Hi guys.I am looking at getting 5x11 single pigtail hypercoils or the 5x11 eibach rear springs for the rear and 5.5x9.5" tru-coils or the eibach 5.5x9.5 with adjusters up front. I am unsure of what spring rates to get.I will be getting 17x11 inch rims for the rear and 17x9.5 for the front.I want a firm ride but not to where my teeth will fall out.Also is the single pigtail rear springs bolt in or is there some kind of modification.thanks for the help.

Matt:D

Depends on how you're going to use it, here's my recommendation...

Stock = ~350F/120R
Mild handling performance = 575/150 with 1-1/8F and 7/8"R sway bars
High performance handling = 750/175 with 15/16" front and no rear bar
race-car = 950/200 with a really small bar on front, such as 13/16" from 64-68 Chevelle (not sure if there were ever any smaller than that)

Of course everybody has a different idea of how to set up a chassis, and some like stiff springs/small bars, others like soft springs & big bars, and yet others like something in between.

Also, you need to be looking at the 5"x9.5" front springs. 5-1/2" springs are too big for the spring pockets of the lower A-arms.

The rear springs can be held in place by sticking a 2" OD washer under the spring perch on the axle, a 3" OD washer on top of the spring pigtail, and running a bolt & nut through them. If you can't find a 3" OD washer, just drill a hole in the middle of a 3" long piece of band stock.

when i talked with mark at sc&c, he told me to go with the 575/150 combo. ive got 1-1/4 and 1 swaybars and a sb up front. he said that any more rate and shocks become the biggest factor. plus if they suck, its only 120 for a whole new set.

he said that any more rate and shocks become the biggest factor.That's correct... higher rate springs require a much more expensive shock. The 575/150 you can get by OK with an off the shelf Bilstein or Edelbrock, and for not a whole lot more Hotchkis' re-valved Bilsteins will be perfect.

I am currently rebuilding my front end. I wish I could speak from experience, but my car won’t be on the road until spring.

I will be running 600# fronts with a 1” bar. The rear will be 175# w/o a bar or 150# w/(1” or 7/8”) bar. This was per SC&C’s recommendations.

I just received my Varishocks for the front. From what I researched and others have mentioned above, anything over 550# requires a good shock with matched valving.

Can’t wait to get back on the road!

When you buy the Tru Coils from Speedway motors, anyone know if that comes with 2 coils? They're priced at $39.99, just making sure I don't need to get 2 at that price.

Mark, you need to order 2 each. I've got a spare set of 575 Lb. Tru-Coils powder coated black. If your interested PM me.

Thanks.

I'll send you a PM.

i just got done installing the 5-9.5 tru coils and the adjuster tall shim in my 65 chevelle. so far so good but could be a little lower. i am running 700lbs up front with some kyb gas shock(cant affored good shocks right now) it is kinda stiff but i think its going to work out fine. Derek when u installed yours did they settle at all? i am woundering if i should drive it a little bit and wait befor i go cutting the shim.

i just got done installing the 5-9.5 tru coils and the adjuster tall shim in my 65 chevelle. so far so good but could be a little lower. i am running 700lbs up front with some kyb gas shock(cant affored good shocks right now) it is kinda stiff but i think its going to work out fine. Derek when u installed yours did they settle at all? i am woundering if i should drive it a little bit and wait befor i go cutting the shim.

How is your shim intalled?

Why cut the shim, and not a coil?

How is your shim intalled?

Why cut the shim, and not a coil?

Because cutting the spring changes the rate. The Tru-Coils are already short springs and have a limited working range, and cutting them only reduces that further. And because of their short height and reduced number of active coils cutting them changes the rate more dramatically than cutting a taller spring with more coils.

Cutting the shim down a little bit allows more adjustment room and allows you to swap springs in the future without having to recut the new springs.

The "tall" speedway adjusters, if left uncut, are a bit too tall to provide adjustment if you want a lower ride height-- they're pretty much bottomed out. Cutting about 1" off the shim drops the car approximately 2" but leaves you with much more of an adjustment range on the threaded portion.

Best way to do it is to adjust the shims to the center of their adjustment range and install the springs & shims and set the car on the ground. Measure the ride height and compare it to your desired ride height then cut 1/2 that difference off the shim. So with the shimmed centered, if the car is 2" too high for your tastes remove the shims and cut 1" off them; when you reinstall the shims the car will be at your desired ride height with the adjuster still in the center of the range.

The motion ratio on the front suspension of these cars is about 1:2, so a 1" change in the spring/shim package will result in a 2" ride height change.

Derek, the info on the front springs is great and has helped me out a lot. I'm not quite sure about the rear springs however. Are the rear springs simply measured in length and rate. If so what is a stock length spring. Are the rear springs you're talking about non-pigtailed? Is that the reason for the wahsers?

The Speedway style springs are pigtailed on one end only (originally designed for G-body cars) hence the washers to hold them in place.

Yes, length and rate only.

Thanks for the help sinned. What length are stock A-body springs? 14"?

Maybe this will help or maybe it's unrelated.

Here is a pair of Black Magic springs next to a stock spring. (70 Chevelle)

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l9/dlplett/DCP07753.jpg

Where do you get the "black magic" springs?

I got them from:
D & C Racing

1922 17th Ave
Rice Lake, WI 54868
(715) 236-3050
www.dandcracing.com (http://www.dandcracing.com/)Their website is hosed.

I paid $33.50 each.

Racing, what is the length of the Black Magic springs in the pic?

The D and D Racing site isn't working.
Here is a link to a Black Magic springs retailer I found using Google:

http://www.southwestspeed.com/?sec=view_menu&cat=Suspension&sub=Springs&ssub=Conventional%20Springs

Racing, what is the length of the Black Magic springs in the pic?

The D and D Racing site isn't working.
Here is a link to a Black Magic springs retailer I found using Google:

http://www.southwestspeed.com/?sec=view_menu&cat=Suspension&sub=Springs&ssub=Conventional%20Springs

They were the 5.5" x 11" Same thing that South West Sells.

http://www.southwestspeed.com/?sec=view_menu&cat=Suspension⊂=Springs&ssub=Pigtail%20Rear%20Springs (http://www.southwestspeed.com/?sec=view_menu&cat=Suspension&sub=Springs&ssub=Pigtail%20Rear%20Springs)

Does anyone see any issues with using a 9" rear spring if I am using a weight jack?

Andrew

No, I had them without weightjacks.

No, I had them without weightjacks.

Only issue I see with 9" springs is limited overall travel, especially on the rebound side-- which can be made a non-issue via travel straps or shorter shocks.

With the rear end hanging from my current Edelbrock shocks (which are about 1" shorter than most replacement A-body shocks) I can remove my 11" springs without much fuss. When I order my rear Varishock QS2's I'm going to get them 1" shorter to keep the springs in place.

Only issue I see with 9" springs is limited overall travel, especially on the rebound side-- which can be made a non-issue via shorter shocks.
WINNER!

Those who have the black magic rear springs. How are they working out? Did you have to cut them to get the stance you wanted? What rate did you go with?

Those who have the black magic rear springs. How are they working out? Did you have to cut them to get the stance you wanted? What rate did you go with?


Black Magic spring in the back, no spacer. One coil cut off in the front.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l9/dlplett/Chevelle/DCP08069.jpg

Thanks for the info.

I'm still trying to decide which rear springs and mounts to use.

My '66 doens't use a pigtail at the top, and the spring is about 6" wide. So the Black Magic springs aren't going to fit in the upper mounts correctly.