65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
General Discussion => GS Questions => Topic started by: vinnie on November 20, 2016, 03:17:48 PM
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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?
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I put a spacer in the new front springs and used a pair of +2" springs in the rear.
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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/. (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/. (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
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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.
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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.
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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
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That?s what mine is now but I might try to get to 26?.
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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.
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This is the answer to the ride height question, easy to do and less than $150.00
https://www.jegs.com/i/Hotchkis/515/31750/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710734717&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-209589918551&CATARGETID=230006180037474719&cadevice=c&jegspromo=thirdparty&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI17vv-smR3gIVS1gNCh0UQA3zEAYYASABEgIzR_D_BwE (https://www.jegs.com/i/Hotchkis/515/31750/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710734717&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-209589918551&CATARGETID=230006180037474719&cadevice=c&jegspromo=thirdparty&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI17vv-smR3gIVS1gNCh0UQA3zEAYYASABEgIzR_D_BwE)
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Those will work great for the rear and I may use them. However now my issue is with the front.
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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,
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Mines right at 26. I would like it a little lower.
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Mines right at 26. I would like it a little lower.
I like your cars stance. What is your rear height?
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I don't have the car handy to measure it tonight but here is me stance with both sets of tires.
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here they are
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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,
My car is very light up front, it has an all aluminum LS1 with cast aluminum accessory brackets. Front wheel weight is 1754 lbs, rear wheel weight is 1465 lbs with me in the driver's seat and 1/2 tank of gas for 3217 lbs.
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Very nicely done!! :thumbsup:
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Kevin, how does the LS motor compare to the 300 or the V-6 for weight ?
Dan
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Dan, I should have weighed the car with the V6 installed but....I’m just not that smart.
I would estimate my LS1 4L60 combo is at least 175 lbs lighter than the V6 ST300 combo. The new power steering assembly is 20 lbs lighter, the LS plastic intake with injectors is only about 5 lbs, and the starter is much lighter. The engine block,heads, pan and brackets are aluminum, and the exhaust manifolds are lightweight.
Would you think the V6 might be 75 lbs lighter than the 300 V8?
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Kevin,
Man it’s difficult to find engine weights. The 401 comes in at 685 lbs, the same as a Mark IV big block. The V6 weighs 375 lbs. That is 75 lbs lighter than the Buick 350. LS1Tech website puts the weight of a LS1 engine at 385 lbs. Note that all of these are engine only weights.
Dan
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I found these two experts discussing the aluminum and steel block; I did not realize there was greater than a hundred pound difference just in the block.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M9I6_DpYzg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M9I6_DpYzg)
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Mines right at 26. I would like it a little lower.
I like your cars stance. What is your rear height?
It?s drooped a bit having that nailhead in there for a few years. It?s now 25.75 at both ends.
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here's mine...I like the way it sits low in the back