Front Springs for 1985 Regal with 350 BUICK.

[MrSony]

I'm mildly confused on what springs to get. My car has a 350 Buick, which is about 150-170lbs lighter in all cast iron trim than a SBC, and probably 200lbs lighter than a SBO. I have no idea what springs up front I would need. I do know I'm going with MOOG, just as a personal preference.
The way I see it, I have 4 options:
1. My dad says get springs from a Monte SS without A/C and the 305
2. I think GN/GNX springs would be fine. With the intercooler and all the turbo equipment, I think that adds about 100 or so lbs to the 350lb V6 to make it weight the same as my engine.
3. Diesel car springs.
4. Springs from a 1978-1980 "G" body car with the VIN J motor, which was the 350 Buick.

When considering right height, one also has to take into account spring rate, how bouncy it is I think is a good laymans term for it, and how much they will settle once broken in.

Anyone have any advice? I'll be running the Aluminum T Type wheels and Cooper Cobra G/T white letter tires 235/60/15s all around which are 26.10 inches tall. I want it to sit like this (first picture), with a minimal, but noticeable wheelwell gap. As for rear springs, just some from a V8 car and Gabriel Ultra Shocks in front and HighJackers in back. The burgundy regal is my car and how it sits right now with stock V6 springs and shocks and 195/75/14 tires which are 24.75 inches tall.

 

[MrSony]

It's worth noting that on level ground, there is about 5 inches of ground clearance when the car is empty. And the top two or three inches of the tires are in the wheel wells. And the suspension is so bad, my tires up front are rubbing the top of the fender well at full compression. BUt that may just be how clapped out it is.

 

[Texas82GP]

I like your way of thinking on the GN springs. I wonder how the spring rate compares to the Monte SS w/o A/C springs. Your dad may be right on the Monte springs. I know nobody wants to install the springs twice but you could always trim to fine tune the ride height.

 

[Bar50]

I put new Buick Regal V6 springs in mine, never thought of GN having a unique spring, good call.

 

[MrSony]

Most Turbo Buicks had the F41 suspension package if I remember right. Plus it just makes sense to have the "performance car" to have stiffer/better springs. I'd probably be fine with a standard V8 spring, but the last thing I want is for it to be too high and have to start over.

 

[MrSony]

Really a toss up between GN/GNX/TType springs and 1978-1980 springs for a car with a 350 Buick.

 

[L67ss]

I also vote gn springs

 

[UNGN]

To get it to set like that and not have an overly soft suspension that likes to bottom, you need to run stiffer springs and cut them, no matter what the motor weighs. The lighter the motor, the more of the coil will need to come off.

A moog spring in the 500-600lb range would probably work fine, like a 5658 (and the shorter free height makes them a little easier to come out/go in than a factory high performance spring).

With Bilstein shocks and ZQ8 Bumpstops ride should still be good with those tires/wheels.

 

[Longroof79]

I also had the MOOG 5658 springs in mind. My friend installed those into his Cutlass Cruiser wagon. Although I haven't seen the car since..
I think the F41 springs will lift the car too much, in my opinion. I have the (F41) 5606 springs in my wagon currently, but they've since settled over the years.
I think the 5658 would get my vote.

 

[MrSony]

I also had the MOOG 5658 springs in mind. My friend installed those into his Cutlass Cruiser wagon. Although I haven't seen the car since..
I think the F41 springs will lift the car too much, in my opinion. I have the (F41) 5606 springs in my wagon currently, but they've since settled over the years.
I think the 5658 would get my vote.

Got any recent side pictures of your wagon? I like the way the tire sits in the well. I've had the 5606 springs in my mind for the longest time. I'm not against cutting springs what... a 1/4 coil at a time to reduce the height? What size are your tires??