I am having a difficult time deciding what new springs I should buy. My regal has a 400 Pontiac in it and I'm having trouble deciding the right spring rate. I'm in need of new springs asap the front ones seem fine but the back ones are toast the left side is sitting about 1/2-3/4 of an inch lower than the right. I don't really care about lowering the car I'm more of a function over form kinda guy. (If they do end up lowering the car its a bonus). I'm wanting something that handles better than stock in the turns. I've had my eye on a stage 1 UMI handling package but almost 900 bucks is a lot of money so I'm planning on piecing the kit together over time I just don't know what spring rates and shocks to get. Your guys' help is greatly appreciated this is my first project and I don't want to waste money on parts that don't do what I want them too and be out a big chunk of change I could use on something else. Thanks again fellow G Bodiers!
Spring help please!
- Thread starter billcox
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The G body springs are pig tails both ends so you can't cut them. I use the 83 Phoenix rear spring which is open ended at the top which allows you to cur them. I use the F body rear isolator that is made for an open spring and the open centre of the isolator fits the hump used to keep the pigtail in place. The Moog number for the spring I used is 5661. I cut the spring so I use the shorter Bilstein AK shock to keep the spring in place when I lift the car
Some good info there thanks buddy. I'm guessing pigtailed means the coils get closer together at the top and bottom opposed to just straight up and down. Is the isolater something that could be picked up from the parts store? Also did you use the phoenix springs on the front too or just the back? And what engine/trans do you have?
The isolator can be bought at the parts store. I used the Moog 5660 (S-10) springs up front and cur 3/4" coil off of them. I also use tall lower ball joints so that drops the car another 1/2" For the drivetrain I have a 355 with a ZZ4 roller cam and vortec heads, behind that I have a T5 WC and in the rear I have 67 8.2" eaton posi
Thanks for the part numbers those will help me out a lot. Do you have any more info on the tall lower ball joints? I vaguely remember seeing something about them on an s10 forum a while ago. How much does your engine/trans combo weigh do you think? Also what size tires are you running? I hope I'm not asking too many questions?
The tall ball joints are actually truck ball joints but you can buy them from Allstar race products and pay alot more for them. You need to get the taper reamer to open the hole in the spindle and shim the ball joint in the lower A arm and tack weld in place. I'm looking for lower A arms for screw in ball joints but they don't make them so I will. My engine weight what a stock 350 weights, the transmission is 75 lbs plus the clutch set up. I have a cast iron 153 flywheel. For tires I have 245-50-16 BFG g-force comp 2
here's the GM isolator part number 10290379...the after market stuff is junk
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm
here's the GM isolator part number 10290379...the after market stuff is junk
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm
Thanks for all your help GP! My only problem is not being able to get that low because of my tire/wheel combo. Is it possible to get springs with similar rates that don't lower the car? As it sits now it has 275/60/15s on 15x8 wheels with 3in BS and the tires occasionally rub the tops of the fender wells when I hit bigger bumps I think if I go any lower I won't be able to roll lol
with that backspacing you need lifting springs I would think. I have 4.5" BS with 16x8 rims and in the front it's lucky I run with a negative camber and in the rear the tires just rub occasionally. I plan to adjust the quarter panels to correct that. I have my rear springs cut 1 1/3 coil and the F body isolator adds about an inch.Here's a link to the Moog springs and you might find something that will work
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Moog_Spring_Page.htm
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Moog_Spring_Page.htm
Thanks again gp. I think it will be okay with stock height springs especially if they are stiffer because even with the wheel/tire setup on the back with the worn out ones it only rubs if I go around a super sharp corner or hit a pretty good sized bump or hole or train tracks. And even then its only about 2x1" mark left on the highest part of the inner fender from the top of the tire.
I've decided to go with fbody front springs and Malibu wagon rears from Moog. What shocks should I buy? I noticed on summit there were the AK shocks and some regular bilsteins what are the difference? Also when I order shocks should I order four of the same kind? Also will I need an isolater on the front like I would if I used fbody springs on the rear?
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