I just swapped an LS1 into my `85 Trans Am which was originally a 305TBI engine. Judging from post I have seen here, I had the front spring cut 1.5" to compensate for the lighter engine. Now that the engine is in, it is sitting *really* low, like 2" too low. Any thoughts? This is a non-A/C car.
Thanks.

 

my only thought is to never, ever, under any circumstances chop the springs until you have all the weight sitting on them...

 

Junkyard hunting time I suspect .

 

I violated that principle by cutting off half a coil from my V8 springs before the LS1 was installed. But, it was my 2nd time to the dance.

 

I had aftermarket stock replacements in my car, and it sat 2 inches or so high in the front with aluminum headed smallblocks. Figured I'd be safe and only cut a half coil when I did the LS1 swap, and somehow managed to be about 2 inches low(4 inch total drop, going from iron block 383, to aluminum block 5.7, after cutting springs).

Half coil usually seems to work for most people.... Any chance those were not factory springs? If you have part store replacements as I did, maybe that could be something for other to take I to consideration in the future when cutting coils.

 

After cutting springs and reinstalling them, they will continue to settle over the next couple of weeks of daily driving. At this point, go spend $50 for a new pair of Moogs, probably 5660s if aluminum block or 5662s if iron block, then cut less off each, and be prepared to do multiple cuts over the next several months.

 

I did lots of searching and reading before I cut my springs. the BEST option i could find was to keep the stock ws6 springs and cut half a coil off. this got me to the exact factory ride height.

aftermarket / lowering springs tend to be sketchy on how much of a drop a stock car will have and many are variable rate which throws another thought into how far will it drop and ride quality

I saw mixed reviews on Moog replacement springs but were a second choice to the factory WS6

V6 springs arent the best idea to me. I wanted the rate the WS6 springs have

half a coil didn't make any difference in how my car road IMO but it is something to keep in mind... the shorter the spring gets from cutting the higher the rate will be.

 

In other words, he ran 5662s.