Rear End Sitting a Little Low.....

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Paul Stewart, Jul 20, 2017.

  1. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    1970 Buick Skylark Convertible, 50,000 original mile car. Want to put 15 x7's with 255 60's on it, but afraid they will rub? Replace with stock springs or add a little lift? Front end sits up a bit.....
     
  2. gstewart

    gstewart Well-Known Member

    My '72 GS had 275r50x15 on Pontiac 7" Trans/AM rims with orig springs all around when I purchased the car in 2000. I sell those rims & tires. I have 245r60x15 tires on 15x7 Rallyes. I did change rear springs to cargo coils.
     
  3. BrianTrick

    BrianTrick Brian Trick

    Sounds like a case of dragonass. You could put the GS springs under it. Some people install the wagon springs,but it may or may not sit too high.
     
  4. 87GN_70GS

    87GN_70GS Well-Known Member

    They will not rub on the rear. Will be on the bump stops before tire hits
     
  5. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    The GS had different springs than the Skylark? Part number?
     
  6. bobc455

    bobc455 Well-Known Member

    Without a picture, hard to know what "sitting low" means. When looking at the old pictures, I'm always kinda surprised how low these cars sat from the factory - we get the impression over time that all old cars should be jacked up, so when something is factory height it looks "low"...

    -Bob C.
     
    DasRottweiler likes this.
  7. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    See attached
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    Put air bags in the springs. Then you can adjust the height right where you want it.
     
  9. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I would add a 1 inch spring spacer...
     
    schwemf likes this.
  10. A spacer under the rear coils would be the most cost effective. Plus, if you wanted extra height you could put another spacer in, unlike the springs where it isn't really adjustable
     
  11. gstewart

    gstewart Well-Known Member

    raise the rear end too much and u may require a front end alignment
     
  12. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    GS springs are actually lower than skylark springs. check out Moog's website. I went with the CC501 cargo coil plus a 1 inch billet spacer to get the rear height that I wanted.
     
  13. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

  14. wunquik86'

    wunquik86' Well-Known Member

    I used a set of Air Lift air bags from Michigan Truck Spring on my 71' Skylark restoration. 5 to 35 lbs your choice and guaranteed for life. lifted my Skylark enough to keep the inside edge of the back fender from rubbing my 295's.
     
    Mike B in SC likes this.
  15. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    I bet you the car is sitting at factory height. Factory ride height for a Skylark should be 25 1/16 from the ground to the rear molding. On a GS, it sits even lower at 24 5/16

    15x7's and 255's should fit no problem. 15x7's were an option and a 255/60 when compared to a G60 are almost exactly the same dimensions
     
  16. Jim Jones

    Jim Jones Wretched Excess

    Paul, your car does not appear to me to be sitting low in the tail end. The rocker panel forward of the rear wheel is in fact higher than the rocker panel aft of the front wheel. Perhaps all the springs have sagged a bit over the years, but a 255/60-15 will fit without issue on a factory rally wheel on the rear of that car.
     
    Paul Stewart likes this.
  17. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    Sounds good, I will see after I install the new rims and tires before I do any mods. Also, the front tires are 1" shorter, so that will help as well. Thank you!
     
  18. Buickcub

    Buickcub Well-Known Member

    My 72 convertible sits a little too high for me getting ready to replace the springs you have have the ones I take off if you want them
     
  19. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    That is very gracious of you! Do you have any pictures of your car with them in?

    Thank you!
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
  20. Buickcub

    Buickcub Well-Known Member

    I will check, the guy who switched them out for me took pictures of them side by side.
     

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