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Originally Posted by Gearworks
...and those are direct fit size wise? Since you have the "holy grail" Moog book, could you list both specs so our members can see the difference, and compare?
thanks
Paul  |
Sure thing, Paul.
Actually, I'll do you one better. I'll attach the excel spreadsheet I made up with all the likely springs that are considerably stiffer without changing the installed height too much so you can look at your leisure. Remember that the stock spring specs are for a 351W with air conditioning...
Also, you will notice that there are two rows, one labeled 'change in installed height' and the other 'change in ride height'. The change in installed height is the change in height of the spring itself. The change in ride height is the change in the height of the spring multiplied by the ratio of the lengths of the lower A arm (the length from the ball joint to the center of the spring divided by the length from the center of the spring to the pivot on the frame, if that makes sense). I don't know that ratio, and haven't measured it on my car, so I just assumed it was 2, which is a common ratio. If anyone knows what this ratio
actually is, or would like to take a tape measurer to their car to find it out, I'd be really interested to know!
If anyone is looking for a rate softer than the ones I have included in this spreadsheet, let me know and I'll look them up. But I have a friend with a 91 caprice and he put 840 lb/in springs in the front, and it rides very well, in my opinion. The harshness comes if you put stiff shocks on a car rather than the springs.
Which actually is another consideration with stiff springs; you will have to do some research to see if you can find a shock absorber stiff enough to give you the proper damping ratio for these considerably stiffer-than-stock springs. The stock shocks just won't be up to the task! If anyone has found good, stiff front shocks that they could reccomend, I'd really like to hear it!
When I put the LTD wagon springs in the back, I got some KYB Gas-a-justs, and they do just fine. I'd reccomend them.
Okay, here's the file!
Enjoy.
Mike
P.S. I had to attach it as a .zip file, because for some reason .xls isn't a valid file extension to attach on this forum... :rolle go figure.