Hi, My family has owned a 71 riviera GS since new. I was always told that the coil springs are different on the GS (about 1 inch lower than standard riviera.) Can anyone confirm this? Everywhere I have looked shows standard riviera (with a/c) as a 586 front and 6363 coil rear. I would like to know the proper spec coils for Riviera GS. Thanks!
Here's my (not so good) luck with plenty of comments from others. The springs never settled to stock and pulling and cutting them is on my punch list of things to do. If you come up with a proven solution, please share. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?183139-Boattail-Front-Springs-Moog-5396&highlight=
I do not believe there was any noticeable difference in trim height on the 71 GS vs standard. Pretty sure that was specific to 1965 GS only where you could/can tell an original GS just by looking at the car because it was so noticeably lower. I would not replace springs if you have a original GS because chances are you'll likely end up with the wrong ones. The problem is the factory spring technical specs have not been published to my knowledge so we are at the mercy of the spring manufacturer and their best interest is in selling springs not if your rare GS gets the exact spec factory spring. Even if you do get your hands on the specs, you have to trust the manufacturer has sufficient quality control to meet those specs. Since the Riv GS springs were low production I'd be skeptical about any published data unless it came right from GM and showed all the different springs. The GS spring with A/C would have been different than a GS w/o A/C, and same for standard car with and w/o A/C. If you determine by trim height specifications your car is sagging a bit you are better off installing spacers and new insulators to help restore height. Springs typically do not lose the "rate" of compression but can sag slightly......but sag MUST be determined by checking the trim height specs which are in section 40-3 in the shop manual. The rubber insulators on top of springs that get flattened which contributes a small amount to lower than spec height. If you determine the springs are sagging more than shims and new insulators can correct and you must replace them, have the coil (bar) diameter verified by a knowedgeable person and then match the number of coils and compare that with what you are buying. The GS spring coil diameter will be a few thousandths of an inch larger than the standard one. I owned a 71 Riv GS and they are one awesome handling car for being so big.
Thanks for the info guys! I can't believe there aren't any published coil spring numbers for this car! Totally blows me away. I even spoke federal mogul on the phone, and they can't find anything other than standard riviera springs. Their assumption was that because there was such limited production of the GS model, there never was a demand in the aftermarket. Any thoughts to whether there would be publications of these coil numbers in any Buick literature from 1971? I am in the process of buying a factory service manual now. Thanks, James
GS & base models both had same ride height. Properly inflate the tires & then measure in a straight ling from the ground, through the wheel centre line, to the underside of the wheel well sheet metal. Measurements do not allow for wheel well trim. Front = 29", rear = 28 13/16". These are the factory stock heights from the chassis manual. MOOG showed a 5030, 586 & a 590 spring, difference being AC or not for the front. Also try AC Delco 45H0001. 6363 for the rear. I believe Eaton has a tech. on the phone you can really talk to. Describe what you have/what you want & they can send you the right coils.
There is a spring shop near me. Mercer Spring. They do large truck repair too. I took my old springs in there and asked if the guy could show me shorter springs with thicker wire. He had what I needed. I still didn't like how high it sat so I cut a coil. Dropped it into the weeds. But it looks bitchin' that way. If there is a spring place near you take one of your springs in there with you and match it up. Use a mic to check wire thickness, and then count the coils. Should be an easy way to match it up. And Ken's new springs look like crap. Nose sits a mile high. I've never once seen a new spring "settle". If they do, it is by maybe 1/4".
