I know very little about suspension on our fbody's but is it true that the front springs are different between 6 cyl and 8 cyl cars?

I looked up the Eibach Sport Lines and the descriptions were for 8 cylinder Fbody's

My question is...If I wanted to lower my iron duke powered bird, am I stuck with 8cyl versions only? If so would it actually lower the front end given it's about half as light?

I don't want to buy a set of lowering springs only to find they wont work on my bird...any help??

-bill

 

I can't say anything about the springs for 4cyl engines, but I do know that there is a difference between V6 and V8 springs. In fact, I'm pretty sure a lot of members use V6 springs for drag racing on their V8s. I don't remember why exactly.

Anyway, I'd assume that since you have a lightweight 4 cylinder engine, the V8 springs would not be a good choice for your car. They would probably end up raising the front and rear of the car rather than lower it.

I can't say I know of anyone who sells 4cyl lowering springs either. I'd probably say your best bet would be to pick up a set of OEM springs from NAPA or similiar places. It probably won't lower your car at all, but your springs are probably sagging pretty bad if they are all original.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

I wonder if I would be better off "cutting" my springs to lower it.

My bro bought an 84 v6 camaro...the front always sat high....he put a v8 in it and it seemed to lower the front end to a more natural stance....I wonder if the guy before put in v8 springs for his v6.......

here is my current ride height on stock springs.




Anyone have any suggestions?

 

V6 springs are a lot weaker than the V8 ones. When my Firebird was a v6, it sat like yours does. Once I put the L03 in it, it went down slowely, and it has a great stance now.
That being said, I wonder if GM just used v6 springs, because that does look higher than the v6's. So you could try some dropprings for v6 cars. If all else fails I suppose you could just cut them :-/

 

 

All the pre ’85 cars sat that high or even higher…

I’d start with trying to cut the springs and see if I could get a combination that sat right and handled well… otherwise, I’d get some later RS springs and cut those to a decent ride hight…

 

this is showing my ignorance in suspension....but isn't cutting the springs weakening them?

Where do you make the cuts?


thanks to everyone for all the good info.

 

Yes, cutting a solid piece into sections and welding them backtogether will always weaken metal. The heat caused by the cutting causes the springs to age prematurely. Not only this, but the structural integrity is slightly lessened by the cut, but I think its negligible. You will notice a difference in ride qualilty however; and not for the better.
You can cut anywhere as they are circular. Just cut out a small section (most people cut 1/2 or a full rung)

 

No, cutting springs does not weaken them. It actually raises the spring rate. The heat from the cutting does not “prematurely age” them either, you’d have to be an especially talented moron to get enough heat into more then an inch or two of the coil to have any effect on it while cutting it.

Hotchkis and a few others actually recommend cutting springs in street handling applications over buying aftermarket springs (assuming that the springs you already have are in good shape), and in Hotchkis’ case they actually recommend heating the last coil to red hot so you can bend it to shape. After experimenting with this a bit I totally agree with the approach

 

I have the SpringTech springs in my V-6. After I put the stereo in the back, the rear sat 1" lower than the front. I cut exactly 1 coil off of the front springs with a cutting wheel, and now it has an awesome stance. No rubbing at all. The front is about 1/2" lower than the rear.