I'm looking to raise the rear ride height of my 69 Skylark Convertible about an inch or so. Originally I installed a new set of Convertible rear springs in the car when I got it 13 years ago. This got the ride height back to standard position, but I wasn't too happy with the look. Someone later suggested that I put Sportwagon springs in the back to raise it up a little, so I gave it a shot. I got a new set of Sportwagon rear springs and the car sat exactly like it did with the Convertible rear springs in it. I ended up putting air shocks in the back, which allowed me to get the height I wanted, but the drive quality is far from where I like it, so I'm back to looking for advice on which springs to use to raise the height so I can put some good shocks in the back. Or should I just put in a 1" spacer under the springs to raise it up. Does using the spacer affect the handling at all? Thanks!
Get the springs for a full size car, they are a little taller. Something like a Century or a full size WG. If you get the ones for a car with AC those will sometimes be a little stronger also. Good Luck :TU:
I use spacers under the springs. I generally figure a half inch spacer will raise the car about one inch. Works for me, and ride is not affected.
Eric, My 69 was a squatter... when I had the 14's with all the same size tire. I just recently installed 275x60x15 drag radials in the rear with 235x60x15 in the front. Now it has a slight rake to it, I would think with a slightly shorter tire in the rear it would sit about level... that's what I plan to do when I purchase an all street tire for the rear. IMHO, with the wheel well on the 68-69... they can really swallow a taller tire in the rear. Just a thought James
Right now I'm running 235 60 15's on all four corners. Tires are new, so I'm not really looking to replace them right now, but good to know for the future.
So are you trying to make the ride height the same from front to rear? Or actually raise the car 1" all the way around and retain the rake from factory plus the 1"? The A-body has a positive rake from the factory. I posted previously about this question and what the specifications are for a 1971 car. I don't know what the specifications are for an earlier bodystyle car.
I installed a set of the ride/handling GSCA coil springs in my car and I am extremely pleased with the look. The car has a slight rake, not the typical half hidden wheel look which I can't stand.
I'm looking to raise the rear only. Like Ken said, I'm not too fond of the hidden wheel part in the rear. I think it's the only part of th 68-69 styling I don't really care for. Ken, where do you get the ride/handling GSCA coil springs from? I'm looking to get a stance close to the 68 shown here on racerxjj67's car
Are you a GSCA member? They advertise them in the GSXtra, their bi monthly publication. They've had them for sale for at least 20 years now. http://www.buickgsca.com/ Someone on here might even have a set.
That's just about exactly where mine stands. Mine MIGHT stand a half inch lower but I know most of my sidewall shows.
Ken, No I'm not currently a GSCA member. Been thinking about joining. Do you think the springs will provide the same ride height to a convertible as a hard top, or do they offer convertible specific springs?
Ya they work fine. I think it was my old 71 GS that I did it on. FS springs on the front and rear and 15 rim's and tires. Worked out good.
I just looked through the NAPA catalog http://ecatalograck.genpt.com/pdfca...kin/entrymap/entrymap_napa.asp?SkinId=7.2.1.1 And about the only thing they show on the rear as a difference is regular spring or heavy duty spring or variable rate spring. So for the rear there is no difference, there is a difference in the front, but, that is mostly with AC or with out AC.
5399 should be an inch higher than stock 5381 should be about 1.75" higher CC627 should be about 2" higher 5395 should be about 2.5" higher These are Moog part numbers G-body springs are roughly 2" higher than A in the rear
Scott are those numbers that you list the numbers for the G-Body ??? I need to replace my F&R springs at some point and those numbers will help me out a lot as to what I want to do, thanks.
Do what I did, call Detroit Eaton Spring and tell them what you want to do. I asked for springs that would raise the car about an inch and they custom made them for me. Good customer service.
