Front ride height adjustment
IS THERE A WAY TO ADJUST ie. INCREASE THE "Z" DIMENSION AS MEASURED IN THE AIM? THE DIMENSION FROM THE CENTERLINE OF THE LOWER A ARM BUSHING BOLT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTOM OF THE LOWER STEERING KNUCLE MOUNT? MINE MEASURES ABOUT 1 INCH AND SHOULD BE AT LEAST ABOUT 2 INCHES. THE CAR SEEMS ABOUT 1 INCH LOW IN THE FRONT END JUST HAVING FINISHED A BODY OFF RESTORATION AND NEVER HAVING SEEN THE CAR IN ONE PIECE BEFORE THE RESTORATION OF THE L36 66 CONVERTIBLE.
-
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
What coils are in the car? Originals, and if replaced who's coil? Also did your L36 car come with F41 or AC? -
Re: Front ride height adjustment
12 years ago I restored my 67 L36 coupe. Standard suspension and no A/C. I installed some NOS springs. After a few months my Z dimension dropped to 1". I found some rubber spacers at YEARONE in the Pontiac section and installed them. My Z dimension went to 2.5" and it has remained that for about 7 years.Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
When I bought my car it was pretty much disassembled. The motor & transmission had been taken apart for a rebuild back in the mid 70s and piled in the cockpit and stored for 40ish years. The car was probably raced and beat pretty well as it only had 55000 miles on it with no step in cylinder ,( 1/4 mile at a time I suspect). Anyway the original springs or at least the ones in the car were all monkeyed up with shims and the like but included in the pile of parts was a pair of springs that still had the gm paper part # EB3888250 which is suppose to be the original part # so I used these true NOS springs. The left side went in fairly easy the right not so. I eventually got it in tight side up. The install issues were not car related it was installer related (me)LOL. All the front end bushings have been replaced I did install a new HD rear transverse spring which I guess would push the rear up a bit but shouldn't lower the front that drastically. Also no AC and I don't think it originally had a HP suspension. I saved all the shims in order during the body lift and measured all and matched the dimensions as close as possible so the body shims are at least pretty close to original factory. When I finally got the springs in the dimensions were all pretty good I took the car out around the block literally a mile or so back into the garage and the dimensions had all changedComment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
Boy that sounds like a plan. Its basically lengthening the springs I guess right? But Boy I REALLY don't look forward to removing the springs again. They are not at all fun to deal with. But your before pics are pretty much how my car looks now. The dimensions on my car were pretty good before an around the block trial run and then back to the garage literally a mile or so.Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
I am ready to attack this same problem. When I bought my car, a big block also so our problem is similar, it also sat low. I removed my correctly coded springs and put aftermarket Moog springs in. Surprisingly no change in ride height. Heard about lots of ride height issues with them, not sure why I didn't have them. I'd be curious to hear how you make out. Good luck!!!Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
If you think you had a hard time installing the springs the first time, don't be surprised if this time its harder, as the spring must be compressed more for assy. As a side note, the body shims you talked about have nothing to do with the chassis ride height measurement.
Don't use the rubber "donuts" sold by the typical aftermarket as they are thicker. The ones I used are a GM product. I believe GM used these donuts in some Corvettes with A/C. Most Corvettes I've seen with big blocks seem to sag in the front.......
YEARONE #9028NComment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
Jef sometimes getting these cars to sit right takes some extra work. If a car sits on its original springs for many years, the steel does fatigue to a degree both front and rear. Each case is different. Trying to remember the time frames but back in the 80's ,90's some small block mid years restored with GM coils sat much too high. I was shocked how some owners left it, their thinking was well those are GM parts. Some aftermarket coils weren't much better. GM's supplier didn't make them the same as originals. The F41 coils seemed ok . I used Long Island coils in a 67 big block done 2012 which has same coil as your 66.The car sits perfect. LI put an effort into getting them right knowing the issues going on for a while. If the tag on your coils used are green, they may be the originals. If yellow, GM replacement. Many GM coils are fine, it seems there was a period they weren't. Of course you should always check heights after moving car under power a few times, as AIM mentions. Stephens idea could be easiest. Only coil tools I use are USA quality.Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
I see those spacers at YEARONE seems like a good approach. It says in the description it will raise ride height 1/2 inch but it raised your 67 1 1/2 inches?Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
My front end was raised per my photos. I'm no expert but maybe the spring coil rate is different for a Pontiac and the spacing between the coils is different. My coils are close together.Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
Well that's what Im going to try I ordered a pair. thanks for the helpComment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
Hey, just wondering if you've had a chance to put those spacers in. I have a similar problem to deal with and was waiting to see how you made out. Thanks!Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
I've bought the spacers but have not dealt with them yet. Dealing with coil springs is not my favorite task. Ill let you know if you do order the spacers yourself you think you are ordering a pair but are actually only ordering one.Comment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
Jef-------
Pictured below are some spacers that I acquired many years ago [not for sale]. At the time, I was told that these were sourced from GM. However, I was never able to confirm that or find a GM part number for them. There is no GM part number embossed on the spacers.
In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: Front ride height adjustment
Yeah that's what the ones you get from Year One look likeComment
Comment