Hotchkis Front Coils - Ride Height Question

[dhardison]

For those of you with Hotchkis 2" drop coils.......

Were you satisfied with the ride height (vs. stock) of these coils or did you have to cut more coils off?

I just installed the passenger side new Hotchkis 2" drop front coil in my '70 Nova today. After re-attaching the spindle I temporarily mounted my wheel. Then I placed a jack under the a-arm (near the lower ball joint) and jacked up until the frame came off the jack stand. My thought was that I'd be able to view the ride height since weight of the car was on the new spring.

Well, I was dissappointed to see that the distance between the top of the tire and the fender lip was about 2" MORE than the old stock springs. Maybe this is because the car isn't on the ground, I dunno, I just hope it sits lower than stock when all is complete.

Any opinions, comments welcome.

Thanks,
Dan

[TPI Monte SS]

Having the suspension loaded will make a big difference. When we put the Eibachs in my '88 SS, the car was still without a motor or trans. Even after putting everything else in, it still seemed to sit high. Once I drove it off the ramps and loaded the suspension, it sat just right.

Just my experience, YMMV.

[79T/Aman]

put the wheel back on , not knowing the width of the wheel and tire you may be off by more than 6" from the center of the tire that will make some difference in the leverage on the spring, plus it needs to settle some

[dhardison]

Thanks for the replies. I hope you both are correct and that everything will look right once it's on the ground. The wheel is a TTII (17x7 - 4" BS) with a 235/45ZR17 BFG tire. It makes sense that the point of leverage will be greater with the wheel vs. the jack under the a-arm.

Thanks,
Dan

[boodlefoof]

I've seen lots of first gen Camaros with the springs and I'd guess they are just about the same as your Nova. From what I've seen... there seems to be a lot of difference between cars and how they sit with these springs!

I've seen some that have the same front end components as mine (and thus should weigh the same up front) and running the same tire height, where the tire just barely clears, or even tucks behind the wheelwell opening... and then some like mine where I have some clearance between the tire and fender arch.

[MarkM66]

I used there big block springs on my iron headed big block '68 Camaro. The front end sat way to high for my taste, and I had to cut a full coil out of them to get it where I wanted them. I wish I would of just bought Moog springs of the same rate, as they were about half the price. Since I had to cut the Hotchkis springs anyways. I think I have some pics on my website. Just go to cars, '68 camaro, Mark Mutert.

[dhardison]

Tonight I jacked up the passenger side by placing the jack directly under the center of the tire. I was trying to obtain leverage as if the tire were on the ground. Well, I'm dissapointed to say that there is AT LEAST 3" of daylight between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender lip, whereas with the old springs I had 1/2"-3/4" of the tire tucked up INSIDE the fender.

So, it looks like I'll need to cut a coil off the new Hotchkis coils. Herein lies my question. Right now the end of the coils are 'flat'. What I mean by 'flat' is that the end of each coil has been bent back to the previous coil so the end of the spring sits flat.

If I were to cut a coil off where do I cut (see attached pic)? The red line or the yellow line?? And how much drop can I expect with a cut at the red line? Once the coil is cut the end is no longer 'flat', will that cause a problem?

Thanks,
Dan

[79T/Aman]

Dan, do you have both springs in the car and able to put it down and drive it to settle them down, also remember if you lift only one side you will shift all the weight to the other side and not on the spring you are checking, I know that on my car when I lift it and put it back down it sits hi till I drive it and I have del alum bushings so I have no bind in the suspension, just hate to see you cut the springs if you don't have to cause you can't put it back after you cut

[TPI Monte SS]

just hate to see you cut the springs if you don't have to cause you can't put it back after you cut
Agreed. I'd drive it first, let it settle, and then see how it looks. If it's too high, just break the balljoints loose (again, I know) and cut the springs. Once they're cut, if it's too low, or too stiff, you're SOL.

[MrQuick]

Hey Dan, yeah I agree your gonna what to drive it for awhile to get settled. Johns Nova went down a 3/4" after a month,same TVS kit(damn sorry could not find picture.)
Also I would not go a full turn in one shot...try a quarter at a time. Its ok for the bottom not to be flat, just use a die grinder to smooth the edges so you won't wear a hole in the LCA.

[dhardison]

79T/Aman, Steve, Vince,

Thanks for your replies. Right now the front of the car (the frame) is on jack stands. With the driver's side frame still on the stand I placed the jack under the passenger's tire and jacked up until the frame came off the stand. In that configuration is where I saw the substantial increase in ride height.

I'll take your advice and leave the springs as they are for now. Given that there's salt all over the road around here for the next few months, I guess it'll have to sit in the garage and 'settle'. Maybe I'll go out there every once in a while and bounce on it. ;-)

Thanks again,
Dan

[blown69nova]

Leave them alone! I have the EXACT wheel, tire and spring combo and it sits perfect! I even used button head screws on the inner fender just in case of contact.

[MarkM66]

I think it just depends on how low you want it. I'd cut them at the yellow line if you want to do something now.

I drove my car for awhile with them un-cut. They didn't seem to settle any at all. Even Hotchkis says they may only settle about 1/8".

To be safe, get both springs in it, drive it a little, and then cut accordingly.

[dhardison]

Blown69nova,

Are you running an all-iron BB?? Do you have any pics?

Thanks,
Dan

[68Formula]

Silly question, but are all components on the car? Hood, intake, etc? I know one guy's car that raised quite a bit after removing his cast iron heads for some r&r.

[dhardison]

Amcmike, Yeah, everything is there. I guess I'm going to leave it like it is for now, but MAN I hate to have to break those ball-joints loose and take all that crap apart AGAIN.

Dan

[blown69nova]

My Nova has alum headed small block. I have the eng./trans out right now so pics won't do any good.