Hello Buick Brothers, Will this work? I somehow ended up with two sets of "ride/handling" front coil springs for '70 GS 455 from GSCA bought years ago. I know have a need to replace the moroso drag springs in the front of my '72 GS 455. I plan on rebuilding the entire front end to stock specs with good gas shocks and 1.25" sway bar. My question is: do I buy new springs for a non a/c car? use the matched a/c set I already have? Use the driver side spring from the two sets to make a new set for the '72?? (the pasenger side springs have a silver stripe down them, which I belive is stiffer due to weight of a/c system and baterry on that side?? What is the best way to go?? o No: Jerry Shumard
further spring info! OK, I looked closer at the springs from GSCA. It looks like the driver side is #5536, while the Passenger side is #5450. From what I've read in other posts, the #5536 are a bit stiffer which is opposite from what I would have thought because of the added a/c weight. SO..... Should I just intall the set as-is? (meaning 5536/5450) match-up the #5536 or #5450 springs so I have a matched set? someone should know what to do? Thanks Jerry o No:
I'm not sure I personally have never replaced the coils in any of the car's I've owned. I don't know how the car is going to sit with the new coils?I've seen cars that have new coils on all 4 corner's, and they alway's look like they sit too high for my taste. I would rather have a set of original springs that have relaxed a bit over the years vs. new springs that make the car sit too high, but this doesn't answer your question. If it was me, I guess I would start with the lower spring rate springs( 1 from each set) and see how the ride height ends up. If it sits too low for your taste,you could then swap them for the other higher rate coils. It's not fun to put front coils in and out, but I can't think of a better solution. You have the springs to experiment with. Don't forget to make sure the rear springs are good when looking at the car's ride height, a soft/weak rear spring can cause the opposite front corner of the car appear to sit high(cross corner weight) Kind of like setting up a car for stock car racing, If you put in a really stiff pass front spring, it will help plant the driver rear tire. Don't know if this help's, but I tried o No: Good luck, Tom
5536 and 5450 only differ by 1/2" in free length. Both are .690" wire diameter. Spring rates are 487 #/in and 450 respectively, but both are probably within measurement error. Both are available for $95/set and $91 resp. from www.rockauto.com
thanks for the responses! Thanks for the input. I think I'll go with Tom's advice and try a matched set from the new springs I have. The original springs are still on the shelf too, so I guess I can go that way too if I don't like the results. I'm thinking of using the #5536 pair since this car has iron heads and my other GS will have Aluminum. That way the softer springs will be on the lighter car. I'll post the results and maybe some pics as I got a new digital camera to play with. Thanks guys!!! :beer
