FINALLY, I have my 68 on the road again this spring, with a new stance! Gone are the 14x6 chrome rims and 235/60 14's. In their place, 15x7 chrome wheels with 245/60 15" BFG Radial TA's. Gone are the old sagging rear coil springs, replaced with cargo springs via Bob C. Gone is the stock front sway bar, in it's place, a 1.25" bar from Duane H. In the rear, new boxed lower arms, and a stock size rear sway bar, where before there was none, and fresh gear lube in the 2.56 posi. Gone is the Carter 625 carb and rubber fuel line, replaced with a 1970 750cfm 455 Qjet and steel fuel line, and a new fuel pump. I pulled the coil wire, and cranked the 350 3 or 4 times for about 4 seconds each to get some fuel pumped in, then hooked it back up, and she fired right up. Had to speed up the idle just a bit, but it idles nice and smooth, better than the Carter did, and the throttle response is much better. Ya gotta love it when you can bolt on a carb and go. Thanks to BuickStreet Bill for that one! I wasn't looking for TOO much lift with the cargo springs, but the stock look is a bit too tame for my tastes, so I'm giving them a try. I like being able to actually see the rear tires! Feel free to express your opinions about the height of the rear end. I'm curious what the consensus is about it as it currently sits. I'll post 2 or 3 pics:
David your car looks great to me:TU: . My old 69 GS sat about the same as yours (makes taking off the wider rear tires easier):laugh: .
Thanks John! I would have been happy with about an inch less lift, but I'm ok with it as it is. I went for a short 5min drive tonight, and it handles great, the ride feels good. It's wonderful to be able to take a corner at more than 5mph... the added rear bar and big front sway bar REALLY made a big difference in the handling.
I like the new look. I agree, it could use an inch or so less in the back but don't the springs settle after a while of driving them? You could always put a sack of congrete mix in the trunk :laugh:
Slicks and tools in the trunk, and a full tank of gas will bring it down some. David try a few hard launches to settle in the springs, if that does not work keep trying:3gears: :laugh: . Again very nice:TU:
sounds like you have a winner, mr. gramlow. i do have an issue on the stance, though. 68/69 skylarks dont look good jacked up in the back like that. i love the 15" wheel/tire combo, but if you were to raise the front a bit and drop the rear a bit, you would get better use out of your swaybars, and it would look more "natural" [less 'chevelle' like]. i understand your desire to appear less stock looking, but the back halves of these cars dont lend themselves to drastic rakes very much. i suppose you will have to drive it around a while to get used to the look and feel of it's attitude, though. you will decide what you like. other than this minor point, i really like the departure from the old look. :TU:
I don't know if they'll settle or not... I believe they were nearly new, with very few miles on them, when I got them last year. I suppose later on, if I wanted, I could have them cut down. Concrete, hmmmm......
David, Just my opinion here, but personally I didn't like the 68/9's much until seeing yours now. I agree just a ''tad'' too high in the rear but on the other hand, I dont mind a bit of rake in a car. Maybe take an inch away from the spring and stuff an inch taller tire in the rear to fill the hole some more. The rear opening to me just looks a bit more vacant than the front. As for the difference though, overall, BINGO !!! You got it. Now it looks hot rod. Well done............... later....................
Rob, I do agree with you, there's now a greater diff front to back than I prefer too, but I still like this better than it was. I'm going to drive it like this for awhile, probably at least this year, and re-evaluate it. Might look into cutting the rear springs, but I don't really want to move it back down too much, no more than an inch. The body just behind the front wheels is 11" off the ground. Just in front of the rear wheels it's 13". I must admit it looks much higher out in the open where some perspective can be gained, than it looked sitting in the garage, where there's no room to really view the stance. It's sitting with a full tank of gas, and the spare in the trunk. Now, I'm probably needing new front springs, someone put spacers in the coils, probably because they were sagging so much. Maybe I'll address that next year.
David , It looks sweet but I have to tell ya .........Try 3 of those ..... ...... !:laugh: Wait till it is real dark out though !:Smarty: :laugh: :TU:
It looks great to me Dave. The rears will relax a little over the summer and settle down about an inch and the ride will smooth out as well. Definitely get the new front springs when time and funds allow, they'll help the handling and ride over the worn out ones in there now.
Thanks for the opinions everyone. That's what I'm looking for, yeas and nays. Oddly, the idle quality is much improved over the Carter Comp Series 625 carb that was on the car since the day I bought it. Much smoother, and the exhaust seems quieter. Not that that's a good thing... I like a little rumble to it. I suppose the exhaust tone could be changed due to the greater ground clearance too. This difference just occured to me this morning, I'll have to pay closer attention to it if I get a chance to drive it today. And I still have an annoying squeal/squeak in the suspension somewhere... :rant: I think it needs a front end rebuild. :Smarty:
I just put 15" BFG's and new springs on mine too! I intended to raise the rear end a little but ended up with stock height. I love the look of the big meats on the back. Looks good!
Looks great! I concur with the others about the height of the rear, maybe an inch less. But it isn't outrageously jacked up. The rear bumper turned out nice by the way! :TU:
