Guys, Please tell me if the rear springs on a 65 Skylark are pigtailed both ends? Ive had a look underneath and cannot figure it out. The top looks pigtailed but Im not sure about the lower end where it sits on the axle cup. The reason is I want to reduce the ride height at the rear. Currently I have 3 inches of tyre between the rear wheel well lip and rim of a 14 inch rim. I want to bring it down by about 1 and a half inches. Does anyone know what the amount of tyre showing is at standard ride height? The frame height off the ground at the rear just forward of the wheel is nearly 8 inches from bottom of the frame rail to the floor. At the front the frame rail is 6 inches bottom of the frame rail to the floor, measured just behind the front wheel where the frame rail turns in for the wheel opening. The bottom of front crossmember to floor height is 4 inches. They are probably original springs. The spring thickness is 17 / 32 of an inch wire. The spring sits 9 inches high when loaded in the car [with admittedly no gas tank, no bumper & no interior] and there are 4 full turns on the spring. I believe the spring to be the original spring. What dimensions are yours? If it is only pigtailed at the top then I can zip a quarter turn off or something to lower the car to where I want. If they are double pigtailed then I have more of a problem! Thanks guys regards Nick :TU:
order them for a 64 chevelle. Soebody will have them for that application, or air bag conversion (read $$)
Are you guys sure about the top end being pigtailed? uzzled: My '65 GS has the usual 'open' end....which Moog refers to as a 'Tangential' end. It could easly cut to lower ride height. However, the coil spacing of the last coil is less than the rest of the spring. So you might have to heat and bend that last coil. The end that bolts to the rear is a pigtailed end. My '66's use the same spring. In 67, Buick went to a spring with pigtails at both ends for the Skylarks.
Nick, Walt is right I think! Sorry for the bad info, but I must have got it mixed up with my 50 Olds springs....
OOH Bob, nice chassis!! Thanks for the pic. Thanks Walt for the post too. So we think it is open at the top. Second question, giving the data I posted on teh spring [wire, turns and height] it it a 'standard' spring or is it a weaker than standard spring? I want to stiffen up the rear and plan on putting in boxed control arms, new rubber bushes, and a rear roll bar with poly busihings [I find poly suspension bushings too hard but better for roll bars] and don't know if I would be better off with a stiffer spring. All advice welcomed! Thanks Nick :TU:
Nick, I'll look up the stock spring data I have for the '66 GS, and post it later. But here is some online data on the Moog springs: http://bbb-carb.com/coilsprings/moog_Coil_Springs.htm If you look elsewhere on the site, they list #5231 and #5237 for the '65-66 Skylarks. Both are 17/32" wire dia (0.531"), and an installed height of 8.5". The #5237 is a longer version of the #5231, as it's designed for a car with more weight. I went with a #6197 It's a 'HD spring', so it will most likely need to be trimmed for the proper ride height. If you need Front coil spring info for a 65-66 GS, see this thread: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=78664&highlight=coil+spring+source
The original springs for a '66 GS (I don'y have '65 info) were 0.540" wire dia, with an installed height of 8.5 inches. Hope that helps!
Walt, Thanks a lot for all the posts - 0.54 is what I have - I approximated 17/32 becuase it ws just larger than a 1/2" spanner and to small for a 9/16" spanner!. 8.5 inches installed height seems right so then I can surmise they haven't sagged in the 40 years - incredible! Do you have the springs in yet? How do they ride? I'm surprised in the differnece between free height and ride height - 15.sth inches vs 8.5 inches. At $55 per pair plus $10 shipping I have to say at that price I'd be leaning towards getting a set of 5235's heavy duty springs and cutting them down. 0.593" wire, 8.5" ride height, 16" free height. http://bbb-carb.com/coilsprings/buick/8skylarkrwd.htm Thanks Walt! :TU: Nick
5235's I do have the 5235's you're considering in my blue car. They're originally spec'd for the Special station wagon, so they're designed to hold another 225 lbs at that ride height. Figure maybe 1.5 inches higher than stock. I did cut mine down to adjust height. They do ride pretty well, without being harsh. I like my cars to sit a bit higher than stock. That allows for bigger tires, and just makes the car look more aggressive! These are 275/60-15's on the rear. :bglasses: The 6033/6197 combo I mentioned is for a 'frame-off' project. It won't be back together until next year....
Walt, That looks just what I am looking for! Spot on! Lets hope they can get them down to Carlsbad CA for the weekend! best regards nick :laugh:
