Cut my front springs friday

[Hi-po SS 454]

During summer I replaced springs hoping for the right drop in height. Going by a Buds 2" drop springs from OPG I decided on 1" drop springs since his was too low. Didn't work out as you can see in first pic.
Finally went for it. Read in a past article on line in Hi-perf chevy about cutting coil springs. They said there is a ratio of 1.5" to 2" if you cut 1 inch off height of spring. So instead of wondering if I should cut a coil (which would have been a BIG mistake) I measured the spring height and cut 1/2 inch off which actually came to 1/2 coil and got my new ride height. My headers could not take much more than this.. I'm happy as hell now..and finished with a cool ride height.

BEFORE


AFTER.. if you look hard you'll actually see the front dipping lower than rear. Check the curb out at front bumper compare to top pic and you see a good drop.
Much better in person since your standing next to it and it looks lower than pics..
RemeMber that ratio, 1 1/2" to 2" DROP WITH 1 " CUT FROM SPRING HEIGHT.



This info is from Hi-Perf chev. out of there website:
Cutting a spring immediately increases the spring rate, which will increase ride stiffness slightly. But theres more to the story. Because there is a ratio between the spring and the front suspension, the amount the spring is cut is multiplied when the spring is installed in the car. There is disagreement on the specific ratio, but our sources place it between 1.5:1 and 2:1. This means that cutting a spring by 1 inch would mean dropping the ride height between 1.5 and 2 inches. This only applies to the front suspension. Rear spring changes, either leaf or coil, are a 1:1 relationship.

[vp23271]

Nice car!

The stance looks way better!

[Tom 72RS/SS]

I think you got it right, looks great!

[CarlC]

Well done Rich! Cutting springs is not an easy thing to do when trying to get the ride height perfect.

[Yelcamino]

Yep, you hit the nail on the head! Mucho improvement!