[SS468]

I am ready to buy new springs for my '70 and I have a few questions.

First, there are many companies that sell springs and the prices range from $75 (rear) from Classic Muscle and Ground Up up to hundreds from companies like Hotchkiss. I am building a weekend cruiser and not a G-machine so would the cheaper springs be adequate (and better than the 40 year old ones I pulled out)?

Has anyone had good experiences or bad experiences with the purchase of springs from any of the companies selling springs?

I am planning on running 245/60-14's on the stock SS wheels and I want the car to have a good stance. How would the car look with 1" or 2" lowering springs vs the stock height springs?

Thanks.

 

[JLowe]

Hey CHris....I am installing an Air RIde system on my 70 convertible and will be

Looks like I'll have to help them edit their sales stuff out.

 

[SS468]

Chris, it was nice talking to you.

Looks like I'll have to help them edit their sales stuff out.

 

[Tom Mobley]

Please take your sales stuff off-line.

So you talked about this stuff on the phone but you didn't ask how much but instead post here?

Parts wanted/Parts for sale stuff still not allowed on the tech forums. Please edit your posts and take your sales stuff offline or to the free classifieds.

 

[Tom Mobley]

.....

 

[SS468]

Thanks Tom. I didn't mean to break the rules and I was planning on editing out the price question today.

Back to the spring questions, does anyone have any input on a spring vendor or pictures of a '70 with a 1" or 2" lowering spring or spindle?

Thanks.

 

[BADCHVL]

I put Hotchis springs front and rear on my 70. I lowered my car all around, i put 1" drop in front and 2" drop in the rear. My car rides fantastic, great handling and a smooth ride. I bought my springs thru Summit.

 

[GRN69CHV]

Correct Frt springs : Big Block

'69 5390
'70 w/ AC 5374, w/o AC 5372
#...........ID..........Wire.......Ht..........Load......Rate.......Free ht
5372...... 3.63...... 0.625..... 11......... 1843......288.5..... 17.38
5374...... 3.63...... 0.64...... 11......... 1957...... 317....... 17.17
5390...... 3.63...... 0.656..... 11......... 1952...... 336....... 16.63

Correct Rear Springs

Std Spring 6319
HD Spring 5413

5413...... 5.53...... 0.593.... 8.5........ 740....... 167
5379...... 5.57...... 0.562.... 8.5........ 760....... 121.5
5385...... 5.57...... 0.593..... 9........... 602.3..... 167.5
6319...... 5.58...... 0.531..... 9........... 616....... 119.2

I just went through this. Had 5390's in there, had to cut 1/2 coil for ride height (my car has alum heads, headers, alum intake). Now have 5372's in there. Ride ht is just about stock. In the rear, I am pulling out the Moroso Drag Springs (which work great by the way) and installing 5413's. I bought the springs from Autozone. FYI, to each his own. I've had Hotchkiss lowering springs twice before. Both times, I ended up cutting a full coil off to get a "lowered" ride height and both cars ended up riding hard as running on rails. If you use a Hotchkis (or other) lowering spring, best not to cut them as this raises the rate.

 

[SS468]

Thanks guys for the information. I want to get this right the first time.

 

[1972malibu]

I put Hotchis springs front and rear on my 70. I lowered my car all around, i put 1" drop in front and 2" drop in the rear. My car rides fantastic, great handling and a smooth ride. I bought my springs thru Summit.

Hey Bobby - I don't see where Hotchkis has a 2" drop rear spring on their website or Summit. I found their 1" and a 2" from BMR.

We are debating between a 1" or 2" rear spring for our '72 to balance well with the SpeedTech coil-over conversion out front. Do you have a p/n for the 2" Hotchkis?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[Toreadorranger]

Correct Frt springs : Big Block

'69 5390
'70 w/ AC 5374, w/o AC 5372
#...........ID..........Wire.......Ht..........Load......Rate.......Free ht
5372...... 3.63...... 0.625..... 11......... 1843......288.5..... 17.38
5374...... 3.63...... 0.64...... 11......... 1957...... 317....... 17.17
5390...... 3.63...... 0.656..... 11......... 1952...... 336....... 16.63

Correct Rear Springs

Std Spring 6319
HD Spring 5413

5413...... 5.53...... 0.593.... 8.5........ 740....... 167
5379...... 5.57...... 0.562.... 8.5........ 760....... 121.5
5385...... 5.57...... 0.593..... 9........... 602.3..... 167.5
6319...... 5.58...... 0.531..... 9........... 616....... 119.2

I just went through this. Had 5390's in there, had to cut 1/2 coil for ride height (my car has alum heads, headers, alum intake). Now have 5372's in there. Ride ht is just about stock. In the rear, I am pulling out the Moroso Drag Springs (which work great by the way) and installing 5413's. I bought the springs from Autozone. FYI, to each his own. I've had Hotchkiss lowering springs twice before. Both times, I ended up cutting a full coil off to get a "lowered" ride height and both cars ended up riding hard as running on rails. If you use a Hotchkis (or other) lowering spring, best not to cut them as this raises the rate.

Are the part numbers for 72 the same as 70? Rock Auto shows the 5413's as the regular spring and 5385 as the HD rear springs for a BB 72 chevelle?

Edit:
http://www.classiccarsprings.com/chevy/8chevelle.html

Looks like 72 used the 5413 as the standard spring, so 70 they could have been the HD spring.