I am going to be putting a 455 Pontiac into my 82 Trans Am in the near future what springs do the people running big blocks or cadilac engines etc use. Do any from a earlier Firebird or Camaro fit?? (1981 or anything like that) or is it something I'll have to get ahold of Morroso or someone about??? Thanks In Advance James

 

Springs from a 2nd gen may actually fit, but they'd be so old I'd be wary of using them. You can buy nearly any rating and height you want from AFCOIL or Hypercoil, grab a copy of Circle Track magazine and dig thru the ads.

Alternatively, Moog makes two high-end springs for 3rd gens...part#s 5662 and 5664.

You'll need to get a weight reading on the front wheels with the engine in before you can select springs. Should be able to weigh the car and engine separately and do math, but you'll get dead-accurate results with the thing assembled.

 

Where exactly can I get a vehicle weighed? I was thinking about looking into a new set of like 70's Fire bird springs with a 455 because everyone tells me that the front will be dragging if I use the old springs which is true (sbc springs on a car with a 455 Pontiac front will be lowered and I don't know if the car would be mobile) so I sorta want to get them and put them up so when I do finish the build it'd be simple with the engines out. Is there any way to guess the weight by subtracting what a sbc should weight from front end weight and then weight the engine. I'd appreciate a idea of what type of company could do some weighting for me. Thanks Again James

 

I did mine at Englishtown dragstrip on their scale...drove the fronts on and recorded weight, pulled forward until all four wheels were on and recorded weight, pulled forward until just the rears were on and recorded weight.

 

... your taking about adding 200-300 lbs more with your poncho vers the SBC .. stock f-41 V8 springs are around 450-500 lb/ in ... the cheapest aftermarket lowering springs are 550 .. get some around 600 for a stock ride feel ..but you'll still be lowered :\ ...
ground control makes "weld in" and "drop in" weight jacks , that would be the way to go but get 900 lb/in springs for a road race feel

TVP