Coil spring question/help

[XcYZ]

I'm posting this for a friend who has a 70 Camaro with a big block. He wants to lower the front of the car yet keep the spring rate close to stock (close to 300lb I believe). From his research, the lowering springs that he's looked at have a much higher spring rate. His car isn't a g-machine, it's a street/strip setup and wants to maintain the current ride quality.

Any help or insight would be great. :thumbsup:

[Blake Foster]

maybe a bit more than he is wantiing but what about the QA1 coil over conversion, best of both worlds, multiple spring rates ( i would do 450 or 550) adjustable ride height as well as shock dampening??? he could order the RGMP kit which is a 90/10 valving with 11 stiffer settings?? to taylor the ride, or if more street the GMP kit has 50/50 valving

[B_Alley]

with lowering the car, you need a stiffer springs the keep the vehicle from bottoming out. At any kind of g you pull, the car is going to roll, and if it rolls on to the bumpstop it will destroy the handling of the car. Also, hitting the bumpstops too hard can cause some serious damage (i don't know how well the stock camaro's hold up to hard hits).

Stiffer springs won't necessarily make the car more harsh in ride... I mean, it will, but going from 1Hz to 1.2 Hz, it probably wouldn't be that noticeable of a difference, in fact, you might even like the stiffer setup...

[Payton King]

take a zip wheel and cut 3/4 to 1 coil off the existing springs.

[pro-tour79]

as mentioned you realy need to increase the rate to avoid bottoming out and even adding 100# to the rate will not affect the ride quality in fact it will make it feel and steer better.

[XcYZ]

I won't argue that, he just doesn't want a 550+ lb spring in the front of the car.

[skatinjay27]

I won't argue that, he just doesn't want a 550+ lb spring in the front of the car.
you gotta remember that 550 and up may be stiff with a lighter ls motor but in an iron BB even 550 is gonna be a semi-soft comfortable ride. and like mentioned by others without increasing the spring rate he'll be hitting the bumpstops quite often. he could just cut the ones he has in there now since he doesent want a stiffer spring rate... cutting the will raise the rate a lil but it shouldnt be noticeable.

[XcYZ]

Yep, I know.

So nobody knows of replacement spring with a shorter free length?

[GregWeld]

with lowering the car, you need a stiffer springs the keep the vehicle from bottoming out. At any kind of g you pull, the car is going to roll, and if it rolls on to the bumpstop it will destroy the handling of the car. Also, hitting the bumpstops too hard can cause some serious damage (i don't know how well the stock camaro's hold up to hard hits).

Stiffer springs won't necessarily make the car more harsh in ride... I mean, it will, but going from 1Hz to 1.2 Hz, it probably wouldn't be that noticeable of a difference, in fact, you might even like the stiffer setup...

Are we talking about the Direct Synthesis of 5-Substituted Naphthoquinones here?? LOL -- oh -- this is suspension and spring rates...

What about a 'variable rate' spring - where it gets much stiffer with compression vs the first inch or so... that would give the ride height he wants and a decent ride for going down the street - but as he gets into it
would help control the car and eliminate the bump stop issues etc?? Blake knows WAY WAY more about this stuff than I do... and I'm thinking he could chime in here with an opinion on this type of spring?

Eibach (not recommending etc - just one mfg) has a worksheet for suspension - and if they don't STOCK what you need - will custom build a spring for you..

http://eibach.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe/011008.6.8940147404400012020

[skatinjay27]

Yep, I know.

So nobody knows of replacement spring with a shorter free length?for want he wants the moog replacement will work work but he'll have to do some measuring of his now springs/height to get the right ones for his desired height.

heres a spring chart for you/him.
http://www.nastyz28.com/~Todd80Z28/project_pages/front_springs.htm