HELP, Has anyone put Hotchkis 1" lowering springs in there 65 Skylark with the 401 engine. I'm not sure to order small block or big block springs. They have the same spring rate just longer . 401 weights aprox 650 lbs. small chevy is 575 lbs. big chev. is 685 lbs. I want the front of car to be a little lower than the back. I know I could order big block springs and cut part of a coil but I thought I would ask to save a some work. I have talked with Hotchkis and there not sure one says small the other big and trim to ride height. Thanks Buick Gang
I just purchased springs from Hotchkis (through Summit part # HSS-1900). My car will have a big block and there were no issues on Hotchkis side concerning these springs. I cannot tell you right now about ride height since the body is off the frame :eek2: but thought I would share my experience with you. The springs are excellent quality, good luck with your build....Joe
Thanks Joe, That's where I was going to get mine (Summit). I'm getting the #1900 or #1917 set. I hope someone has already done a set with the big block. Those are the small block springs and I got different answers from 2 people at Hotchkis. Keep me updated. Thanks again, good luck with yours. Anyone else? Please reply...
With a 455, you actually need to get the small block springs to sit right. You'll probably be fine with the small block springs (remember, their rate is a lot higher than stock, and such shouldn't sag as much as you would expect, plus you'll probably get the look you want instead of slightly higher in the front) If you go with big block springs, I'm sure that the car will still sit right. You're within 40lbs of a BBC. The small block springs in my old very basic 350 Skylark made it sit not quite how I wanted it, but still not bad, by any means, and I LOVED the springs.
Here you can see how my Skylark sat with no A/C, no power brakes, and a 350. If you get the big block springs and it doesn't look the way you want it to, you can always cut up to 1 coil off (Hotchkis even says themselves that this is safe and effective done properly). I'd say, in your application, go with the big block springs.
Thanks Eric for the photo. Anyone else out there who has put these springs in a 65 with the 401 engine.
Got er done Well I got the small block #1900 springs and the car sits perfect with the front about 3/4 inch lower than the back. The car is about 1+ inches lower than stock and handles way more BETTA. Great quality product. The Hotchkis sway bar is also awsume. Will put pics on later if anyone is intrested. Greg :TU:
Greg I will send you email pics of my 65 GS vert' with new stock 65 GS springs in it from ESPO Spring in PA. It's a 401 with no AC. It sat a bit lower than I wanted it to in front and my big 15" (215-65 I think) tires rubbed slightly at full turn of the steering wheel. I replaced the correct 65 springs with the HD version which was used on the 66 GS. I can sell you the springs I took out for cheap money if you're interested. They have about 1500 miles on them. Note for comparison that I also have bigger tires in the rear which rakes the car a little and lower hiway rpm. This is a cruising car, not a racer. I also highly recommend a phone call to ESPO. They are highly knowledgable on this topic. Good luck email me at pmg455@msn.com and I'll send the pics Pat
Here's the pics Hotchkis springs, and sway bar are in along with KYB shocks. Handles much better. Tire size is about 26.5 (225 X 14) Hope this helps. :grin:
