08-04-2003, 05:33 AM | #1 |
C10 Club Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: White House, TN 37188
Posts: 8,281
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Cutting Springs?
I would like to lower my '69. Is cutting a inexpensive alternative to buying drop springs? What all is involved in cutting the springs?
Bryan
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Bryan www.gmtruckshow.com Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck Project: Patina Burb for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4 |
08-04-2003, 08:05 AM | #2 |
Watch out for your cornhole !
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Azle, Texas
Posts: 14,162
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You can cut a coil from front springs for about a 3 inch drop. I've done it many times. Rides pretty well too. Just use a cut-off wheel on a die grinder.
You can't cut the rear springs. They are tapered, so you have no choice but to buy lowered springs.
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08-04-2003, 09:29 AM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Northern CA.
Posts: 503
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When cutting the spring, do one coil at one end. If you want it lowere yet, cut the other end...do not cut more than one coil from each end.
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08-04-2003, 06:52 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
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I wouldn't want to cut a coil off the top of a spring as it uses the 'last coil' to locate the spring in the upper crossmember pocket. Also, more than 1.5 coils off & ride quality is affected as well as alignments are much more difficult to do.
Rear coils can be cut . . . .... but, you have to fabricate a small 'can' (that bolts in the original bolt hole for the spring) that 'catches' the spring. Basically you make a pocket for the spring to rest in, similar to the front lower a-arm pocket. If you have the materials/talent, it's fairly simple.
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08-04-2003, 08:16 PM | #5 |
Fabricate till you "puke"
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ill
Posts: 9,402
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If you cut the fronts, i agree......cut only off the bottom. You had just as well take 1 full ring, so the spring will seat properly on both ends & you will have about a 3" drop as already posted. When I cut mine, they went upsidedown in a 5 gal bucket of water, & were torched off.....no problem, the only part that was hot was the 1st 1/2 " of the remaining spring. good luck,crazyL
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08-05-2003, 02:31 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: So. Cal.
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I cut my front coils over 8 years ago. Still have them in there today and it still rides very well. I'm just going to add 2.5" dropped spindles and keep the springs.
I cut one full coil off of the big end. Then I heated the coil 180 degrees from the cut end and hit the coil on the ground to bend the coil so it was more square. This was to make it seat better in the control arm. Hope that makes sense.
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08-06-2003, 09:14 PM | #7 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Wow, this is a nice departure from what I usually have to argue about. Most responses in past posts on the subject strongly recommend against cutting springs. While it's certainly not the best way to lower your vehicle it can be done with very positive results the way folks have recommended above.
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08-06-2003, 09:40 PM | #8 |
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I would say that the front is no problem but no more than one coil. Otherwise you get to low and you would have no travel left over.
I would not on the other hand try to cut the rear springs because of the tapered ends. I would slurge and get good rear drop coils. Just my .02
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1968 Chev SWB with 1998 Corvette LS1 305hp and 320 ftlb to the wheels (stock engine!) AEM EMS and wideband O2 sensors Bowtie Overdrive's 700R4, stage 3 Baer 4 wheel discs and 20s http://iciclelanding.com/aperture?album=2049&view=album |
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