This might belong in the suspension forum, but I figured more people with similar issues would be here...

I just installed upper and lower (early version with deeper pocket) SPC control arms, ATS spindles, Eibach springs with the aluminum SPC helical spacer underneath, and Bilstein shocks on the front of my all iron sbc 1972 Chevelle wagon. The problem is that the car sits so low that it isn't close to driveable... you can't get a floor jack under the crossmember and the lower arms are at a crazy angle, not to mention the extremely limited suspension travel before the tires hit the wheelwells.

My question is this: Is there a spring out there that has a rate similar to the Eibachs but is taller? I really don't like the idea of using a bunch of spacers to get the height back, and I don't want to spend the $$$ on a set of custom springs.

I was thinking that maybe Moog springs for big block Chevelles would get me close, and provide a higher spring rate than a small block spring. I also figured I could trim the BBC spring a bit if it sits too high. I could pick up a pair for around $100.

Thoughts? A better solution?

Here are some quick pics I snapped with my phone -

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs402.snc3/24373_435513504988_513109988_5522175_4298089_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs280.snc3/28175_434761024988_513109988_5501339_4709284_n.jpg

I personally like the way it looks. Besides that, trying stock springs won't hurt. Have you considered a coil over or bags? What size wheels are those?

Thanks, I like the way it looks too. I just wish it was remotely driveable that low.

The wheels are 17x9.5 in the front with 275/40s and 17x11 in the back with 315/35s.

Shim it dude. Thats what they are there for. 1 shim= ~.5"

I have a 1972 skylark 455 with eibach springs for big block with no other mods and I can't get a low profile jack under the cross member ?

I used 1 - 1/4" steel spacer under the alum spacer and used the thin urethane spacer on top of the spring held in place by the spring locators. I don't think it's low enough but the suspension travel tells me otherwise. :p

That's the beauty of these arms, lots of ride height adjustment and with the Howe BJ tool, it's a snap (relatively speaking) to change it.

I'm hoping the SPC front springs settle a little or I might remove that urethane spacer from the frame pocket.

I am at 3-7/8" crossmember to ground clearance.

The car needs to come up about 1.5 inches or so, maybe more as I haven't had a chance to eyeball a decent camber and take measurements... the Eibach is supposed to lower the car 1.3. This is why I am wondering if I can just go with a stock height spring that has a decent spring rate. Maybe a big block spring will do the trick? I know that I can use spacers to artificially make the spring taller, but I would rather just use a spring that is the proper height.

If you really don't want to use shims, you can order custom springs from www.coilsprings.com in whatever height and rate you want for a pretty reasonable price. Eibach springs are approximately 550lb/in rate, where a stock bigblock spring is roughly 375lb/in.

BTW, I love those minilite replica wheels!!!! Who makes them?

If you really don't want to use shims, you can order custom springs from www.coilsprings.com (http://www.coilsprings.com) in whatever height and rate you want for a pretty reasonable price. Eibach springs are approximately 550lb/in rate, where a stock bigblock spring is roughly 375lb/in.

BTW, I love those minilite replica wheels!!!! Who makes them?

Yeah, I saw the thread where Mark from SCandC mentioned www.coilsprings.com (http://www.coilsprings.com). When I spoke to him over the phone he said a pair of springs would run around $200, or about twice as much as off the shelf springs.

I wasn't aware that the Eibach is that much stiffer than a BB spring. Spacers from SCandC are looking like a better idea now as I want to keep the spring rate the same. So from what I have been reading, 1 inch of spacer = 2 inches of body height... right?

The wheels are Vintage Wheel Works V48s. I will be painting the centers black to match the stripes as soon as I get the suspension and brakes dialed in.

Though I don't know what you would do to fix it. Ill be another that says it looks bad ass way to low. I was going to comment on the wheels too. looks good!

Matt

Yeah, I saw the thread where Mark from SCandC mentioned www.coilsprings.com (http://www.coilsprings.com). When I spoke to him over the phone he said a pair of springs would run around $200, or about twice as much as off the shelf springs.

I wasn't aware that the Eibach is that much stiffer than a BB spring. Spacers from SCandC are looking like a better idea now as I want to keep the spring rate the same. So from what I have been reading, 1 inch of spacer = 2 inches of body height... right?

The wheels are Vintage Wheel Works V48s. I will be painting the centers black to match the stripes as soon as I get the suspension and brakes dialed in.

Yes you are correct, an inch at the spring equals 2 at the wheel so to speak.

My wagon(same color by the way) sits that low. But then I have these switches on the floor, and it comes up. I LOVE my air ride.

I have a 1972 skylark 455 with eibach springs for big block with no other mods and I can't get a low profile jack under the cross member ?

As far as I know, Eibach doesn't make springs for big block a-bodies. I called them today and verified that the front springs are 550 lb/in linear and the rears are 110-185 lb/in progressive rate. I also just made a quick measurement... 22.75 inches from the ground to the highest point in the fender well. Mark at SCandC told me most guys shoot for around 25.5 or so, leading me to believe that the extra two inches I can gain from spacers is going to put me short of that. Ugh, this is frustrating.

I would use the spacers. The AFX spindles have alomost a 1" drop along with the built in drop on the lower control arms and the eibachs drop it as well. Without the shims you are looking at 3" or more of a drop. The SPC arms were designed with the shims in mind. And remember 1/2" of shims will bring you up 1" on your ride height, so you wont need as much as you might think.

I would use the spacers. The AFX spindles have alomost a 1" drop along with the built in drop on the lower control arms and the eibachs drop it as well. Without the shims you are looking at 3" or more of a drop. The SPC arms were designed with the shims in mind. And remember 1/2" of shims will bring you up 1" on your ride height, so you wont need as much as you might think.


Yup, that's the route I'm going to go. I ran into another snag though. After setting the upper arms equal to check for initial ride height, I noticed something didn't look right. The driver's side sits much lower and the front driver's wheel is sucked in by a couple inches compared to the other side. Looks like I have to take it to a frame shop and get it checked out. No point in getting it lifted and aligned the way it is now.

for what it's worth... I went the route you were initially thinking; Big Block Springs. Mark and I pondered that with as much as I had to cut them i'm at roughly 425lb spring rate. I believe I cut about 1-1.5 coils out of it (my memory is failing me though). It is faaaaaar too soft in front. I'm considering going with 650lbs springs but without a boxed frame i'm worried how much flex it will be experiencing.