My 70 elky has cut springs in the front, done curtesy of the previous owner.
The car is too low- even with shorty headers, i drag the pipes- I cannot run a bigger tire than 225/60R15 on my 15x8 rims- which keeps it low.

I want to change these springs out- but don't know which way to go.
I'd go back to stock small block springs, but I'm afraid of them sitting up way too high-

Hotchkis says their springs will lower it 1" to 1.5" Does anyone else have those springs with a smallblock no a/c? Can you send me some pics of how the front sits? I would just go ahead and get the hotchkis, but i'm afraid it will sit as low as it does now.

What are the advantages of using a lowering spring like the one from hotchkis or eibach, vs a cut stock spring?

Thanks for any help! Pictures would be greatly appreciated to help with this decision.

The lowering springs (i.e. hotchkis) have a higher spring rate. The cut stock spring bottoms out, where the shorter and higher spring rate spring will rebound and save your headers.

I would go with Hotchkis springs. Ride quality is very nice (if you like a firm, yet controlled ride) and the stance is real nice. Bypass Eibachs at all cost (bad experience). Get some Bilstein shocks if you can afford them. They'll make the Hotchkis springs work even better.

Look for Midnight Marauder. He has a picture of his '70 Chevelle SS 396 with Hotchkis in his sig (not a SB, but will give you an idea of the stance).

You have a real nice stance on your Elky right now. The Hotchkis should maintain that, but slightly higher (I think). Don't forget to put on properly trimmed bumpstops (Hotchkis supplies them or did with the Impala SS springs I got). Report back with pics!

when using the hotchkis springs,can you still use full length headers or do you have to run shortys? :confused:

What size tires can you use? :confused:

Ben, I'm sorry to say both my Monte Carlo and 68 Chevelle have Eibachs and no offense to Alan, worked great. I'm not a fan of Hotchkis, but as anyone in the industry knows most companies are buying spring from a vendor, so differences in design aren't all that much. When cutting a stock spring you raise the spring rate but no where enough to keep it off the bump stops, so don't get stock replacements and cut them you'll have the same banging headers problem. Your picture shows a car with a very reasonable drop, my chevelle is about the same an I run 255/50/16 and they rub only in extreme circumstances. My Monte on the other hand has Tall Spindles (arggg don't get me started) and is even lower, so low in fact if I'm not careful the front crossmember will hit the ground, but the Hookers full lenght headers don't hit go figure. graemlins/clonk.gif Go with a good after market spring kit and you'll be happier.

I have the Hotchkis springs on my Chevelle. But, I bought them when they first came out and not when Hotchkis had seperate part numbers for BB and SBC.

When I first bought my 'Velle I had the "Ese'" low rider look after I pulled out all the spring spacers that were in the car thus why I bought the springs. In my opinion they made the car sit too high in the front, but the rear sits :cool:

If I had to do it all over again (with the knowledge I've gained here and at school), I would search the spring charts, do some calculations and buy some Moog or TRW springs. The beauty of GM is the interchangability thus other applications, in the spring chart books, list high rate springs that I know will work with a little effort put forth by me.

Good luck with what you decide.

Joe

For header insurance on my chevelle I installed a set of taller bump stops. It allowed less suspension travel but saved my long tube headers only to be sanwiched between the engine and steering shaft when my chevelle was hit (grrr). Oh yeah, I was running Moroso Trick springs.

Just to clarify my Eibach disliking. It has been the experience of the late-model Impala SS world that each set of Eibachs (same part #) have different drops. One guy's Impala ended up 3" lower in front, while another only got 1/2" lower. I got a set that lowered my car 1 1/2", but only lowered the rear 3/4". Eibach states the drop as 1.2" front and 1" rear. This wide variation in drop rate isn't just with Impala SS springs either (Imports have noticed it as well). This variation, and the ride quality are my dislikes. Hotchkis on the other hand have had very consistent drop rates and good ride quality characteristics.

I'm not hear to say Eibach's suck per se, because those that have found the good sets are really satisfied (like Q-ship). It's an option to look into Ben, so keep an open mind about them. I'd still consider the Bilsteins with any lowering spring though. Good Luck!

I have the Hotchkis springs on my Chevelle... different year, but you can check the pictures in my signature below...

Try a moog 5536 if you cut 1/4 coil gives about 1" drop with a smallblock. Do not cut more than a 1/2 coil or you may be on the crossmember faster than you thought. I have also used the Edelbrock / Eibach with great results. both combos feel close in spring rate. If I remember they both had around 550 lbs. Yes I have access to a spring rate checker. I used the Eibachs because I also wanted a correct pigtail & droped rear spring.

Pic in my sig is with stock suspension (other than springs, which are hotchkis) I agree wtih Alan, I like the way these springs stiffened up the ride although they are not too harsh and they gave me a the drop I was looking for. Keep in mind that my tires and rims are stockers so they dont fill up the well. Tires are also 25 and something inches tall so there is room and you would notice a bigger difference with bigger rims and taller tires in regards to filling the wheel well.

Stance will change some when I due the swap out the spindles and brake hardware and it will probably sit another 1-1.5 inches lower in front.

Overall, I am pleased with the hotchkis and their tech support has been great, IMHO, in regards to all of their packages. There a quite a few Velle owners within that corporation and they are very willing to help you out which was another plus.

Thanks for all the comments guys-
I was leaning towards the hotchkis because they don't have as much drop as the eibachs(I don't want much- Just a little bit) Anyway, so with everything else you guys mentioned, I think you pushed me all the way- so Hotchkis it is.

Once I get em and get them installed, I'll post some new pics. ;)

Thanks! graemlins/beers.gif
Ben