Been researching some springs to upgrade the handling of my 70 Malibu.

For mild performance, the verdict throughout many old posts/experts seems to be spring rate of 550-575 lb/in. The Hotchkis SB kit quotes a 500 rate for the fronts, while the BB kit is listed as 580, closer to the average recommendation. Given the vast experiences out there, certainly folks have run these BB coils in a SB car for the stiffer rate...please advise your results.

Thanks in advance...FWIW I have already got a set of Bilsteins (not revalved, stockers) on order, and again many posts seem to indicate these will match up well with these Hotchkis sport coils in the subject range. Balance of the suspension in my car is bone stock, but planning concurrently to install the SC&C upper arm kit with at least the top tall BJ.

Duane

I put the BB coils on our 67' ElCo it was 4+" inches lower than the stock replacment springs.
Without inner fenders the 255x18's were touching the the inner fender lip just under the hood line.

With 1.5" of spacer in the SC&C lower arms and count them SIX coil spring spacers the car was STILL undrivable.

To add to this our ElCo is MUCH lighter than a stock small block car!!!
I sent the the Hotchkis BB springs back after confirming the spring free height, coil count, coil dia., and part number with Hotchkis directly.

Huge waste of time! I want my Saturday back!

Tad, your results don't match what everyone else seems to to report... everyone seems to say their car didn't drop a bit with Hotchkis springs. I wonder if you got some with a bad heat-treat or something???

I have bb hotckiss springs in my small block car right now... the spring was like 4 inches shorter outside the car, but it is installed now and the car sits up like 3 inches higher, hopefully it will come down once the bb is in it!

I called Hotchkis b4 i purchased to confirm part numbers and heights
I called Marcus at SC&C b4 i purchased to confirm part numbers and heights
I called confirmed part numbers and heights with Summit at the point of sale
I called Hotchkis after I purchased and installed with poor results to confirm part numbers and heights

The springs were not near the same length as each other
both were not true linear rate springs
the car did not sit flat
I dont have pictures I was never happy I just took them out.

On the phone Hotchkis 100% confirmed they do NOT check spring rates or free heights in house.
And they do not have the tools in house to do so.
They sell spring for a living and they expect their OEM vendor to 100% QC their product.
They do not even spot check any of the production runs.
UNACCEPTABLE!
I occasionally install springs at work and I can check coil dia., free hight, coil count, and spring rate.

Hotchkis also make TWO differnt springs under the same 1916F part number!!!

they changed this spring and did not give it a new part number.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HSS%2D1916F&N=700+115&autoview=sku
Hotchkis did nothing for me on this.
Ok I got one bad set of springs.
I pass their shop every day on the way to work 92867 to 90301.
They have no ability to make sure the next set they give me is correct.

The HKs springs were sent back and I order Alston rear coil overs and put the stock repacement springs back in the front of the car.
Two saturdays wasted.
If I want to do RND or QC I'll pave my own road Thank You very little.
I'm never ordering any Hotchkis part EVER again.

Interesting... I've always told people Hotchkis only does 2 things well, springs & shocks. Guess I was only 1/2 right. :clonk:

Tad,

Sorry to hear the tale of woe, but perhaps your pain will save myself, and the others that read this! Thank you for the long detailed explanation.....seems you covered every base!

Like Derek, I'm surprised because many here speak well of Hotchkis. You however have exposed some serious flaws in their production/quality systems.

thanks again.

Duane

I work at a Late modle HiPerf shop focused on LS1 platform cars.

I have seen several broken Hotchkis swaybars on the C5 and C6 vettes that run nitto555s or equivlent aggresive sticky street tire.

To be honest I like specs.
What the heck does 2" drop mean.... seriously...

How about say for example:
"2" drop over the OEM original ride height with W,X,Y,Z corner weight @ specd caged install height"

Other than that I'm going to by at Linear rate spring that is about were I need it.
But in terms of height,
I now pick a spring that is a little too tall on the height guestimate.
Test fit it and cut it down to ride height.

So far I have never said heck thats too much spring I think I need less rate.
I have said that shock cant hang I need new ones, better ones.
But as of this year, I am no longer afraid of big spring rates on the street.

http://a491.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/44/l_86f56ad7ce428d9e33422b5ca584d582.jpg

I will say 925# springs, and shocks with linear valving IS way too stiff on the street. ;)

Tad, if you want good springs with the lb/in rate tailored to your application & desired ride height, talk to Kevin at Coil Spring Specialties. The so-called packaged performance springs are a waste of time and money IMO.

http://www.coilsprings.com/

I will say 925# springs, and shocks with linear valving IS way too stiff on the street. ;)

Depends on how much the car weighs.
wanna guess my corner weights and spring rates on the Impala?

Depends on how much the car weighs.
wanna guess my corner weights and spring rates on the Impala?Good point, you're about 600lbs heavier than my Chevelle...

Here's an answer to knowing spring specs before you buy: http://www.bluecoilspring.com/ Click on Front Springs & Pigtails. Although you already did the coilover conversion, these Budzter rear adjusters look interesting http://www.budzter.com/64-67GMAdjuster.html but seem expensive for what they are.

I have Hotchkis in two of my cars and had them in a third that I sold and was very satisfied. I do prefer to be lower so I would think that the amount that would need to be cut off a BBC spring in a SBC car would make for a very stiff ride. Of course, I just have cruisers that I would classify as "pro touring" based on the definition given in the S-A design Pro-Touring Street Machines book. With that said, it is easy for us to get wrapped up in racing parts that are serious overkill for what we really intend to do with our rides. (I'm guilty too)