Front spring problem?

[hammerdog57]

I installed the sbc engine in my 55 this past weekend and had a question. A little history on the build, camaro front clip completly rebuilt with new front springs etc. Bare cab sitting on frame, no front clip. Just the bare engine and transmission installed. I measured the top of front frame to floor before installing engine and after and front of frame only dropped 3/8 inch. At this point i still have negative camber on front wheels with no shims. It looks like the front end needs to come down quite a bit to get any camber adjustment. How much can i expect the front end to come down with the weight of front clip,doors,glass etc. installed?

[Speedbumpauto]

I'm using the clip but with the coil over option for exactly that reason. My instructions want about 1- 1 1/2" rebound(drop) and 3 - 3 1/2" compression. Mine, in the same stage cosntruction as yours, at minimum spring compression on the coil over has dropped about the same amount. (with a big block) I think you'll be fine but it's not exactly apples to apples. At the worst, we'll have to get some excentric upper bushings that they make for those sub frames to correct camber.

[1959Chev]

You will need to allow your front suspension to settle. It won't do that until you start driving it some at least for the springs not sure on coilovers.

[Speedbumpauto]

Yea, the same with coil overs. The beauty is you can just crank the spanner nuts up a little to get it back where you want it.....but like all good things, it doesn't come without the annoying cost.

[mr48chev]

As 1959Chev said above you really need it all together and maybe a loop around the block before worrying about it. Then after you drive it if it still sits too high you can start thinking about what to do with the coils.

Sometimes they will settle out a bit just by rolling the chassis forward and back a few times and I always bounced the car a couple of bounces when I had one jacked up while it was on the front end machine so that the suspension would settle out.

[booger1949]

heidts said it could take up to six months for the front end to settle, so like every body else said put it together an drive it a little while

[hammerdog57]

Thanks for info guys. I was just expecting the front end to come down more than 3/8 of an inch.

[_Ogre]

when i put the motor in truk with mustII front end, it didn't go down at all.
maybe a little from the tires squishing but the shocks were still fully extended.
your looking at 600 lbs or more with getting the truck together.
truk dropped 3/4'' more over the yr
you'll be fine