Front Springs--- HEL:P!!!!!!!

[Keith B.]

My springs appeared to be too high with the height of the fender lip being at 28.5 inches from the ground. To solve the problem I ordered new springs from Long Island 3851100 that everyone has said were the best. I just lowered the car back down and presto- 29 inches from the floor to the fender lip. It took 6 hours and a lot of work to be really disapointed. My car does not run yet so taking for a test ride can not be done. What am I doing wrong. The car is a 67 small block. The z score is 5 inches!!!!! what is going on?????????
Thanks

Keith

[David H.]

Re: Front Springs--- HEL:P!!!!!!!

Are you using rubber bushings? Did you torque the bolts at the end of the A-Arm's cross shaft?

The bolts at the end of the cross shaft should NOT be torqued down until the suspension has a chance to "settle". If those bolts are torqued while the suspension is up in the air then the car will be "held up" by the tension on the bushings. Of course, that is very hard on the bushings.

You might try a SLOW drive around the block before tightening those cross shaft bushing bolts.

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Is the spring properly aligned in the upper spring tower? (0.38" plus/minus 0.12" from the spring stop)

[Keith B.]

Re: Front Springs-- Toledo area Members

The front bushing bolts are not on the car yet. The sping is sitting correctly in the upper tower. I can visualize the end of the spring through a hole in the frame. Most likely 1/4 inch from the end stop. I am going crazy about this and can not figure how to correct this. The tight coils are at the top as required. If there is anyone in the Toledo area that could take a look I would appreciate.

Keith

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Springs--- HEL:P!!!!!!!

Keith-----

IF the springs are ORIGINAL GM #3851100, then those are the springs that were originally installed in your car. However, if the springs are "reproductions" of the original GM #3851100, then who knows if they are reproductions that are faithful to the original specs? The original springs were 15-13/32" in free length and of 11 coils. I don't have the wire diameter handy but it's also critical.

[John H.]

Re: Front Springs--- HEL:P!!!!!!!

Keith -

The original #3851100 small-block front springs were of .600" wire diameter, and the I.D. was 3.80"

[Geoff C.]

[John H.]

Re: Front Springs--- HEL:P!!!!!!!

Another "clue" is the finish on the spring (or lack thereof); production springs (with the green part number/broadcast code tags) were as they came out of the hot-rolling operation - no paint, as they went directly to St. Louis and were used soon after they were made. Service springs (with the yellow tag) were dip-primed black before the tags went on so they wouldn't rust in long-term warehouse storage.