1970 Chevelle LS6

[Lee Stewart]

https://i.postimg.cc/y8m05YR3/screenshot-8563.png (https://postimages.org/)

https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0521-461925/1970-chevrolet-chevelle-ls6/

[olredalert]

----To the next owner, please lower that car......Bill S

[SS427]

----To the next owner, please lower that car......Bill S

I would love to know what exact springs people are using to get them to sit correctly. As of late we have had nothing but trouble getting these cars to sit down where people like to see them. I have 4 cars in the shop and all 4 sit at this height. ALL have original assembly line springs in them on all 4 corners. Two of them still had the tags on them when they came in as well as original assembly line shocks but sit high. I have tried several different Moog springs and am now onto trying Eaton springs. We have also done all the math with the vendors to try and resolve it and have a TON of money in both labor and spring cost and have not been able to get them to sit right. Been doing this for 40 plus years and these last 4 cars are killing me.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I would love to know what exact springs people are using to get them to sit correctly. As of late we have had nothing but trouble getting these cars to sit down where people like to see them. I have 4 cars in the shop and all 4 sit at this height. ALL have original assembly line springs in them on all 4 corners. Two of them still had the tags on them when they came in as well as original assembly line shocks but sit high. I have tried several different Moog springs and am now onto trying Eaton springs. We have also done all the math with the vendors to try and resolve it and have a TON of money in both labor and spring cost and have not been able to get them to sit right. Been doing this for 40 plus years and these last 4 cars are killing me.



That is very strange.


I had to read your note twice to make sure I understood correctly...….


Did the 4 cars sit nice and low when they arrived unrestored?


My car sat perfectly nice and low when I got it and I reused the original springs an it sits the same now...…… I'm really puzzled Rick, keep me in the loop!!


Control arm bolts tightened when the suspension is up as high as possible? I am not going to have any suggestions for you as I have 1 year of experience and you have 40 :-)


Ryan W.

[SS427]

That is very strange. Did the 4 cars sit nice and low when they arrived unrestored?

Control arm bolts tightened when the suspension is up as high as possible? I am not going to have any suggestions for you as I have 1 year of experience and you have 40 :-)
Ryan W.

They all sat a little lower but not by much and still higher than most would like to see. I cannot stress enough, all had original 50 year old worn out coils and two cars had original shocks.

We tighten the suspension when the car is a rolling chassis and no body. We then pull it down while on a 4 post hoist using ratchet straps and take measurements where prescribed in the book and then tighten all the bolts. I have been doing it this way for years. I am really getting frustrated as it is prohibiting me from delivering some of these cars.

I just received my Eaton coils about and hour ago and they are 2" shorter than the other 4 original sets so we shall see where that puts it. If that works then I have to figure out how to lower the fronts the same amount but should be easy using the same formula. Just a pain to have to tear four front ends apart to replace front coils.

The one pictured looks good but is still about 1.5" too high.

[Charley Lillard]

If you pull the car down with straps and then tighten the bolts doesn't that just put a strain on the bushings as they are trying to return to neutral all the time ?

[dustinm]

If you pull the car down with straps and then tighten the bolts doesn't that just put a strain on the bushings as they are trying to return to neutral all the time ?

What I believe they are trying to do here is have the bushings at a neutral state/ ride height when tightening.

You are correct they will wear out faster if bound up on install, but with these cars even if they cheat them are they going to see enough miles to even break in?

[Jamess113]

I have been using Hotchkis 2" and 3" drop springs to get a nice ride height. This Judge has a 2"drop spring.

[SS427]

What I believe they are trying to do here is have the bushings at a neutral state/ ride height when tightening.

You are correct they will wear out faster if bound up on install, but with these cars even if they cheat them are they going to see enough miles to even break in?

That is correct. Tighten when the chassis is fully assembled with no body but pulled down to it's ride height. When the body is lowered onto the chassis it 'should' settle at its neutral position. Would tightening be better after the car is on the frame? Yes but it is VERY hard to get at the two bolts above the muffler. Also, the factory set the ride height on the chassis before the body was mounted from everything I have read so I am only repeating what was done originally.

[Damien]

I tried 2 other sets of front springs for my Chevelle before trying the set of 2" lowered fronts springs I had sitting on the shelf for 3 years.
Never thought they would be the answer but I think it's pretty close.

[Postsedan]

Well Done Damien :)

Dan

[four5four]

What would be the accepted "correct" height from ground to bottom of fender, with stock tires and rims for 1970 SS454. Any difference for 1971-72 SS454 . Thanks

[x33rs]

If it helps Rick, the last few cars I've done I used Coil Spring Specialties and have been very happy with their coil springs and ride heights.

Larry

[SPEEDYB]

I have been using Hotchkis 2" and 3" drop springs to get a nice ride height. This Judge has a 2"drop spring.

Looks great

[DougA]

I would love to know what exact springs people are using to get them to sit correctly. As of late we have had nothing but trouble getting these cars to sit down where people like to see them. I have 4 cars in the shop and all 4 sit at this height. ALL have original assembly line springs in them on all 4 corners. Two of them still had the tags on them when they came in as well as original assembly line shocks but sit high. I have tried several different Moog springs and am now onto trying Eaton springs. We have also done all the math with the vendors to try and resolve it and have a TON of money in both labor and spring cost and have not been able to get them to sit right. Been doing this for 40 plus years and these last 4 cars are killing me.

I am the opposite. I have a 70 Elky,454 factory air. When I bought it, it sat way to low. Ordered Elgin springs, supposed for my application, barely raised it an 1 1/2. It is still to low for my taste, I like the front end to sit higher. Not a gasser look, but a little higher than the norm.
What are the springs and #'s you used to get the higher look?
First pic is with springs when I got it, second after Elgin installed. Has repro 15" wheels. It is now 27" from the ground to the wheel well lip.

https://i.postimg.cc/nc9V96MX/DSCN0504.jpg (https://postimg.cc/1fP1L7GS)
https://i.postimg.cc/bYWpP3Lp/DSCN0517.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8sRqBdq0)

[1903USMCUnertl]

A couple of questions...

Did the factory set ride height estimating passenger weight or just the completed car?

Does is matter if the springs are placed in the exact same location as they came out of?

[ORIGLS6]

Out of curiosity only, what do you consider 'accurate ride height'? I'm guessing there is some variation depending on how each car was equipped. Yes I know A/C cars received different springs but how much weight difference would there be in a heavily equipped car vs. a bare-bones version?
FWIW, I just measured my car. Something I found somewhat surprised me, and yet it's understandable. (I recently replaced the upper control arm bushings on the passenger side.) Measured at the axle, floor to bottom of the Wheel Opening Moulding, sitting on stock 50 year old springs and shocks, and on Repro F70-14 tires at 32 psi, here's what I found:
LF: 26 3/8"
LR: 25 1/4"


RF: 26 5/8"
RR: 25 1/2"


Just wondering how this compares.

[Lee Stewart]

Additional weight (lbs.) for added options: 1971 Chevelle SS 454:

AC = 106
P/S = 30
P/B = 11
PDB = 57
AM Radio = 9
Console (M) = 10
Console (A) = 17
4 speed = 5
TH400 = 48
Stereo Radio = 14

[four5four]

Mine is 26.5 inches floor to bottom of front wheel opening moulding with original springs, bushings and repo F60X15 bias ply on factory 15x7 rims at 29 psi on my 1971 SS454 El Camino M22 bench seat, no AC. Rear varies of course due to air shocks on El Camino, but I like a level stance. I think it sits okay, maybe slightly low due to age, always thought 27 inches might be what the as from factory height would have been, but who knows.

[Calix Lee]

She is indeed a classic beaute. I have always been a fan of old cars.