During summer I replaced springs hoping for the right drop in height. Going by a Buds 2" drop springs from OPG I decided on 1" drop springs since his was too low. Didn't work out as you can see in first pic.

Finally went for it. Read in a past article on line in Hi-perf chevy about cutting coil springs. They said there is a ratio of 1.5" to 2" if you cut 1 inch off height of spring. So instead of wondering if I should cut a coil (which would have been a BIG mistake) I measured the spring height and cut 1/2 inch off which actually came to 1/2 coil and got my new ride height. My headers could not take much more than this.. I'm happy as hell now..and finished with a cool ride height.


BEFORE

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3971/latestpics006.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=latestpics006.jpg)


AFTER.. if you look hard you'll actually see the front dipping lower than rear. Check the curb out at front bumper compare to top pic and you see a good drop.
Much better in person since your standing next to it and it looks lower than pics..
RemeMber that ratio, 1 1/2" to 2" DROP WITH 1 " CUT FROM SPRING HEIGHT.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9472/stancewithspringscut227.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stancewithspringscut227.jpg)

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9472/stancewithspringscut227.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stancewithspringscut227.jpg)



This info is from Hi-Perf chev. out of there website:

Cutting a spring immediately increases the spring rate, which will increase ride stiffness slightly. But theres more to the story. Because there is a ratio between the spring and the front suspension, the amount the spring is cut is multiplied when the spring is installed in the car. There is disagreement on the specific ratio, but our sources place it between 1.5:1 and 2:1. This means that cutting a spring by 1 inch would mean dropping the ride height between 1.5 and 2 inches. This only applies to the front suspension. Rear spring changes, either leaf or coil, are a 1:1 relationship.

Much better.......:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Much better.......:thumbsup::thumbsup:

yOU REMEMBER !!

Sorry, wrong person.

But thanks...

do you have the stock coil springs in the rear? car looks nice.

looks good, i like it...i say go lower, but thats just me:D

looks good, i like it...i say go lower, but thats just me:D

Lower is me too, but the headers in person would tell you no more please.....dam hookers do not tuck

I am about do do the same thing to my 69. I have the same springs and the same problem.
Do you notice any difference on the way it feels driving? I think it would firm up the steering a little. I was wondering if it would spin the tires more because you are moving some weight forward, I think?

do you have the stock coil springs in the rear? car looks nice.

Not stock in rear. I don't know what they are, but they only have one pig tail. Were in car went I bought it.

I am about do do the same thing to my 69. I have the same springs and the same problem.
Do you notice any difference on the way it feels driving? I think it would firm up the steering a little. I was wondering if it would spin the tires more because you are moving some weight forward, I think?

Have not driven the car yet. But I do need a wheel alignment.
The tires spin so easy already I would never be able to tell the differents.
Make sure when you cut the springs to do the measuring thing instead of guessing how much coil to cut. My whole thoughts were header clearance. Or I would have cut a 3/4 inch off height of spring instead of the 1/2 inch ..

From Hi- Perf Chev:
Cutting a spring immediately increases the spring rate, which will increase ride stiffness slightly. But theres more to the story. Because there is a ratio between the spring and the front suspension, the amount the spring is cut is multiplied when the spring is installed in the car. There is disagreement on the specific ratio, but our sources place it between 1.5:1 and 2:1. This means that cutting a spring by 1 inch would mean dropping the ride height between 1.5 and 2 inches. This only applies to the front suspension. Rear spring changes, either leaf or coil, are a 1:1 relationship.


This worked for me !!!!!!

So you didnt measure a whole coil you measured it from the side?
Here is a pic of my car you can see it looks just like your before shot.
I was thinking the 3/4" myself.
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm200/OneWayStreet_album/8%2022%20Lowes%20Cruise/?action=view&current=P8220171.jpg

I have noticed while driving with 2 people in the back seat, it will hardly spin the wheels but empty it can destroy them. And my steering feels real light and too easy to turn.

So you didnt measure a whole coil you measured it from the side?
Here is a pic of my car you can see it looks just like your before shot.
I was thinking the 3/4" myself.
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm200/OneWayStreet_album/8%2022%20Lowes%20Cruise/?action=view&current=P8220171.jpg

I have noticed while driving with 2 people in the back seat, it will hardly spin the wheels but empty it can destroy them. And my steering feels real light and too easy to turn.


Hard to tell on yours as its not a side view. But it looks like its pretty high. looking like a 1 inch cut to me.
Thats measured from full height of spring right to the highest point. And I noticed one of my the springs was a 1/4" higher than the other.

Yeah it was the best pic I had found real fast.
Cool thanks for all the information.

looks good, i like it...i say go lower, but thats just me:D :thumbsup: Looks good!!

Rich, your car looks GREAT!

How much clearance do you have above your lower bump stops & are your lower A-arms about parallel with the ground?

I cut 1.5" off of my BB Moog 5536 springs, in SB car with front end lightened about 200# It's still up on blocks & hope it will be 2-3" lower than stock & stay off my lower bump stops.

BBP

One more question Rich, are you running the same size wheels and tires on all 4?
I was considering adding a little taller and little wider tire on the back.
Running 245/45/17 on all 4 was thinking of adding 255/60/17 to the back. I wanted to get the tires before I cut the springs.

Nice stance. That is pretty much how mine looks with one coil cut on the front. :thumbsup:

Rich, your car looks GREAT!

How much clearance do you have above your lower bump stops & are your lower A-arms about parallel with the ground?

I cut 1.5" off of my BB Moog 5536 springs, in SB car with front end lightened about 200# It's still up on blocks & hope it will be 2-3" lower than stock & stay off my lower bump stops.

BBP


It looks like 3 to 3 1/2 inch clearance on the bumps. I put new bumps in which are tiny bit taller. Think headers will bottom out before bumpers do..Not accurate on that 3 inch, just looks like it with using a mirror to see them. And the arms do look pretty parallel.
With the cut you did with your springs you ought to have a heavy slam job. Hope your headers are nice and tucked..

One more question Rich, are you running the same size wheels and tires on all 4?
I was considering adding a little taller and little wider tire on the back.
Running 245/45/17 on all 4 was thinking of adding 255/60/17 to the back. I wanted to get the tires before I cut the springs.


Same size TT's at 18" 18X10 and 18X8
tires are 235/40 and 285/40

You have to get the tires before you cut.

Your car looks awesome! :thumbsup: -MATT

Looks much better lowered.:thumbsup: