pcard

Rather than highjack someone else's thread, I would like to ask you guy's advice on spring specs for the 1970 Cutlass and 442 spring offerings.
The guys at the Heritage center were helpful in providing the AMA specs for that year, but unfortunately those only give the standard spring specs for each model (both models SAE 9260):
For the 442 this is:
Front: ride height 11.3 in., I.D. 3.63in., rate 435
Back: rife height 7.62in., I.d. 5.5in., rate 160
For the Cutlass 350CID:
Front: ride height 11.3 in., I.D. 3.63in., rate 280
Back: rife height 7.62in., I.d. 5.5in., rate 106

However, there were a great many variations on the installed springs depending on the body style like convertible and options such as AC (C60), auto trans. (M40), sport handling package (FE2). These variations are shown in the various spring codes used.

I was hoping that someone somewhere would have the orignal spring specifications for each code variation, and specifically the load rate, spring rate and free spring height, (the ride height will be constant at 11.3in. and 7.62in.).

The reason I am asking is that I want to restore my car to the exact original ride height, and there are people ou tthere who can make your springs to order.

Thanks as always for your replies.

PS. Hey Rob: I know you have recently installed some MOOG products on Lady - can you give us the spring specs, rides heights, and your new clearance measurements as per the AMA.

Kyle_R

Going thru this myself, '70 442 Convertible. full power, A/C. The "ride height" you refer to is taken from the rocker panel to the ground at 1" back from front edge of front door. My '70 Assembly Manual Section 0 Page 27 has what we're after there.

Note: Production Tolerances listed Each Dimension: + or - 0.40" and Side to Side: Not to exceed .50 from spec, Front to Rear Not to exceed .40 from spec.

ALL 442 agnostic of body style and options
Front : 9.61"
Rear: 9.48"

V8-Coupe: 3 different flavors
.....Std & A/C =>> Front: 10.05" Rear: 9.85"
.....F41 =>> Front: 10.55" Rear: 10.35"
.....FE2 =>> exactly same as 442 above

On to Springs: The Moog man (now Federal Mogul) mentioned that the stock 70 vert front spring was the #5536 as is outlined in this post https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...de-height.html
Inst Height 11" Free Height 15.06" Spring Rate 487 pending where you look.
A VERY similar spring is the #5450

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com...il_Springs.asp

jharsh

Reviving this thread as this data must be somewhere? Thanks.

cdrod

I've attached a pdf of Moog spring specs that I grabbed off the Moog website 5-6 years ago. Hope this is helpful to you.
Rodney

jharsh

Rodney, Thanks I have a current version of that chart. The problem is there are several different springs that GM used depending on the options the car had. That chart is great if you know the original specs for the spring that came on the car.