1" Lowering Springs. Anyone have 'em?

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by mjoe7, Aug 5, 2004.

  1. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Is there anyone that has the Hotchkis 1'' inch lowering spring part # HSS-1916F from the Summit catalog in there Buick, or a 1" lower spring at all?
    If so could you send a picture of your car and let me know how you like them. I would really appreciate it. I am trying to get ideas and have no clue where to start.
    Thanks;
    Mike
     
  2. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    I forgot to mention.

    I forgot to let you all know.
    The Springs are going in my 70 GS/455.
    Mike
     
  3. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Anyone!

    Is there anyone that has these even if you don't have a picture.
    Just let me know how you like them and how high it sits.
    Thanks;
    Mike
     
  4. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    Sorry Mike, I have two inch cut coils from OPG on my 69.
     
  5. ilikebmx999

    ilikebmx999 Well-Known Member

    i had them; last summer. if your putting them in a big block car i would say dont get them. they jacked my car way up from original ride height. i had about a good 4" between the top of my tire to the bottom of my wheel well. what i didnt take into consideration is the world is chevy crazed and the tech at hotchkis told me the springs were designed for a big block chevy which weighs quite a bit more than a BBB. they did however take my springs back for an exchange for the small block springs. the only problem is they havent been installed because im in the process of installing disks. i'll see if i can get you a picture of the 1916f's installed when my car was still on the road with them

    Joel
     
  6. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    thanks

    I would REALLY appreciate it if you could get me a picture.
    What you said about the chevy I believe to be true. I put in the Moog springs 5536's and the car sits higher than an S10! So I ordered the 1916f Hotchkis springs to lower it. I will wait on putting them in until I hear more from you. That's a great idea to order the small block springs. I was thinking that... but was not sure as no-one seems to know anything about Buicks around my parts.
    Thank-you again!
    Mike
     
  7. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    Mike, have you considered the two inch drop springs? IMO, they lower it just right!
     
  8. larknut

    larknut Active Member

    i installed the hotchkis springs in my 72 skylark w/ a 350. they did lower the car but personally i think it could still use another inch. my particular application running 15 inch rims with 235/60r15 tires there is about an inch to an inch and a half between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well.
     
  9. lcac_man

    lcac_man Hovercraft Technician

    One inch lowering springs from Hotchkis. If your running the original factory installed springs expect about a 3/4" increase in height.
     

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  10. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Looks good.

    I think it looks good. It's probably higher because your old ones had sagged over time. So the 1 inch lower is actually higher.

    Tell me about the trans. swap you did. I am thinking of that also. What did you have to do to put in a 700r4?
    Mike
     
  11. msc66

    msc66 still no vacuum

    Sorry to highjack the thread but I just can't get over how good Len's car looks. That color with those wheels...I love it!

    I'm having the same problem with ordering springs. I just know that I'm going to have to do this more than once to get it where I want it and I don't like that at all.
     
  12. skyphix

    skyphix Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]

    You've all seen that picture a million times Im sure...

    Thats with the hotchkis springs. I think with a BBB, it'd sit very nicely. Just make sure you get the "small block" springs from hotchkis.

    They ride nice, handle well, and IMO the car looks decent (as far as stance goes). If I get a BBB, I'll stay with the stock height spindles...

    if I do an SBB build, I'll get 2" lowering spindles...

    Remember, those are only 14" wheels :(
     
  13. lcac_man

    lcac_man Hovercraft Technician

    Re: Looks good.

    Yeah, the originals are usually shot so you'll most likely get a bit of a raise.
    700r4 swap was the single best thing I did during the build, I bought a kit from TPI that included most of what I needed:
    Trans (with caprice tail housing to mimic th400 dimensions), lockup converter (2200stall), adapter plate, cooler, tv cable, carb tv bracket, dipstick, inspection cover, output yoke. Kit cost was around $1550.
    I had to buy a new flexplate, build a new driveshaft, replace the cooler lines (headers contributed to this also), install shiftworks kit for the floor shifter, move the crossmember back about 3/4" (just drilling new holes).
    A little over $2k when I was done.
    I have 3.42 rear gears and cruise at 70mph@1950rpm
    The low first gear makes the car jump hard, best of both worlds.
    The 200r4 will do the same, may cost a bit more but can be built just as well.
     
  14. ilikebmx999

    ilikebmx999 Well-Known Member

    ok finally got a picture; its kinda dark but i tried highlighting where the tire is.
     

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  15. ilikebmx999

    ilikebmx999 Well-Known Member

    thats with a set of 235/60 tires on 15" wheels. im hoping with the new springs that it lowers it a good 2 more inches than from that picture and even more in the back(guy i bought it from thought the REALLY raked look was cool)
     
  16. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Excellent

    Thanks for the pictures.
    If you have one post it and give a discription of the coil springs you have installed.
    Mike

    The ones pictured in the car are the ones I have taken out. They are race springs only.
    I had trouble with nose diving and bad control in twisties.
    It did not have good street manners therefore the search is on for a nice "normal" yet a little lower spring.
    Mike
     

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  17. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Pic

    Here is another picture next to my Aunt's 72 Luxury Lemans. Her car sits low due to very low porfile front tires.
    Mike
     

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  18. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Coils are in.

    I got the Hotchkis 1" lowering springs in and it looks great, rides great and I'm happy.
    They are not real low, but I expect them to settle some yet. I have it at the alignment shop now.
    When I get pictures in the computer I'll post them for ya all.
    Thanks to those that gave advise.
    Mike
     
  19. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Pictures

    Here are the pictures of what a Skylark looks like when Summit sends you the wrong springs and you do not check the part number before installing. (I waited 6 weeks for them too.) I drove it about 150 miles like this and it took out all four ball joints!
    Moral of the story... check your part number before installing any part.
    These were Moog. I have replaced them with Hotchkis 1" lowering springs along with new sway bars front/rear & rear control arms, and new ball joints and have been very pleased.

    Mike
     

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  20. mjoe7

    mjoe7 In the beginning God...

    Picture of the coils.

    This is a picture of the coil springs that I used.
    Left to right... 1st is Hotchkis 1" lowering spring, 2nd is the wrong Moog spring I got which caused the front to look like it had no engine in it, 3rd are the springs I bought the car with. Morosso drag springs bad for everything but drag racing.

    Mike
     

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