What do you guys think about cutting coils.Ive got a 92 RS with 168,000 miles on it and I want it a little lower.It needs struts and shocks and while im in there i was wondering if cutting maybe 1/2 coil would give me lower stance without messing up the springs too bad.I know I dont want to heat the springs but dont want to spend 300 bucks on new springs right now if cutting maybe 1/2 a coil would be ok.I hear both sides saying its not a good idea and other people saying I did it and it works great.

 

Sawsall. Using heat will ruin them.

 

yeah I know I dont want to heat them.just want to hear from people that have cut them and see if they are happy with it.

 

If its done right, its a complete non issue with the springs. I cut the rears myself with a saw and a metal cutting blade. The fronts, they were not being as nice as I hoped and it was just taking too long so I took them to our local welder and he cut them off for me. They're fine. Just dont cut too much, 1/2 coil in front should be more than enough. You may want more in the rear, but those are so easy to remove, cut, and install you can take a 1/2, see how it looks, and go from there.

 

cool thanks alot Madmax!

 

Just go on ebay and buy some drop zone springs . 1.75 drop front and back $105 shipped to your door.

 

I dont think thats what the OP had in mind. Nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty, and doing it yourself!!

 

Acutally i believe he did have it in mind he just didnt want to spend $300 on lowering springs and the dropzones are $105 shipped which is a nice alternative. Cutting springs makes the car ride like crap and increases the spring rate. I never said anything about getting hands dirty and doing it yourself. I would assume he would be installing the stuff himself anyway.

 

He knows that he needs shocks and struts.

He figures that while things are apart to do those, might as well do something about the springs.

He is unwilling to spend $300 (can't say as I blame him).

He is uneasy about using heat (but may not understand the difference between making a fast cut and holding the torch on the spring until half of it is cherry-red). If you have a big enough acetylene outfit, this needn't be a problem, and heat affecting the first half coil doesn't matter anyway (it sits in contact with the LCA and does not flex).


Only a little stiffer, which is all you get from cutting a fraction of a coil, will not be a deal-breaker in terms of ride quality, UNLESS doing so puts you into the bump stops a lot more frequently. But that's a ride height problem, not a spring stiffness problem.


Norm

 

Yes...You are right. Please do not take my post as a disrespect to you, as it was not intended as such. After re reading his post I see I was wrong.

 

Cutting springs does NOT automatically make a car "ride like crap". Cutting TOO MUCH and using a torch (heat) will.

I cut 1/2 coil up front, 3/4 coil in the rear, on both a 92 RS 305/TBI/T5 & 86 IROC spring to go in a 90 RS 305/TBI/T5 car. Then proceeded to autocross both (the 92 was capable of winning 1st place, so obviously the cut springs didn't ruin the springs), as well as use them as drivers. BTW...The 90 RS was my wife's car & she never once complained about hers "riding like crap". She wanted hers done too, after riding in my 92. And both cars kept their stock struts & shocks.

90 RS


92 RS


Instead of a sawzall though, I always used a 5 gallon bucket of water & a 4.5" grinder, with a thin metal cutting wheel.

Fill the bucket with water, set the spring in it, with only a couple of coils sticking out. Put whatever under the spring in the water, to achieve the height of the spring sticking out as mentioned. This utilizes the water as a way to dissipate any heat that might build up. Use a good metal cutting wheel & there won't be much anyways. But I prefer to be safe than sorry & overkill my projects.

 

+1 ......I did mine back in late 1985.......lol wasn't any other choice back then cause you couldnt just go buy some. Heh almost 25 yrs later and 70k miles it still rides good, I have had spinal cord damage since 2003 and alot of things cause me discomfort but we are getting ready to do our third Power Tour in the camaro since then if that tells you anything.

 

Thanks for the info guys!



Just thought Id post a pic of what Im working on.92 RS 5.0 5 speed.Bought from orginal owners back in Feb 2002 with 120,000 miles on it.She's got 168,000 on her now and Im getting her ready to be my daily driver for work.Doesnt blow any blue smoke on cold start up, still spits some water from the tailpipes when cold also,so Im thinking the motor is still in pretty good shape.I was driving it when I meet my wife so its got some centimental value,besides the fact that i just love this car(even though its a 5.slow)My Dad has worked for the same Chevrolet dealership for the past 30 years,dont think I could bring myself to buy a foriegn car,Thats my truck in the backround and to be honest,I like driving my camaro more than my truck.I do love my truck though,plans for my truck are a 6.0 litre,then maybe the 4.8 thats in my truck could be put the camaro?

 

I'd put the 6.0 in the Camaro! Thats a nice looking car though! (and truck). Good luck with it!