Increasing ride height question for 70 A Body

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by eagleguy, Oct 19, 2022.

  1. eagleguy

    eagleguy 1971 Skylark Custom

    I am looking to increase the height of my 70 A Body using Detroit/Easton springs. They have the choice between 1" and 1.5" taller springs. What if any issues might raising the vehicle have on shocks, ball joints and any other stock item?
     
  2. boe

    boe Platinum Level Contributor

    not entirely related but I dialed in my ride height by cutting coils and can say I've not had problems around your stated concerns. Full disclosure I do have global west uppers, stock lowers, b-body spindles.
     
  3. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    You shouldn’t have any issues
     
  4. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    I lowered mine made it handle better
     
    FLGS400 likes this.
  5. Doo Wop

    Doo Wop Where were you in '62?

    Air bags in the rear will give a good stance.
     
  6. eagleguy

    eagleguy 1971 Skylark Custom

    I thought about the air bags but do not recall them doing well for lifting.
     
  7. eagleguy

    eagleguy 1971 Skylark Custom

    Want to go UP not DOWN on both ends. LOL
     
  8. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I would try a set of 0.5 or 1.0" tall spring spacers and see how it works out. Ive used a set of rubber spring spacers on a 4x4 SUV and it actually helped dampen vibrations.
     
    ap1672 likes this.
  9. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    If all you want to do on the rear is drop it a little, either cut the springs or swap in shorter springs. If you’re only going an inch or two, nothing other than spring height needs to be changed. (It’s like you need the rear half of a lowering kit).
    Patrick

    …or fill the trunk with crap to see if you like the look.
     
  10. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    No issues raising the car 1 - 1.5". There might be a slight difference in alignment in the front. As the suspension extends, the camber goes negative. You might not even see it, and if you did, it would be very small. IMO, our cars sit too low in the rear. I like just a bit of rake.
     
  11. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    I guess the posts about dropping the rear got deleted; without them my previous post doesn’t make sense. (Someone other than the OP asked about raising the front and dropping the rear).
    Patrick
     
  12. eagleguy

    eagleguy 1971 Skylark Custom

    Not looking to drop the rear. My goal is to raise the car front to back even at an inch or so over stock. I am getting some bottom mount aluminum disc spacers for the front and adding new Bilstein shocks. Now I have to deal with the rear. Looking at air shocks or airbags but not sure which will work best. Just went past my 3rd set of springs but still not happy with overall height.
     
  13. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    Right! Someone else had wandered into your thread asking about dropping the rear. I replied to him, his post is now gone, so I sound like I can’t comprehend because I answered his now invisible question.
    Carry on!
    Patrick
     
    Mark Demko likes this.
  14. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Unless you actually want to adjust the rear ride height often i would avoid the airbags. The air bags aren’t a bolt in mod, some basic fabrication is required and I doubt you want to go there. Plus air bags without having a compressor on board is a bit silly. Then you have potential leaks and bags wearing out etc.

    Just use spring spacers in the rear as well. A 1” spacer may be all you need and they are quick and easy to swap in or out.

    Avoid air shocks they will raise the vehicle a bit however you will find they ruin the smooth ride.
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2022
    FLGS400 likes this.
  15. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The previous owner of my 70 GS used a different method to increase ride height. I have never seen it before. He used a section of exhaust pipe to fit around the lower spring perch on the axle. On top of that is a round metal plate that the spring sits on. There are two metal cups held together by a bolt and nut. One cup fits inside the lower coil, the other fits inside the underside of the perch. You can adjust the ride height by using different height shims (exhaust pipe).

    Spring1.jpg Spring2.jpg Springperch.jpg springperch2.jpg SpringShimIncrease.jpg
    I modified the shim to lift the car just enough to avoid tire rub on bumps. I need more (1/2") back space on my 15 X 8" wheels with the P275/60R-15 tires. Just the driver's side. Been waiting a year and a half for Wheel Vintiques to make my Buick wheels with 5" of back space.:mad:. My tires don't rub at all with the current ride height.
    SpringShim.jpg
     
  16. eagleguy

    eagleguy 1971 Skylark Custom

    I need to get under and check my rear to see if something like that would work. Thanks
     
  17. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    A body is A body. It will work if you can find the parts to do it. I have no idea where you would get those parts. I would think they are repurposed parts. Anybody recognize them from something else? They are 2 metal cups, and a round metal disc about 3 or 4" in diameter.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2022
  19. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Just do this:

    custom-buick-skylark-looks-ready-to-take-flight-with-its-color-matched-attivo-26s-175060-7.jpg
     
  20. eagleguy

    eagleguy 1971 Skylark Custom

    I believe they call that Donking.

    Any issues that raising the front with 1" spacers may cause?
     

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