1969 Special Deluxe Lifting Up The Rear. Please Help!

This is extremely helpful, this is really good. Thank you, that is exactly what I needed to know so that I can reference what it might look like. I will give this a try and check the height with that.

Can you do that same sort of calculation magic with the 5385 springs so that I can jack it up to that level as well? I just have this weird feeling that those 5385 springs won't make that much of a difference at all and I will be needing to put in the 3" spacers no matter what. I am almost more partial to go with the wagon springs and longer shocks. Ride quality is not crucial to me since this is not a daily driver.

 

The 5385 spring should be about 9" installed. I agree it likely won't be high enough for you.
I do worry the wagon springs will be too much. I tried some in my '66 and it was too high. The 64-77 uses a different style spring which can be cut down to adjust height.

 

So when you put the wagon springs on your car, how drastic was it? The more we talk the more I am liking the idea of a nice dramatic rake. I posted some pics of buicks raised in the rear up above, Can you point to one of the pics that will look like mine with the wagons springs please?

Ps your private box is full. Can't pm you.

 

These are the shock extensions we used back in the day:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Gasket-1...ash=item543abdfbe0:g:mscAAOSwPCVX-GwG&vxp=mtr

The preferred method is to just find some longer shocks:
Monroe shows the stock replacement is #5802, 12.75" compressed, 20.88" extended. Uses L1/CP3 and XP7 mounts on the ends.
Search their catalog for other shocks with those ends but longer gives a #5820 which is 14.13" and 24" extended..... used in 65-70 Wildcat, Impala, etc. Should do the trick.:TU:

 

Like I said in your facebook post and most of the others here have also supported, Ditch the air shocks. Shocks were not designed to support the car. Contact Eaton. tell them what you want and they will send you the correct spring. Most retail supply houses Autozone, Discount, ect can order you springs. Consider using springs for the sportwagon. Yours is a lighter car and will sit higher. Put a good set of stock rated shocks and drive the wheels off it.

 

Just contacted ESPO Springs N Things. We will see what they say when they get back to me.

Since I am getting closer and would like to check some measurements where are the jack points on the Buick Special? Would it be just in front of the rear tire? Also, its safe to have two jack stands on both sides in front of the tire and a floor jack under the axle pumpkin housing right? Also, should I be doing one side at a time?


On a very different note, if I were to do your test (wkillgs) "(For an accurate comparison, you need to measure the spring height in your car now.
Jack up the body of your car until the spring is 11.8" and that's what it'll look like with the wagon springs.)", where would be a good rear point to jack up the back to get a good idea of how it will look? Maybe somewhere close to the rear bumper? Should be part of the chassis back there right?

Correction, current tires are "255"/60/15. I said 233 before.
Another update/correction, my springs don't seem to be cut, but rather measure (under-load) right now at about 8.5-9 inches. Very stock height. So I am also in agreement that I should go with the wagon springs.

Here it is at stock height without air shocks aired up.

 

I have a strong suspicion that the GS 5385 springs WITH 2"-3" spacers will look like the picture below on my car. Correct me if I am wrong. I want to go just slightly higher than that, so I think I will go with the wagon springs. Some of you have said that you have first tried the wagon springs and both thought it was too high for your specific application. Can you describe what too high means to you? In this picture below, I think I want the rear fender lip to be showing parallel with the top of the tire and sometimes even seeing the top of the tire is okay. So please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the wagon springs would do just that, right? And I think the GS 5385 WITH 2-3" spacers would look probably very similar to what is currently in this photo right? With the GS 5385 springs and WITHOUT the spacers, it would probably drop the fender down parallel to the top of the rim right?




As soon as you guys can give me some jack stand and floor jacking tips from my post just above this one, I can do some tests and even take some pictures for us to look at. I am excited about jacking up the back so that the springs measure 11.8" to give me a good idea of how the wagon springs will look. Can't wait to see that. I will send pics once I hear back from you guys and have a moment to do it.

 

After talking to Springs N things I have decided I will most likely go with the station wagon springs which should raise the car from ground level about 3-5 inches.

I found these on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Moog-CC505-Coil-Spring-Set/dp/B000HPVTK8/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_i


What does it mean variable and should I go with those or find another that aren't variable IF it exists?

I called Monro for their shocks and they lead me to these which seem pretty expensive. I want to double check with you guys, is this the right style of shock? These are made for off road trucks. They will be $50 for each shock.
https://www.amazon.com/Rancho-RS5124-RS5000-Series-Shock/dp/B000CB42CY/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Buick%7C45&Model=Special%7C4757&Year=1969%7C1969&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive&vehicleId=1&vehicleType=automotive

I called them back asking for a cheaper option and they said these could work as well. Any thoughts?
https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-33050...automotive&vehicleId=1&vehicleType=automotive

 

I hope I didn't lose you guys, I still need your help and opinions to make my final decision this week, hopefully Monday.

So as promised I did my test and took pics. There are two types of springs in the running. Moog CC505 which are in a sense the station wagon springs which will lift the rear 3-5" according Springs N Things. The next set are CC507 which apparently are a similar springs, but slightly lower than the station wagon which will raise the rear about 2".

Here is a pic of my car with a 3" lift on the rear.




And here it is with a 5" lift.




Here is what I am thinking. The 3" looks good and I like how the front sits with that rake. Also, if I were ever to sell it, I think I could get away with selling it like this without it being too drastic or extreme of a rake. So, what I would like to do would be to buy the CC507 2" lift springs with a 1" spacer. This way I would have around a 3" lift and in the future if I didn't like the look, I could just remove the spacers and it would be back to normal. What do you guys think?

Now with the CC505 3-5" lift, I like it, especially when I am feeling in that tough muscle car mood. I wish the front end would be a little higher though, but I do like the idea of putting in the high up springs and being done with it knowing that I won't be fidgeting with it anymore.

So I have my last few questions before I buy, hopefully Monday (Tomorrow). I hope to hear from some of you by then before I make my final decision.

Where can I find 69 Buick 1" spacers for my car that will definitely work for the "Special" model? I am having a really hard time finding these. I contacted a few guys on ebay and theirs work for a skylark, GS, but not a Special. Is that true, or do they just not have their system including a Special into the list? I thought springs and spacers for the skylark, GS, and special were pretty much interchangeable no?

What are your thoughts guys? I would love to hear opinions. I think if I can't find the spacers I will be forced to have to go with the higher CC505 wagon 3-5" springs. I was hoping to have some options with the slightly shorter springs and spacers ideally.

 

Nice wheelie bar! :bglasses:

I like the 3".

The Skylark/Special are pretty much the same chassis, different trim and other options. So you should be fine with Skylark parts.
But, as with all things, there are exceptions.

 

Thanks for noticing my wheelie bar lol.

I am having a hard time finding a combination to get me close to that 3" pic. I think I am going to have to go with the 3-5" wagon springs like we have often been discussing throughout this thread. I tired to look at other options, but there really aren't that many. Finding spacers would great, but they are hard to come by. So I am hoping the wagon springs will give me about a 3-4 inch raise. We shall see. I will definitely send updated pics when done.

 

Just for those who might be interested, a buddy did a precise calculation for the lift. Considering my car is currently at stock height the CC505 wagon springs would increase it 3-1/8". So that should be very nice and not too much and not too little. Just about right... hopefully.

The MOOG CC-505:
I.D. Wire Load @ Load Height Rate F.L.
5.530" .672" 990# @ 10.00" 181#/in 15.46"


The,MOOG CC-505 will increase the Trim Height of the vehicle 3.125" aka 3-1/8" over the MOOG 6321:

 

Sounds like you really want the wagon springs? IMO you may get your lift but you will not be happy with the ride quality.
At least you have some rubber to absorb some of the shock.

Have you called any spring manufacturer yet to pick their brain? EATON Detroit Spring did exactly what I asked for.
I just went to high with my choice and felt that they were never going to settle as much as I would have liked.



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Yeah I called just about every company I could think of even custom springs guys. They were the ones that have me the figures. I am not too concerned about ride quality. I wish you had another pic of your lift. So you got the cc505 right?

Would you say my estimate was accurate of about 3 inches?

 

Okay, I have hope and am excited to get this going. I had no luck finding spacers for my car. They have them for the GS and the Skylark, but they all say none compatible with my Special Deluxe. Do you have a link that could work?

 

Where are you located?

 

Central coast California

 

Someone with more chassis knowledge will have to answer this for you.
I was under the assumption that the "Special Deluxe" was the low optioned Skylark platform with a different trim package.

 

That is exactly what I thought as well. I think the ebay sellers and some others just don't list my model so it immediately becomes incompatible.