AJFink

I may be replacing the front and rear springs. Has AC, 350ci. TH350 trans.


What should the unloaded height be for the front and the rear springs. I want it back to stock ride height. I have air shocks that are near new that will be going back on for those heavy loads if I need some extra help. I have the Moog shock list just need what size they should be. I'm doing a frame off restoration.

The front and rear springs look like they may have been replaced. After I get them out I'll measure them. They have burn marks on them and not sure what happened or what was going on?

Octania

Burn marks on the spring sounds like someone heated the spring to remove a coil from the spring action, possibly because the spring was incorrect and caused the car to ride too high. Or they just wanted a cheap lowering from stock height.

Fun71

That is totally dependent upon the spring specifications - it is the loaded height that is important. The unloaded height of different springs can vary depending upon the stiffness of the spring while still maintaining the same loaded height.

Here's a picture of my new Moog 5536 spring vs the old original front spring. The car sat at the same height with both springs.
FrontSprings.jpg

Below are some front spring specs for various applications I archived a while back. Note the difference in load height compared to the free height.

> 5390 small block - no AC
> wire diameter = 0.650"
> load height = 11.000"
> load = 1952 pounds
> rate per inch = 336 pounds
> free height = 16.808"
>
> 5382 big block - no AC, small block - AC
> wire diameter = 0.660"
> load height = 11.000"
> load = 2066 pounds
> rate per inch = 360 pounds
> free height = 16.724"
>
> 5400 big block - AC
> wire diameter = 0.660"
> load height = 11.000"
> load = 2167 pounds
> rate per inch = 360 pounds
> free height = 17.004"
>
> 5536 442 small block - AC - heavy duty, 442 big block - no AC - heavy duty
> wire diameter = 0.690"
> load height = 11.000"
> load = 1984 pounds
> rate per inch = 488 pounds
> free height = 15.063"
>
> 5450 small block - AC - heavy duty, big block - no AC - heavy duty, -442 big block - AC - heavy duty
> wire diameter = 0.690"
> load height = 12.000"
> load = 1642 pounds
> rate per inch = 454 pounds
> free height = 15.616"

AJFink

So maybe I need to rephrase what should my load height be? for a stock cutlass supreme w/small block 350, w/AC.

AJFink

I need to rephrase what should my load height be Front and Rear? for a stock cutlass supreme w/small block 350, w/AC.