Spring Help

tdlmomowers

tdlmomowers

Senior Member
I have a 69 Torino Fastback. The left front coil spring was weak, causing that corner to be low. I bought a new set of coils at Napa. They are the ones listed for my car. I replaced the springs, shocks, and spring seats. Now, the car looks like a gasser, with the front sitting way higher than it should. It is about 3 inches higher than it should be. I am contemplating removing the springs and removing one coil to see if this will help. I hope this will be enough, because this isn't a quick job. Does anyone know or have any idea if this will be enough to restore my car to the proper ride height. Of course, as a result of the front being higher now, the front end alignment is way off, camber is bad as well as toe. I don't want to remove too much from the springs, but I also don't want to do this job 4 or 5 times to get it right. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated in advance.
 
if the car sets that much higher they are not the right springs, they mabe for a big block, check a few other suppliers to see if the numbers match, measure one of your old springs for heighth against the new ones
 
I have a '74 Torino. It also sits high up front. They do.

"Proper" ride height may mean different things to different folks.

What is the dimension from the ground to the top of the wheel well?

It will settle a little with driving. Not sure how much. You may want to drive it a bit before making a decision.

Having said that, like others have recommended, make sure you don't have a set for a big-block with air, or a station wagon.

I need to cut a coil, more or less, out of mine, too. As you said it's a pretty good job, but there's no way to get it just right.

Not sure how much this will help

http://forum.grantorinosport.org/in...=01041433ff6b9c9b49czc1bb3eb1b8394907407.html

This may help more.

http://forum.grantorinosport.org/1968-1969-ford-and-mercury_forum2.html

Good luck
 

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Be aware that if you cut the coils they will be more stiff. Coil springs work by twisting from one end the the other. The shorter the length, the less twist in the spring. Disclaimer: I'm not spring engineer, I read this somewhere.
 
The car was originally a 351 Windsor, with no air. It now has a 351 Cleveland with no air. I will check tomorrow and see if a different spring is available.
 
Apparently I got the wrong springs. The ones I got were for a big block car and have a higher load rating. I ordered a set for a Fairlane, with a lower load rating and will try these and see if they are the right ones.
 
I've had the best luck buying the Moog brand of coil springs - do they list parts for your application (I didn't look)?

Until I switched to their springs the front of my F150 just kept sinking toward the earth. After I switched - no more problemo.
 
Mass production in those day had a tolerance of plus or minus 3/8 when the frame was welded together. That means one part of a frame can be as much as 3/4 of an inch different than its opposite! My 55 sits low on the right, and everything is correct and there has been no unusual tire wear in the 17 years we have owned it. I put new springs in once, then removed the right one to shim it. Nothing I have done makes a difference. When parked in grass, it is not noticeable. Nobody ever said anything in all these years, I must have good friends. It drives me nuts!
 
Ole Don, I'm beginning to think, I need to quit worrying so much about the ride height. I ordered another set of front coils yesterday. They should be in the store by Tuesday. Don't know when I will get around to installing them, what with my busy fall schedule. It seems like I never have time to do what I want to do. My family keeps me busy, but that also keeps me limber. Glad I can help my kids with some of their projects, too.
 
I haven't used them, but Eaton will make you a set of springs.

You can tell them what you are looking for for ride height, rate, etc., and of course the model car and weight.

If you want it to handle like a road racer it will ride like crap most of the time.

Always a trade-off running on the street.
 
I'm going to start working on my spring job, today. The new springs came in yesterday. I'm getting tired of doing this job over. I sure hope this set will allow the car to sit lower and more level than the last set. It makes my *** pucker to have them springs compressed and in my hands. I'll let you guys know how these work out when I get the job done.
 
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