From the "I'll ask the dumb question" department...

Many MANY years ago, kids used to heat coil springs to lower cars. Turned out this was a pretty bad idea for a number of reasons.

Then, they started using lowering springs or drop-spindles.

If one is replacing front springs on a small-block to big-block conversion, rather than using lowering springs or a drop-spindle, would leaving in small-block springs to compress more under the additional weight have too big of an adverse affect on handling? How about cutting a BB spring a half-coil or so? Seems to me that if one already has stock springs in hand, they could be modified, but in the same thought process, I wonder if the spring deflection rate may change and I'm wondering what this would do to handling and ride characteristics...?
:confused:

Trust me,you do not want to keep those old SB springs with a BB. With the heavier engine,they will start to sag,,and sag,,and sag. New springs aren't expensive.

Besides height, lowering springs are also stiffer than small block springs to accommidate the reduced suspension travel.

You should go with proper lowering springs.

Tim.

Well, using SB springs really wasn't at the top of my list anyway, but thought I'd throw that one in there.

My guess continues to be that lowering springs are the "real" way to go, but what about cutting a new BB spring? Is that a bad thing? Stiffer lowering springs strikes me as a stiffer ride, which may not neccesarily be a good thing. How much stiffer are they and what does this do to the ride?

Any thoughts on cutting BB springs?

Put drop spindles and lowered springs. thats the real way.

don't quote me on this one, but i am pretty sure that cutting a spring not only makes it shorter but increases the rate of the spring as well (makes it stiffer).

ive allways cut springs and never had a problem with it ,and it does increase spring rate

I feel that since you have less wheel travel after lowering that you need a stiffer spring, AND a stiffer shock and shorter bump stops. If you don't go with a stiffer shock you'll be bouncing like most of the Hondas you see. Not cool. When the time comes I will try the cut big block springs to get it just right. (Quarter coil at a time)

Obviously, budget is always an issue, and ifg I have BB springs already, I'd like to give cutting a chance. If not, one can always swap springs and spindles later.

Any rough formula for coil:height?
1/4 coil = ? height...
1/2 coil = ???