1" Drop) for my 1968 Chevelle Malibu. Great product! I liked the gray coat!

My Chevelle had a 307 and now a 454. I installed the rear coil springs and the height is grate! The way I dreamed about.

When I finished install the front coil springs a had a surprise. The height of the front is like 3 inches from the tires to the fender lips. Did a miss something? :confused:

Can someone help me on that? The front coil springs have the 19830010 number stamped on it. Maybe, I have the wrong coil spring on the front...



Andre
http://www.chevelle.com.br/chevelle/1916/DSC00832.JPG
http://www.chevelle.com.br/chevelle/1916/DSC00833.JPG
http://www.chevelle.com.br/chevelle/1916/DSC00834.JPG
http://www.chevelle.com.br/chevelle/1916/DSC00835.JPG

Was ALL of the car's weigth resting on the tires when you tightened the control-arm bolts? If they were hanging in droop when torqued down, the bushings will wrap up and preload the suspension.

Also be sure the upper part of the spring is seated correctly in the pocket.

I just installed the same kit on my Malibu, make sure that with these springs the flat side is up in the frame (I learned this after I put one side together) although I don't believe that would account for the 3 inches. Ensure as already mentioned that the coil is resting in it's correct place in the frame. Are the springs indexed correctly on the lower A frame between the 2 drain holes ? I would call the folks at Hotchkis with this issue and they can insure that you do indeed have the correct coils. Good luck to you.

I have the Hotchkis small block springs in my 68 and have similiar issues. Mine sits 1 1/2 - 2" higher than I was looking for(frt and rear),however I dont have it all back together yet,so I realize its missing a good amount of weight. I'm sure hoping it will settle down some more when finished,but it sure feels awful stout.I've double checked how they are installed and all is correct.

I have done two chevelles with these kits. Both set the rear end inches lower than the front. They were both Big Blocks. I have since removed the rear springs in both cars and used Moog springs to level the ride hieght. I have also seen people in here complain of same. So I think this is the way the kit works regardless of what Hotchkis advertises them to be.
Bill

I have their BB springs in mine, had no problem and the rake was perfect. I do know that when I bought them roughly 7+ years ago they had only one PN (no SB / BB difference in sets) and a few years later they offered two different PN's. I contacted them directly about this last year and their answer was - if you like how it sits and rides, have no clearance problems, etc then its fine. I didnt inquire deeper than that but mine sat pretty with stock suspension other than the springs and Kill Your Back shocks. The PN I have for the front matches up with what is now their SB springs but when bought it was what they offered.

Concerns about spring rates due to BB / SB is why I called them but reps there told me it wasnt a problem.

I'll see if I can get out under the car tonight and look at whats stamped on the springs. Can shoot you a pic of mine via email if you want a reference PM me

I have the hotchkis 1916 big block front spings in my 68 elky... It took about 6 months of driving for them to finnally settle... They dropped another addition 3/4 of an inch from when i first installed them- but they were never as high as yours when I first put them in...

See pics in my sig below for how they look after a year in the car.

I would double check the above mentioned items... make sure the springs are indexed in the pockets right, and with the front tires supported, untorque, and retorqe the front control arm bolts.

hopefully that will bring it down some.