First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List .........................................................................
What I would recommend, and what I am going to do, is wait until you have the car ready to go, then find a good spring shop, then bring your car into them and have them install the correct springs. This is what I did for the rear springs on mine, before I started the my resto. When I bought the car, the previous owner had installed new leaf springs from CI ( they still had the stickers on them). Obviously, the rear end sagged quite a bit so he installed air shocks. I took the car to a shop here that specializes in springs, and the guy set me up with the correct springs and the rear end sat perfectly. He mentioned at the time that the front was sitting too high, but being that I had the AC system out of the car at the time, I did not have him replace those at that time. When I get my car assembled, I am going to bring the car back to him and have him install the correct springs, also do the alignment at the same time. > Subject: 69 FB Conv - new springs - sits too high > From: "Clell Rogers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 12:47:21 -0700 > > Does anyone have any words of wisdom? There is a 4” gap between the top of > the tire (F70) and the fender. I am doing an “off the frame” restoration of > the bird and ordered new springs from Classic. (CS656 by Elgin) and tossed > the old springs – dumb #1. Before tossing the original springs, though, I > did compared the height, diameter of the coil and also the diameter of the > spring material and they were identical. I am sure that the springs are > aligned correctly in their seats top and bottom. I have rolled the car back > and forth to help it settle (it’s not drivable yet) and also have had two > guys (330 lbs.) sit on the fenders and it only goes down ½ to 1 inch. The > engine, trans and front bumper etc. are all installed. Items not installed > are the shakers, fluids, seats, and a few other small items. Just sitting > there the upper control arms are contacting the upper rubber bumpers no > less. > > > > I contacted Classic who suggested to weigh the front of the car. Not being > drivable yet, it would cost me $100 to rent scales, so hoping that maybe the > PN was wrong I ordered another set of springs – dumb #2. I installed one of > the new springs and it did not correct the problem. I talked with Mike (?) > at Eaton Springs and he said that the free height should be 17” which it is, > and the loaded height should be 11”. The loaded height appears to be more > like 13”. > > > > I am a bit gun shy to order another set of springs from somewhere, because > maybe I’m missing something really obvious? I realize I could cut of a coil > of the spring, but I think it would still be very stiff and is not really > correcting the problem. I might end up doing that, but want to pursue other > aspects first. > > > > Perhaps this is a common problem with aftermarket springs? > > > > Is there anyone able to bail me out? > > > > Many thanks, > > > > Clell in Colorado Springs > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submissions to Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Unsubscribe from Firebird-L: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Help: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/Firebird-L.html> Classifieds: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/ubb/> Owner Pictures: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/show/> Donations: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/store/cart.mv?999999> FGF Merchandise: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/store>
