I recently lowered the front of my 71 Elky by using OPGM's 3 inch lower coil springs. It looks great but now it bottoms out on speed bumps,the driveway and slight dips on any road. It is particularly scarey at 60 miles an hour on the freeway when I hit a dip.So what's the solution? Stock height springs and lowered spindles? Or will I have the same problem? I also now have all sorts of new squeaks and noises, so I know the car is getting hammered! When I push down on the front end, the contour of the top of the upper a arm comes real close to the inner fender skirt.Thanks, Scott

A 3" shorter spring is a little excessive,IMO. I ran 2" shorter springs in my former 68 El Camino w/big block and never had any of the problems you speak of.

3" drop springs is excessive. I put Hotchkis 1" drop springs on mine and I'm happy as can be. They do sell 2" drop springs at OPG, Sounds like that's as much as I would go. Its a lot cheaper than buying drop spindles too graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I have the hotchkis springs too and I like the look. You are losing ALOT of suspension with 3" drop springs, if you want that low of a look I would recommend 2" drop spindles with a 1" drop spring. That would give you adequate suspension travel and a lower stance. But, with that low clearance, maybe you want to look into airbags, then you could raise it up on the highway or on ugly roads where potholes would compromise your undercarrige. I am assuming by bottoming out you meant the suspension travel is over, not that the headers/oil pan are hitting? My .02

2" Dropped Spindles, and 1"-2" lowering springs!!!!!

where do I get the 1" lower hotchkiss springs?

Actually, there is a Global West Group Purchase getting near, and you could get suspension parts in the group purchase.

It also sounds like you may have some shock issues that need/also need to be worked out.

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Eibach sells a 1.25 lowering spring which great and gives a good height with out being too low. 2" drop spindles can cause large front tires to contact fenders, and the drop spindles I 've seen use inferior 78 -87 g-body brakes, these brakes suck bad ask a Grand National owner.

I second that Q-ship I installed the Eiback 1.25 spring in my 64. Its not as low as I would like up front but Im not about to go to those newer g- body brakes ethier . I just installed a new set of A- body discs. Much better brakes in my opinion. So I guess It will sit a little higher up front till someone comes out with dropped spindels to acomadate my A body brakes. Other than that the springs work flawlessly.

I have a 2" disc brake drop spindle kit from OPG- they installed easily and I have never had any bottoming out problems. I run the stock springs in front with Hotchkis 1" lowering springs in the rear with KYB lowering shocks. You can get the Hotchkis springs from Summit.

Originally posted by biffmalibu:
I have a 2" disc brake drop spindle kit from OPG- they installed easily and I have never had any bottoming out problems. I run the stock springs in front with Hotchkis 1" lowering springs in the rear with KYB lowering shocks. You can get the Hotchkis springs from Summit. Any idea of the manufacturer of the dropped spindles? As you stated, there shouldn't be any issues with using them other than rim clearance.

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Classic Performance Products- I have 14" Camaro Ralley Wheels. Only thing that I had to do was run a 1/4" wheel spacer because the left front wheel would rub on the tie rod end. If you have anything larger than a 14" wheel, then you shouldn't have any problems.

Just a thought here: Have you trimmed the lower control arm bumper? You're hindering suspension travel if not. Might not completely solve your bottoming out problem, but it'll help a lot.

Hey, I am in the same boat as you. I want to lower the front with dropped spindles and dropped coils for my 65 elco, if you got any info, let me know, it will be greatly appreciated

When you use a 2"drop spindle remember the lower A-arm moves down 2" and can hit going in driveways crooked and lumps etc. in the road etc. The tires can hit the inner fendrwell before the bump stop. I had all these problems with a Monte Carlo SS with stock size tires. Bell Tech's answer to the tires hitting the fender well was to space the bump stop 1". I installed the Edelbrock/Eibach springs in my current Chevelle. I have been as happy with these as any aftermarket lowering springs I have used.

I agree about the Eibach springs these are probably the best thing I could have done for ride quality

Lowered with new rims (http://groups.msn.com/OtherChevCarsLive/theguyscars.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1950)