C2 1965 Front Ride Height

[Ed D.]

The front end of my 65 327/300 convertible has sat 3-4 inches too high in the front since I purchased it ten years ago ..... and I am tired of looking at it!

I have decided to take action.... OK it took awhile

I suspect the springs are wrong (i think 10 coils ....hard to count on the car)) and have purchased new ones from L.I.C. (12coils)

Besides the springs what else should I look for that may cause the car to sit high ???


Thanks for your ideas!!!!

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Are the springs installed upside down?

[Ed D.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Are the springs installed upside down?

Jack, I'm not sure! To be perfectly honest ..... I didn't know there was an upside down I hadn't looked noticed it in my shop manual. Can you tell by looking at it on the car?

[Gene M.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Some springs have a cut notch to indicate top.
The closer wound coils go at the top.

[Ed D.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Some springs have a cut notch to indicate top.
The closer wound coils go at the top.

Thanks! ....and I thought Jack was kidding me

[John H.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Ed -

The original #3851100 springs were variable-rate and progressively-wound, and the end with the closely-spaced coils went up, in the spring pocket in the frame, as noted in the Assembly Manual.

I don't think any of the currently-available replacements are wound that way; all I've seen are constant-rate, with evenly-spaced coils.

Photo of #3851100 springs below.

[Ed D.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Ed -

The original #3851100 springs were variable-rate and progressively-wound, and the end with the closely-spaced coils went up, in the spring pocket in the frame, as noted in the Assembly Manual.

I don't think any of the currently-available replacements are wound that way; all I've seen are constant-rate, with evenly-spaced coils.

Photo of #3851100 springs below.

John .... Thanks for the pics!! That will help a lot
.......Ed

[Ed D.]

Re: ++Springs correct++ 1965 Front Ride Height

John... Jack ... ??

Springs are progressive and sitting in the correct position. No spacers.

Any other ideas why the front end sits up 3 or 4 inches too high


...Ed

[Joe C.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

I have searched ebay and see some 3851100 "NOS" springs for sale. All I have seen are with 12 coils, non progressive.

Hinckley posted a photo of the springs as originally configured.

If your springs are not nestled with its ends butting directly the ends of the spring pockets, then your car will sit too high.

[Ed D.]

Re: C2 1965 Front Ride Height

Thanks again Joe!!

[Gary B.]

Mid-year standard coil springs; 10 vs 12 coils

Guys,

Something's fishy here. The original, progressive coil springs that I removed from my '66 L79 with standard suspension have 12 coils not 10. I can measure the length if anyone is interested, but these springs are original with the (unreadable) ID tags still on them and they absolutely have two more coils than the ones in John's photo.

Gary

[Joe C.]

Re: Mid-year standard coil springs; 10 vs 12 coils

Guys,

Something's fishy here. The original, progressive coil springs that I removed from my '66 L79 with standard suspension have 12 coils not 10. I can measure the length if anyone is interested, but these springs are original with the (unreadable) ID tags still on them and they absolutely have two more coils than the ones in John's photo.

Gary

Gary,

The original springs that I removed from my 1965 327/365 without C60 are as pictured in John H's photo. The new 3851100 springs which I bought from a local Chevrolet dealer in 2000, are the same.

[Bill M.]

Re: Mid-year standard coil springs; 10 vs 12 coils

Guys,

Something's fishy here. The original, progressive coil springs that I removed from my '66 L79 with standard suspension have 12 coils not 10. I can measure the length if anyone is interested, but these springs are original with the (unreadable) ID tags still on them and they absolutely have two more coils than the ones in John's photo.

Gary

I count 12 also...

[Mike G.]

swaybar link

I've seen swaybar link kits that have LONG spacer tubes, which can add a few inches to the ride height.

Check your spacers to see if they're ~1.75" long.

BTW, my '65/300 is 24" at the nose beltline.

[Gary B.]

3851100 springs; I believe 12 coils is correct, not 10

Ed -

The original #3851100 springs were variable-rate and progressively-wound, and the end with the closely-spaced coils went up, in the spring pocket in the frame, as noted in the Assembly Manual.

I don't think any of the currently-available replacements are wound that way; all I've seen are constant-rate, with evenly-spaced coils.

Photo of #3851100 springs below.

John,

In a posting on Sept 3 of 2007 Joe Lucia stated:



On November 10 of 2007 Jerry Fuccillo posted a photo (attached) of the original springs on his '67 base engine car with tags have 3851100 ED, clearly showing 12 coils. The 12-coil springs in Jerry's photo are identical to the original springs on my '66.

Gary