Hey fella's...long time no hear and hope all is well with everyones' rides. smile.gif I need your advice on front spring selection. I'm currently using shortened stock front springs and am getting very little front-end travel (go figure :rolleyes: ) when launching. There are a number of front springs on the market and I'd like some suggestions on choosing a better spring that would allow more front-end travel. Is there a stock spring that would work well or should I consider going to a 'trick' spring?

For reference, front shocks are KYB units and rear springs are variable rate stockers with KYB shocks. I'm also using a 1" rear sway bar and SSM lower control arms. TIA as always.

What about going to a 6 cylinder spring. Pretty common trick on 1st gen Camaros . . . not sure if its the same on the full size cars. The "trick springs" aren't the best from what I've heard.

Another way to help get better movement up front is disconnecting the sway bar. Have also heard that adding washers in the upper control arm bushing bolts (the ones in the engine compartment) help get the front end moving.

Just some ideas -- I personally use the 6 cylinder springs on my 1st gen but had to cut a coil off to get the proper ride height.

Hi-ya Wes,
Just for reference, if I remember correctly you've got about a hundred extra pounds of blower on you front wheels too.

Don't know how much difference that makes,
but it might make a difference.

Wes you really may want to try and stab a set of the 6 cylinder springs in there. They use thinner wire with more coils that should help give some travel to the suspension. You might want to have your car scaled to see how the weight is distributed...

Thanks for the ideas gents. I've heard about using the 6 cylinder springs before but my biggest concern with them is that they may be too weak and allow the car to settle down too low. But from the sounds of it, they may produce the exact opposite effect, raising the front-end upward...has anyone actually tried using them in their 'Velle?

And you're right Thad and Fig, that blower definitely throws off the cars' weight distribution. :(

Hey Wes, I installed Moog 6330 on mine,raised the front about 1.5" with alot more lift than the stock bb a/c springs I had on there. I think those are the recommended springs now that the springs Ed used to recommend have been discontinued or the part # discontinued...I hope this helps. 260 in lb spring,11."? installed height,17" free height...those specs arent exact,but close.

Originally posted by Wes Colby:
Thanks for the ideas gents. I've heard about using the 6 cylinder springs before but my biggest concern with them is that they may be too weak and allow the car to settle down too low. But from the sounds of it, they may produce the exact opposite effect, raising the front-end upward...has anyone actually tried using them in their 'Velle?

:( Your concern has merit. but it doesn't seem to be the case in my ride. I installed my 6 cyl malibu springs 4 years ago, and there is no settling issue at all in my nose heavy ride with 2130 pounds on the front two wheels.

They work very well.

http://www.boomspeed.com/mc71454/May_29_2004.jpg

Try removing your A Arm stops with a set of 6cyl or small block springs.This should give more travel at a quicker rate.

Then try a set of Monroe Gas Matic shocks as the KYB's have been known to be stiff.

Course QA1's would be the way to go :D

Just wondering, what is the difference in engine weight between a straight 6, smallblock, and bigblock. I always thought the straight 6 was heavier than a smallblock. ? A friend of mine put Moroso springs in his Nova years ago and it looked like a jckrabbit going down the track-10.0's in four hops :D

Originally posted by mc71454:
Your concern has merit. but it doesn't seem to be the case in my ride. I installed my 6 cyl malibu springs 4 years ago, and there is no settling issue at all in my nose heavy ride with 2130 pounds on the front two wheels.

They work very well.

http://www.boomspeed.com/mc71454/april2004_launch.jpg Sweeeeet! :D I couldn't imagine a better endorsement!

Of course, I've always been a fan of early seventies' MC's. Nice illustration!