I'm starting to get a bunch of parts ready for order before my yearly drive down to my sister in Raleigh from Newmarket Ontario. Bought a bunch of stuff from fusick and inline-tube. Front suspension needs replacing and I'm buying the Edelbrock Classic IAS Shocks EDL-33042 for the front to match the rears. I'm also putting in some hardly used Vista Springs in the rear because I like it to ride just a wee bit higher in the back end.

I'm stuck on what kind of springs I should buy for the front. HD or not. So many choices and I really prefer not to trial and error like some posts have suggested. Fusick sells a pair but funds are getting short and wonder if there are equally good springs for less money. Summit has some good prices on Moog products. See my specs of what is going into the car this summer. Any suggestions would be helpful to narrow my search before I leave in a couple of weeks. Thank You for any help. Cheers.

1969 Cutlass S Holiday Coupe
1969 455
A/C but not hooked up
Turbo400 Tranny

 

I have had good luck with AC Delco springs. They let the sit closer to the original height. These cars did not sit high when new. They actually sat a little low. They probably do not list springs specifically for a 442 but you can use your imagination to decide on a set of springs. They are available from an AC Delco dealer,not a GM dealer.

 

I bought Moog springs from RockAuto.com great prices.
Do a search on here for a rockauto 5% discount code.

 

Recently recieved a catalog from Kantor.com, and they carry springs too, for a pretty good price. HD's are a bit more. I like my cars to go around corners, so always use stiffer springs and large sway bars, myself. Keep in mind, when doing a front spring change, may be more than a one time deal, as may have to cut them down a bit, to get it right. Always had good luck with Moog Cargo Coils out of the box on the rear for several cars though.

 

The moog HD springs ride nicely in my 72. More control, not as soft as the original but not harsh like most new cars. I would recommend them.
The rears are a snap to change, so getting the fronts right the first time is important.

 

Thanx fellas. I've narrowed it down to the Moog product and there are 3 choices in the summit site. Of the 3 the AMG5374 would be standard spring and the AMG5450 would be HD I believe. The AMG5372 doesn't appear to be as good unless I'm wrong. So the question is does the AMG5450 ride fairly nice and not too high above factory? I'm not concerned about height too much BUT I don't want it looking like a monster truck either Just want a nice compliment to the vista springs I'm putting in the back. Thanx again for any help. Fun learning as I go.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Y...?Ns=Rank%7cAsc

 

5374 is listed as STD for 4 door or convertible w/AC. Using these in a coupe would allow it to ride a little higher as the 4dr and vert are heavier.
5372 is listed as STD for coupe or wagon (??) w/o AC Funny how Summit pictures rear springs!
5450 is listed for a newer model HD for 4 door or convertible w/AC. Using these in a coupe would allow it to ride a little higher as the 4dr and vert are heavier.
I am using these.

Rockauto gives you more choices and the prices are lower, unless Summit offers a good shipping discount.

 

Man, the 5450's are 450 lb/in rate versus the 5374 at 317 lb/in. I'd guess that would make the front end high, but since their free height is about 1-1/2" shorter, I'm not really sure how it would end up. Might be pretty close either way, but the extra spring rate will help handling without hurting the ride much.

 

If you match up the car type, with or without A/C and engine type, the ride height should be pretty accurate. Yes, the stiffness of the HD is made up with reduced free height. The HDs, being shorter, were actually easier to install, even with no compressor.

 

Do you have a link Rob to where you get this great info?

I know once I put in the 455 it's heavier so I figure using those 5450's everything should look pretty even. Thanx

 

The 455 doesn't add much weight over a 350. Especially if you use an aluminum intake and headers instead of cast iron manifolds.

 

Everything is pretty much stock on the 455 except for the Edelbrock Performer Intake and aftermarket cam..name escapes me now. WZ exhaust manifolds are being used.

 

A/C adds about 75lbs so need to know if you have that or not.
Rockauto's site, combined with this spec site of Moog's springs
http://classiccarsprings.com/coil-sp...fications.html
helped me to figure out which springs to use. BTW, the info I gave earlier was with a 350 engine.

 

Here are the specs that are going into the car this summer Rob. Thanx mate for the help. I think your advise still stands but can you review based upon what's going in below. I've followed your thread on the front end work and learned quite a bit. Cheers.

1969 Cutlass S Holiday Coupe
1969 455 with stock WZ exhaust manifolds...only thing different are an Edelbrock Performwer intake and a mild cam upgrade
A/C installed in the engine bay but not hooked up...needs a clutch for that...todo list later
Turbo400 Tranny

 

I think the 5450s should work well and give the slightly higher stance you want, since they are for a 4dr/vert.

 

I would use the heavier springs in the front because you are going to put those Vista Cruiser springs in the back. The vista springs will raise the back of the car and if you use the standard springs in the front you might end up with the front to low.

 

Hey Rob - did you ever get around to measuring your ground clearance with your new springs?

 

As always guys awesome info. Thank you very much. Now to hookup a trailer for the haul back across the border LOL

 

No...

But I went out and checked, just because you reminded me!
Measuring from designated places in the CSM---
Front 10.25 and rear 10.75.

Front is about 0.25" higher than W29 spec and rear is about 0.5" higher than W29 spec.
But...
The front end is missing 40lbs of A/C stuff (will be installed next year)
The rear has HD springs, and it is now 0.25" higher than HD specs. I have the W29 springs to put in it later on so it may go down some.
Also, tires may not be the same exact diameter as the belted bias ones...

 

Thanks for the info on the springs. The 455 with FE2 suspension used the 425 or 450 pound spring, and the 350 FE2 suspension used a softer spring. I don't remember the pound rating.

Rob, what size tires and wheels do you have?

 

The 350 W29 spring is very close to the Moog 5450, within 20lbs or so.
I am running BFG 225-70-14, which are 26.5 diameter.

 

Nice, I have the same size tires on my car and the car measured in the front right at 9 1/2 inches and the car has the orginal FE2 springs.

I will be doing the allignment again... Did you ever fine tune yours?

 

I rechecked the alignment after 200 miles and it was okay.
She drives straight and tires are not any worse than before the rebuild. All of my cars have some minor feathering at the outer edges...

 

Ok, now I am confused. The 5450 is showing 450 lbs, which would be close to the FE2 on a 455, right? No, Rob hadn't started mine rebuild yet, but getting closer. The spring selection is still a quandry for me. I haven't seen the 5450 on the rock auto site, when I looked.

 

According to the AM, the verts with either the 455 or 350 with a/c got 435lb springs. The 455 got code RP, the 350 got code RO. my guess is that the free lengths were slightly different.
Troy, i think you will find all your answers after you get yours torn down. So get out there and start disassembly!!

 

Hotchkis.

Do it once, and do it right. Watch the difference a TVS kit makes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV1hb...eature=mh_lolz

 

Just look under the 1969 400ci motor selection....then pick suspension and coil spring it's there I just ordered one a couple hours ago. Make sure to use the rock auto discount code on this site. Search as per above suggestion...thanx Rob and Paratrooper for the heads up on RA discount

 

Got it. Need to put brakes on daughters car we just got for her, then the Cutlass is on the agenda. My real problem is there has been just enough sunny days ovedr 40 on the week-ends, about 1 every three weeks, this winter, my desire to drive it over-rides my drive to fix it. Although, time to get serious

 

Wow, that's impressive

 

Well to continue this thread I started. I've installed the Moog AMG5450 HD Springs in the front and they work great. However, the vista cargo springs I used in the back sit too high for my liking and create a very rough ride on general roadways with major wheel hop when pulling hard...What would be a comparable HD Moog or other brand spring for the rear to match the fronts above? See final specs for the car...thanx again guys

1969 Cutlass S Holiday Coupe
1969 455 with stock WZ exhaust manifolds...only thing different are an Edelbrock Performwer intake and a mild cam upgrade
A/C installed in the engine bay but not hooked up...needs a clutch for that...todo list later
Turbo400 Tranny
3.23 posi rear with sway bar

 

Factory regular rear springs are speced at 106 lbs - pretty soft.

Factory FE2 rear springs are 122lbs with auto tranny. Moog 6321 are noted as "standard" but are 119lb. Pretty close to FE2 spec.

Moog 5385 are heavy duty replacements rated at 167.5lb, which would be suitable for FE2 manual tranny use, where the stock springs were rated at 160lb.

I used the 167lb springs and ride is okay, very slight jitter from back there. However, I did buy the 119lb set and plan to change them out to see which i like better.

Those wagon springs are like 175lb, so I can see why they ride rough.
So the choice is yours. Given the 2 door is lighter than the vert in the rear, i would prolly go with the 6321.

 

Thank You Rob...excellent information.

 

I know this is an old thread, but thanks for the information anyway. I am planning on replacing the springs on my 69 Cutlass. Based on this thread I am now planning on using MOOG 6321 spirngs. I would love more input on this and on which set of shocks to use as well. Thanks