Anyone know of some good street springs that would also allow for good weight transfer at the dragstrip? I have a 66 Elky with a 350 about 375 horse, but plan on putting a 500hp engine in there. I have original springs at all 4 corners. Any suggestions? Thanks


Jay

Jay, for a street/strip Elky your current springs are just fine. What you can do is to remove the upper front control arm snubbers if they are still mounted to the frame. Install some cheap and loose standard front shocks. Remove the front swaybar. Check to make sure your front suspension moves easily without binding. What have you done with the rear suspension?

If you really want to change out the springs you need to get a total weight and a front end weight on your car, and figure out what your unsprung front weight is; the total of your front tires/wheels, brakes, spindles, lower control arms. For example: with a full tank of gas but without driver my '65 Elky weighed 3,380 lbs with 1,820 lbs total on the front wheels. My unsprung weight is ~ 180 lbs, so 1,820 - 180 = 1,640 lbs load weight for the front coils. Rather than the 240/250 lb/inch rate of drag coils I like a little more for a street car, I had 290 lb/inch before and will next try some 275 lb/inch spring rate. Chevelles generally have a front spring with a loaded height of ~ 11". I went with a Moog #661 which is a 275 lb/inch rate with ~ 17" free height and loaded at 11" is rated for 1,610 lbs - pretty close to my car's 1,640 lb sprung weight.

Thomas

Thomas,
I haven't weighed it yet. As for the rear suspension, everything is stock. I will eventually get some boxed control arms and maybe some slapper bars. I have the Monroe sensatrac shocks which seem to work fine. It hooks good now, but I know when I step up the power, I'll be up in smoke. I'll try and get it to the scales as soon as I can find someone who has a set on the island. Thanks again.


Jay