I have the front end of my 67 conv torn apart and am redoing all the bushings, ball joints, shocks and springs. I've seen tons of posts from guys who are having a hard time getting the correct stance after installing new srings. I was thinking of using stock replacement springs and stock rubber bushings. Is there some reason I shouldn't? Will the front end sit up too high for some reason. I figured the car is 90% stock so why not keep it that way but I don't want the front end higher than the ass end in stance. I am also redoing the rear end as well, new bushings springs and shocks. Any help would be appreciated since I don't want to take this thing apart again to put in or cut down new springs.

I am in the middle of my front end too with a 69 i am doing the ball joints right now and everybody who ive talked to said that if the old springs were even so the cars not lop sided to keep the old ones because you wouldnt be able to match the stance so im changing the shocks and keeping the old springs if that helps you any

I rebuilt the front end of mine and at the same time cut a coil off each spring to lower it. Well long story short, I wound up replacing the small block with a big block and the front was too low. I wound up getting 2" lowering springs (for big block) for the front and stock springs for the rear (the rear had been sagging too low for my opinion) from original parts group. I now have the perfect stance (about 1"-1 1/2" lower in the front).

Unfortunetly my front springs are shot so they have to be replaced. It seems everyone I talk to says that the front end will be too high if you use stock springs. I never saw the car from the factory so I couldn't say what it looked like but I can't believe GM would roll this thing out of the showroom looking like it had a load of bricks in the trunk. To be safe should I use maybe a 1" drop spring in the front and stockers in the rear. The car has the original smallblock in it and i'm going to keep it. The only thing not stock is the 4 spd tranny and I don't think that would make a difference. Not to sound like a dummy but i'm still confused.

Anyone out there have any suggestions?

I have a 67 convertible...but with a big block.
I used Hotchkiss 1" drop springs up front and cargo coil springs in back. You can check out the stance in the sig line below.

See, you car looks perfect. I called springs and things and they said they have never had anyone complain about ride height with stock springs and never had a set returned because of it. Unfortunetly I haven't found 1 person who used the stock setup to see how it looks. Anyonw with a picture of that would be appreciated.

Do you want the car to be level or raked?

I want the car to be as it was when it was new. I'm assuming that it was level or slightly raked to the front. I was hoping to achieve that look. Problem is, the guy's who I get most of my parts from are telling me the stockers will be fine. Talking with people form this site and my Chevelle club are telling me the front is gonna be too high. I just don't want to tear the front end of thing apart after I put the new springs in. I'm an average mechanic and this is my first restoration on a chevelle so I have nothing to base it on. I don't know if that helps but I hope so. I was hoping someone used the stock components for their resto and had experience with them. Most people seem to be doing custom things with suspension now so it's tough to find an answer. Any further help from anyone would be great. Thanks in advance.

By the way Clint, your car sits pretty close to how I want my convertible to sit.

When I put my front end back together, I had one heck of a time getting the original BBC springs back in (even using a spring compressor). After fighting with them, I gave up and ordered Hotchkiss 1" lowering springs. The originals were 17" static as compared to about 13 - 14" for the Hotchkiss ( don't recall exactly). Installed the new springs have the car sitting about the same as the 30 year old BBC springs (maybe actually a little bit higher) but much firmer. I have never had any luck with replacement springs for "factory" ride height. By today's standards for handling and ride quality you would probably be happy with the higher rate 1" lowering springs. Every car that I have done in the past 10 years has started out with factory replacement springs which I wound up cutting for ride height. I'd say go with the firmer shorter springs to start with. Good luck.

I'll second what GRN69CHV said. The stiffer Hotchkis springs and gas shocks (KYB) made a big difference in drive ability. I also experienced that the 1" lower springs sat about the same as the worn out springs I replaced.

Just another thought - I am also an average mechanic and found that the front end re-build was not as tough as I thought it would be. If I was unhappy with the stance, swapping springs would not be the end of the world. The hard part has already been done (breaking loose all the old rusted stuff, replacing bushings, etc.).

Good luck

Thanks for your help, I think i'll try the hotchkis springs for the front. How about the rears?