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Topic: New Rear spring

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


New Rear spring

Posted: 2/12/05 5:13pm Message 1 of 12
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Grandville, MI - USA
Joined: 5/8/2004
Posts: 140
Vette(s): 1968 427/390 Coupe

I instaled a new spring last week and the rear end was about 3" above the tire, so I ordered a longer bolt and the results are about the same, is that possible? what is it going to take to drop the rear end about 2"? right now the front end checks(from the ground) 28" and the rear 30"

 

 




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New Rear spring

Posted: 2/12/05 6:04pm Message 2 of 12
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Hot Springs, AR - USA
Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3236
Vette(s): 69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans

have you driven it with the new bolts yet..  it should settle once you drive it.. 

 




New Rear spring

Posted: 2/12/05 6:47pm Message 3 of 12
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Grandville, MI - USA
Joined: 5/8/2004
Posts: 140
Vette(s): 1968 427/390 Coupe
The car will settle 2" ?


New Rear spring

Posted: 2/12/05 9:33pm Message 4 of 12
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Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7313
Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
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"BLUBYU" - '04 Coupe
This may be stating the obvious but keep in mind that with the longer bolts to lower the ride height position the nut closer to the threaded end of the bolt.  It seemed backwards to me at first but it worked.


Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

New Rear spring

Posted: 2/13/05 6:45am Message 5 of 12
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Evansville, IN - USA
Joined: 9/30/2004
Posts: 69
Vette(s): 1980 Red, Chevrolet 350HO 330 HP Power Plant, Hooker Super Comp Headers, True Dual Exhaust, 700R4 Transmission.

I had the same problem when I did my swap.  I ended up with 10" bolts and the nuts are at the very end of the bolt.  Could have gone longer but I am waiting for the "settle"  Of course I will know if my spring settles 2 " because I will be burning rubber at that point.

I got the bolts at my local fastner distributor, they where about 10 bucks cheaper than interenet and quicker.  These are not your local hardware bolts though.  Grade 8 and long is not a common bolt so I had to go to a distributor. 

 

By the way, my rear end is sitting at 28"

 

Relayer4438396.2830671296


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New Rear spring

Posted: 2/13/05 6:56am Message 6 of 12
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Grandville, MI - USA
Joined: 5/8/2004
Posts: 140
Vette(s): 1968 427/390 Coupe

After I thought about it, I forgot to mention I'm in the middle of rebuilding so the gas tank is empty, there is no exaust on the car and the spare tire & carrier are not on the car. I will wait until summer when I can get some road time to further evaulate.




New Rear spring

Posted: 2/18/05 2:10am Message 7 of 12
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Hot Springs, AR - USA
Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3236
Vette(s): 69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans
[QUOTE=RHeyboer]

After I thought about it, I forgot to mention I'm in the middle of rebuilding so the gas tank is empty, there is no exaust on the car and the spare tire & carrier are not on the car. I will wait until summer when I can get some road time to further evaulate.

[/QUOTE]

you can get it to settle a little bit by lifting the car up on a jack and quickly letting it down or just by hand rolling it down the driveway.. you wont find your natural ride height until everything slides back into its natural place.




New Rear spring

Posted: 2/18/05 9:37pm Message 8 of 12
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East Hanover, NJ - USA
Joined: 9/25/2004
Posts: 525
Vette(s): '68 Black Conv. Matching 327/300 4 Spd. P/S, P/B, P/W, Tele, A/C

RH,

I kind of panicked too & went for the 10" bolts, after I installed a stock 9 lesf spring.  They did the trick for me.

I actually could have used 8 inchers........When the car came off the lift, the spring was still arched & it looked like I installed air shocks.  I went right to the 10" bolts before I took it on the road. 

It turns out that a rather short drive allows the spring to spread to it's proper width and I got a better picture as to the final ride height.

Fortunately the bolts have enough threads to adjust the final ride height which I'll do at the alignment shop.

Good luck,

Anthony




New Rear spring

Posted: 3/10/05 5:56pm Message 9 of 12
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Clearwater, FL - USA
Joined: 2/8/2005
Posts: 67
Vette(s): ...
Guys you should not be using 10" bolts. 8" max. Something is wrong w/your spring if you have to use 10" bolts.


New Rear spring

Posted: 3/26/05 10:51pm Message 10 of 12
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DUNEDIN, FL - USA
Joined: 10/22/2004
Posts: 833
Vette(s): 1969 COUPE CORTEZ SILVER, BRIGHT BLUE INTERIOR 383 cu. in. 512 HP. Hooker headers w/ side pipes PS PS AC AM FM STEREO. 68,000.MILES C5 5oth Anniversary Coupe , auto.350hp

  Van steel

     I  just installed the composite monoleaf spring i purchased from you and my ride height is up higher. I have driven the car about 30miles.I have 8 inch bolts  that were supplied with the spring and have the nut cranked up to the top of the threads.I`m sitting at 29.5 inches. Should i drop the nut down lower on the bolt?

By the way the nuts supplied were a nylon lock nut ,not castlelated.is it necessary to cotter pin it?

  Love the ride though, accompanied it with Koni`s in all 4 corners set on the sport setting




in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


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