Front Springs for 1973 Big Block with Air

[Joseph M.]

Looking for some help with the replacement of front springs for my 1973 Big Block with Air. Buba replaced the springs before me and it sits too high. After doing a bunch of research I purchased a set of front springs from Zip that were shown as "correct" in their on-line catalogue. These were the only ones that I found that had variable rate coils (Zip part number SU-1023). They were described as being a "Reproduction of GM original spring #331318, 475 lb. spring rate".

When we installed them, the car sat 2 inches higher than it did before, at a little over 30" to the center of the front wheel arch. So we pulled them back out with the intent of returning them.

I have a few questions and am looking for some help:

1. Should I have left the springs in the car and drove it around for a while to see if the 2+ inches of additional height would actually settle away?
2. Anyone else have any experiences with these springs from Zip? The measure and look very close to the originals?
3. Any recommendations where I could find any other source for the Front Springs which would provide the correct ride height?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Springs for 1973 Big Block with Air

Looking for some help with the replacement of front springs for my 1973 Big Block with Air. Buba replaced the springs before me and it sits too high. After doing a bunch of research I purchased a set of front springs from Zip that were shown as "correct" in their on-line catalogue. These were the only ones that I found that had variable rate coils (Zip part number SU-1023). They were described as being a "Reproduction of GM original spring #331318, 475 lb. spring rate".

When we installed them, the car sat 2 inches higher than it did before, at a little over 30" to the center of the front wheel arch. So we pulled them back out with the intent of returning them.

I have a few questions and am looking for some help:

1. Should I have left the springs in the car and drove it around for a while to see if the 2+ inches of additional height would actually settle away?
2. Anyone else have any experiences with these springs from Zip? The measure and look very close to the originals?
3. Any recommendations where I could find any other source for the Front Springs which would provide the correct ride height?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Joe

Joe------


Well, you should have at least normalized the suspension before you decided the springs produced an incorrect ride height. This means leaving the retainer bolts on the a-arm shafts slightly loose and moving the car on the suspension for a reasonable distance. A drive around the block would be ideal. (Then, if the ride height is OK, tighten the retainer bolts to specified torque.).

Unless C-60 was the only option on the car, your car originally used front coil springs GM #331319.

[Joseph M.]

Re: Front Springs for 1973 Big Block with Air

Thanks for your response Joe. I did know that the 331319 was the specified part number for this ca, but thought even 331318 could work.

However do you think that normalization of the suspension might have made as much as a 2 plus inch difference in the height on those Zip springs?

Joe

[Russ S.]

Re: Front Springs for 1973 Big Block with Air

Joe, Have you considered used originals?

[Joseph M.]

Re: Front Springs for 1973 Big Block with Air

I had searched for used originals with no luck. However, I just found a set of GM new old service replacement #331319 that was purchased in the 80s...I would think those would be perfect...we shall see!