67 Riviera Coil Springs

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by major_mitt, May 26, 2014.

  1. major_mitt

    major_mitt Kiwi Buick

    Hi All,

    My Riviera has sat around for a couple of years after I got sad of it not playing nice. Now that I'm in a better position to do some work on it I feel it time to tackle the 47 year old springs.

    The coils are almost touching and as such the ride is very bad with the springs (and everything else) bottoming out with not much effort.

    Now there are a number of spring options available: stock, HD, or lowering style springs.

    What do you recommend to get my suspension back up and running? The height that it sits now is cool but a bit too low really. In saying that I don't want to stick it up in the air like an SUV.

    Thanks for having me back!!
     
  2. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    When I got my car one of the first things I did was replace the springs. Night and day difference. I chose the HD springs in the front but 3 yrs later decided to replace them with lowering springs from Eaton. I have the HD springs available if your interested.
     
  3. major_mitt

    major_mitt Kiwi Buick

    Cheers for the offer Briz but this is exactly what I need. Someone with a known combination that I can copy :grin:

    Did the HD springs sit too nose high?

    So what "drop" springs are in the front and what do you have in the back? Also where did you get the Eatons from? Got any side on pictures of how it sits?

    Sorry if I'm being a pain but being down here means getting the wrong thing costs more than I can afford.
     
  4. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riviera/0411121833a_zps03eab651.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riviera/0411121833a_zps03eab651.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0411121833a_zps03eab651.jpg"/></a>

    This is with the HD springs in front with 245/60 tires and stock spec springs with 1.5" spacers and 275/60 tires in the rear.

    <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riviera/IMG_20140314_182302_zps3e058557.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riviera/IMG_20140314_182302_zps3e058557.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140314_182302_zps3e058557.jpg"/></a>

    This is the same tires in front using the 2" lowering springs, and in the rear Stock springs w/o spacers wearing 295/50 tires The rocker panels are within 1/4" front to rear.
     
  5. major_mitt

    major_mitt Kiwi Buick

    Damn that looks perfect. It is roughly the same height I'm sitting at now with the sagged springs.

    Is the fact the front is lowered while the rear is at stock height a function of the naturally nose high attitude?

    BTW how on earth did you get 275 wide to clear the exhaust?

    Thanks so much for helping me out.
     
  6. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    I still have about an inch between the tires and exhaust. I believe I have 4.5" back space on the wheels.
     
  7. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    Do the pipes rub the back tires on an on ramp or off with the tires squelling . ? unfortunatly mine do.
    I have some progressive wound springs i found on a grand national in the rear. stock size rubber on top of coil. Neopream body bushings all around. Doge Power waggon Hd springs with a coil cut off and stock rubber size on top of top coil for up front.
     
  8. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    I also added the rear sway bar off the GN, I just had to bend in the ends a little bit, was not easy , I broke a rather large vise in the process , I had a floor jack pipe one the end set up in the vise, standing on something grabbing the top of bar leaning way back and snap!!! aMAZingly I landed on my ass with the bar in hand. Something told me not to let go. Had a great laugh..
     
  9. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Nope They dont rub. Where did you get your body bushings?
     
  10. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    Vic Hubbard in Hayward CA, I still have the box later today I will get the pt num . I think its a universal set for GM cars. They looked identical to the ones I took off.It even came with the two larger ones for the front radiator support., Large washers included.
     
  11. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    I need that info.
     
  12. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    sorry for the long delay im going into my storage right now in the back yard.
     
  13. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    Ok its Energy Suspension
    part num 3.4135G
     
  14. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    BaM .. I googled it and its all right there, sweet.
     
  15. major_mitt

    major_mitt Kiwi Buick

    Hi Guys,

    I’m going through a number of my old posts, updating the info for posterity.

    I ended up installing AC Delco HD springs that I got off Rockauto. The box says Made in USA for what it’s worth.

    The ride is infinitely better and the ride height is perfect IMO. Excuse the crappy photos. I keep forgetting to take better ones.
     

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