Author Topic: Ride Height  (Read 2034 times)

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Offline vinnie

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Ride Height
« on: November 20, 2016, 03:17:48 PM »
Not happy with the ride height of my car. Measuring from the middle of the front tire, ground to the wheel well trim, what is the correct height? Want to give the car a better stance. Is there a front and rear spring that everyone is using to give the car a proud look?
Glenn V
1965 Skylark GS Hardtop  2017 BCA Senior Gold
2019 enclave
GSCA 2168
BCA 37942
AACA 915140

Offline GS66

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2016, 04:34:00 PM »
I put a spacer in the new front springs and used a pair of +2" springs in the rear.
Jim
North Mankato, MN

65 Gran Sport HT auto
66 Gran Sport Conv. 4 speed
66 Gran Sport Conv auto
66 Gran Sport Post auto
66 Gran Sport HT auto

Offline dsags

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2016, 05:00:00 PM »
Not happy with the ride height of my car. Measuring from the middle of the front tire, ground to the wheel well trim, what is the correct height? Want to give the car a better stance. Is there a front and rear spring that everyone is using to give the car a proud look?


Have found ride height to be a personal preference item. I buy the coil springs at http://www.springsnthings.com/. Laura is very knowledgeable and the price is excellent. On the Turquoise convertible I used the stock front GS springs. On the Bamboo Cream hardtop Laura found me a set the gives about 1" more lift. If you like this latter look just mention my name to Laura and she can find the ones she sent me.

The rear coils are the same in both cars though they don't look like it. If you prefer a bit more of an elevated rear you can mention that to Laura or special order springs at Coil Spring Specialties http://coilsprings.com/. That was the source for Jim's rear coils. Have found it necessary to use spacers in the rear to get the car to sit level and they can be used to raise the rear just a bit.

Hope this helps,

Dan
« Last Edit: November 21, 2016, 08:38:05 AM by dsags »
1965 Special Convertible, L33 LS, 4L60

Offline vinnie

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2016, 06:39:18 AM »
Dan, I like the look of the Bamboo Cream car. That's the stance I am hoping to get. Thanks for the info.  I will talk to Laura.
Glenn V
1965 Skylark GS Hardtop  2017 BCA Senior Gold
2019 enclave
GSCA 2168
BCA 37942
AACA 915140

Offline Rollaround

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2018, 06:18:54 PM »
Dan, could you please get a vertical measurement through the wheel centerline to the wheel well trim on the yellow car.
I’ve just installed the third new front suspension on my yellow car in ten days (long story) and I think I’m where I want to be.
Kevin
Northwest Ohio
Working the endless restroation.

Offline dsags

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2018, 09:06:08 PM »
Kevin,

The bamboo cream car no longer looks as it did in the picture posted here. Now has coil overs and the front sits considerably lower.

The car USED TO BE 25-1/2 inches from the ground to the bottom of the wheel molding trim.

Hope that helps.

Dan
1965 Special Convertible, L33 LS, 4L60

Offline GS66

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2018, 09:11:50 PM »
That?s what mine is now but I might try to get to 26?.
Jim
North Mankato, MN

65 Gran Sport HT auto
66 Gran Sport Conv. 4 speed
66 Gran Sport Conv auto
66 Gran Sport Post auto
66 Gran Sport HT auto

Offline Rollaround

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2018, 09:33:13 PM »
Thanks guys. Mine with new spring and parts is at 26.75” should drop some with miles and a little settling. I’ll try to post a pix later. 
Kevin
Northwest Ohio
Working the endless restroation.

Offline sjfd04

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65 GS 4-Speed Hardtop
2017 Chevy Silverado HD 2500
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Offline Rollaround

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2018, 06:57:45 AM »
Those will work great for the rear and I may use them. However now my issue is with the front.
Kevin
Northwest Ohio
Working the endless restroation.

Online jmos4

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2018, 08:30:50 AM »
Hi,

Not sure your options, but my car has no AC but my doner frame was a AC car which raises the front a bit, for the rear I used a set of rear springs from John R spring, that were made for something else, they were a variable rate, so had to cut part of a coil bend off to fit the pockets which gave the car a nice rake IMO, and doesn't sag even with 3 adults packed in the back.

If you want pm me a email adress and I can send you some pictures and maybe dig up a part number for you, doing on my phone so not the easiest to resize pictures and post.

Or look under projects last summers project or something like that.

Regards,
Jim

1965 Skylark post car (65 GS frame 401/4-speed, 2x4's)
1964 Skylark (future 430 stick)
1965 Special 4 door 300 4speed
1964 Special 2 door (future, GS 401 3 speed stick)

Offline Buick_65

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #11 on: October 19, 2018, 12:40:49 PM »
Mines right at 26.  I would like it a little lower.

Offline Rollaround

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2018, 12:54:55 PM »
Mines right at 26.  I would like it a little lower.

I like your cars stance. What is your rear height?
Kevin
Northwest Ohio
Working the endless restroation.

Offline GreatScat1965

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2018, 05:59:48 PM »
I don't have the car handy to measure it tonight but here is me stance with both sets of tires.


Jerry

Offline GreatScat1965

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Re: Ride Height
« Reply #14 on: October 19, 2018, 06:01:14 PM »
here they are
Jerry