have any of you cut back a coil spring to get it to fit "right". is it advisable or does it damage the spring. I bought some new coil springs from a catalog that said they were the application for this car(64 chevelle SS). however, they have 11 "coils" compared to the original cars 9 coils.(they are about 2 inches taller than the ones i took out)I am afraid that if i return them and get some other ones that i will just end up with the same problem. I was thinking that if i could modify them by cutting them back a little that would do the trick. any advice?

Have you installed them yet? 2 inches taller of uncompressed hight doesn't mean they will leave the front of the car higher than the other springs.

They are likely a softer spring and will compress more. That may or may not be desirable in itself but cutting them won't be a fix for that.

What are you looking to accomplish? Changing ride height? Softer or stiffer suspension? Factory originality? There are a lot of different types of springs that will "fit" a 64 Chevelle.

Tim.

Tim: thanks for the reply. here is what i can tell you so far. yes i did attempt to install them and they wouldnt go in. i use a spring compresser and all but could not get the control arms close enough to re-attach the spindle. tried for over an hour. i do not desire to change ride height or lower the car. i fully intend to leave the 283 that is in there. i just want stock suspension for now. i figured that if i cut the springs back to 9 coils like the springs i took out, that would solve the problem. the springs are the same diameter and are spaced apart the same as the ones i took out. my guess is that the replacement springs are the same rate as the ones i took out and that if i cut a couple of coils off it will not change the spring rate. but that's what it is, a guess. if it wont damage the spring or change the rate, i may try it.

Tim: by the way, nice looking chevelle you have.