I'm extremely new to the Buick world, so bear with me... I am picking up a 1970 Skylark on Sunday, and I've noticed that the purely stock cars always sit a bit lower in the back than the front, but more aggressive looking muscle cars always have some sort of suspension setup that places the back end higher than the front, so the car appears to lean forward. What exactly do I need to accomplish that stance? Parts, brands, and even links are very welcome information! Thanks in advance.
Many of us run a taller and bigger tire in the back. I run 275/60/15's rear, 245/60/15 front. I could have used a 50 series tire in the front but my front has been lowered.
Changing the springs is a pretty cheap and easy way to achieve that stance as well as the option to choose a tighter spring, thus hardening the ride... assuming that's what you want.
just be careful of your driveline angle...I put station wagon springs in one of my Buicks and it sat fairly high in back, but I had a driveline vibration due to a sharp driveshaft angle. That was way back ,though, and i'll bet you can get springs that will suit your needs easier now. I do not reccomend air shocks. They're hard on the shock mounts.
haha while I like the larger engine method, I'm going to have to pass for the moment. for any of you who have used springs to achieve this look, can you recommend a brand and model of spring to use? thanks!
I've been looking around and I still don't know what to go with, I want something that drops the front significantly more than the back, can anyone help me out? Or should I just replace the old rears with new ones of the same ride height, and the fronts with springs that will drop them at least 1"? Thanks
Eaton Spring in Detroit Michigan. Google them for contact number. They have all the OE specs and can add or subtract height to the spring they sell. I just got front and rear from them, added 1 1/2 inch of lift to the rear. They were at my door in a week. I haven't installed them yet as I am doing frame off and it will be next step in chassis reassembly. They cost a bit more than stockers from auto zone, but I've heard from a friend that they are really nice springs. I paid 169 for the rear with the lift. Hope this helps.
Rear air lift shocks are an easy alternative and gives you infinite adjustability. My experience has been that they firm up the ride a little too. Changing springs doesn't always give you exactly what you want.
14 rims in front 15 in back. I added moog cc501 in rear. A thicker after market spring isolater and a 1/2 inch rubber spring spacer. Then if you need more lift you can get the spring spacer clamps and adjust them out for more or less lift. Now I have about 2 inches of space above my 295 15 60 tires in rear. I think it looks to high. But my 16 year old boy likes it. What does he really know anyway. I'm dropping it back down some.
If you want a cheap way to go, that is also VERY easy to install..... I used little helper springs that clamp over your rear shocks to lift my rear up about 1" or so. They're adjustable, but you probably won't get more than about 2" of lift with them. (measured at the rear bumper) I did it "temporarily" until I could get new rear springs.... but it's been a year and a half now and I still haven't had any problem with them. They also didn't seem to change the "feel" of the car at all. They just lifted it up a little, just like I wanted them to. I picked them up at Autozone for like $30 or something, and they only took about 30 minutes to install. o No:
So I decided to try air shocks and see how they look. I haven't yet installed them, but today I have a lot of free time so I think I'll give it a go. What do I need to install them? Does the car need to be jacked off the ground, put on a jackstand, any special tools, or could someone just give me a quick step-by-step of the process? Thanks!
If you haven't already finished, here's a couple of pics. First of all be careful. Get some liquid wrench, you probably need to jack it up a little and then use jack stands. The new shocks if the right ones go on just like the old ones come off. Except you need to run the little air lines. It's been a few years since I put a pair on but do connect the upper air lines to the shocks before you install them. You should have received an air line kit with the shocks with instructions. The pic shows how my air lines are routed to behind the license plate. Once you get the old shocks off should be not too bad after that. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
hey I installed them today, it went really smoothly and the car looks great! thanks for the help guys.
I live in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:City>, too - <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceName w:st="on">Patterson</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Park</st1laceType></st1lace>. I got new springs for my 66 special wagon I think 2 years ago now, from Peter's Spring Works, in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Baltimore</st1lace></st1:City>. Not sure if you're familiar with them... mostly service commercial trucks. Is at <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">400 Ensor Street</st1:address></st1:Street> (nestled between the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Orleans</st1lace></st1:City> street via duct, the JFX & the prison). I had spent several months pouring over websites, decoding moog books/serial numbers & calling every other spring source/manufacturer across the country... these experts telling me could never get new springs or would have to have them custom made (to the tune of many 1,000's of bucks). One day, while on way to office, I saw the sign for Peters & stopped in. Left the car w/them & they had four new springs in it later that same day sitting perfectly level... Guy told me he had spent a few hours hunting around their many, 100-year-old stock rooms & found exactly the right sprigs... he joked that the springs probably had been sitting on that same shelf since '66. I think he/the other guys really liked the car (normally they stick to trucks). Total cost, installed, etc. was like $300. Even if you decide u don't need springs after all, I'd recommend a trip there just to check-it out... is like something out of star wars... a collection of old the dirtiest, messiest old buildings, some w/stone floors, all connected via hap hazard hallways & in the midst of all these greasy guys & lead paint dust you happen upon the most gigantic brand new trucks.... so large you wonder how they ever got it in there. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
