I have posted a bit about my "lean". I have a 74 302, battery in trunk, bench seat replaced with buckets, and most important, small bumper conversion. My car sits way too high in the front, and leans toward driver side. I will replace all the springs, coils and leaves. I guess the 4-leaf for rear through JCWhitney will suffice for the rear (maybe then, I can remove the shackles!). What coils do I buy for the front? I want stiff ride, but low, so the tires fit in the wheelwells. Should I buy the I6 springs from early model for lower ride height, or buy the V8 springs for big bumpers, and cut them down to fit, for stiffer ride? OR is there a spring already the right size and stiffness for my combo?
How stiff do you want to go in the front? I have a pair of never installed coil springs made especially for a 351W-into-Maverick swap. 'Till you cut them to lower the front they would be plenty stiff. The I6 springs lower the front but they are still soft riding, That's why I kept mine after changing to a V8.
The stiffer the better. How much do you want for those springs? I figure those will sit a little high, but I can cut them to fit. I will be in PA first week of August. How far are you from Pittsburg and Jamestown, NY area?
You can get brand-new springs from ESPO for about $55/pair. I'd get some 600 pound springs and cut a coil off...
I'm about 2 1/2 - 3 hours east of Pittsburg. I can send stuff via UPS fairly cheap from work, we get a volume discount. $35 + shipping.
What are your springs, compared to the 600lb springs TL is talking about? The price sounds right, either way.
I don't know what their rating is. They were part of a kit that you could buy to put a 351W into a Mav. Included springs, headers, radiator. I changed my mind about doing a 351 because I had so many 302 parts. If you're interested give me your city and zip code and I'll find out shipping cost tomorrow.
A 351 Windsor is only about 35 pounds heavier than a 302. In any case, those springs should be plenty stiff if they've never been used, and even more so if a coil is cut from them...
TL You seem to think these springs would work. Based on the following two pictures, how much spring should I cut to get those tires into the wheelwell a bit? Not a dropped-down look, but closer to stock, or maybe an inch lower? There is a two years difference between the two pictures, and except for the visual stuff, like bumpers, the engine has lost approx 100 lbs weight: aluminum intake, aluminum 4vcarb, all emissions off, battery to trunk, lots of grease and dirt (and wasp nests) cleared away. And the bench seat removed. Or do you recommend that I mount them, drive em and let them sit overnight, then measure for a cut? Would one inch cut off equal one inch drop, exactly, or does the spring twisted shape seem to affect the drop in a different ratio--So I might get a 1-1/4 inch drop with one inch cut off, or something like that? I should probably put on some bigger front tires first, maybe 215 or 225/60r15, then see where I set. I may not even need to cut the springs.
I used 66 mustang 620 springs designed to drop a mustang 1". I still ended up cutting a full coil to get it where I wanted it. My wheel wells are trimmed so you may not have to cut the coils at all to get yours to sit where you want them. Rear ride hight will also may a diff in how much drop you get on the front end. Check out my pics to see if it is where you would like it. The ride is firm but comfortable. I still plan to go ahead and instal a 1" sway bar on the front to further improve cornering.
BMC, the check is in the mail. GrabberGT, Checked out your website, and your rear rides about where mine does (with my airshocks at lowest "cruise" setting). I like your front tire clearance...with the fender an inch or so above the wheel. What size tires are on the front, and how much do you think I would have to cut off these springs to get similar ride? I don't really know the comparison between your springs and the ones I am getting.
Scooper: As has been discussed here before, lowering is really a trial-&-error thing. I could not possibly tell you exactly how much you need to cut to get the desired stance. My suggestion is to be conservative and start by cutting only one coil, and see what the results are...
