New Hotchkis suspension, 67 Camaro sits too high!

[Black67SS]

To say the least i'm pissed.I just finished installing my Hotchkis suspension kit on my 67' Camaro and my car sits higher than it did stock!Oh it handles great but looks like crap.It's got 2" drop coils and it looks like it needs to go down about 3".Is it possible the front sway bar could be holding the car up?The handling is nice but I would have been more happy just cutting my stock springs to get the height I wanted.How much can you safely cut off the Hotchkis Springs?Has anybody else run into this or have any ideas what I could do?I posed questions on here earlier about the fact I have aluminum heads and was assured it wouldn't be much of an issue.The car has a small block and I have already confirmed I have the right parts.Thanks in advance for any help.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Three things.

(1) Keep in mind many cars have very worn springs and already sit loewer then stock.

(2) Your springs will settle, so give them a couple week

(3) You can trim the springs quite a bit.

But don't do anytihing for a couple weeks. Also, make suure your lower control arms are not tighten will the front suspension was hanging. I like to double nut them and let them swing.

[Black67SS]

The springs I took out were a few years old but not worn.the car didn't sit low before the change and everything in the front end seems pretty free.How much is quite a bit on the coils?

[GetMore]

If you have rubber bushings in the control arms and you tightened up the arms while the car was in the air (arms drooping) then the bushings are actually pushing the car up.
If you've got solid bushings, like Del-A-Lums, then I don't think it makes a difference where the arms are when you tighten them.
If they are poly bushings then I also don't think it matters.
But, again, if they're rubber, you have to do it the right way.

[6'9"Witha69]

If they are poly bushings then I also don't think it matters.
Incorrect. Poly will bind almost as much as rubber. More actually, if you don't put the lube on them.

[ProdigyCustoms]

The springs I took out were a few years old but not worn.the car didn't sit low before the change and everything in the front end seems pretty free.How much is quite a bit on the coils?

More then you will need. Check your control arm bushings, let it settle, then call me and we can discuss exactly how far you want to lower it and how much to cut

[Vegas69]

Don't be to pissed because you have to mess with coil over 10 times to get the ride height you want as well. Let it settle as Frank said, then make your adjustments.

[Black67SS]

Thanks for your input guys.I'll try to be patient,but I was sort of expecting instant results.I did'nt have the lower arms out,just hanging while installing the springs and they have rubber bushings.

[CRead01]

I think it's pretty common to have this first reaction.

alot of people get the hotchkis springs end up cutting them to get them lower.

[ProdigyCustoms]

We have to keep in mind they are 1 1/2 from stock orignal new which was pretty damn hig! Most of us realy like a 3" drop (front factory original new( we just don't remember what factory original was so we think we want a 1 1/2" drop trying not to go to low

[6'9"Witha69]

Oh, did you index the springs properly?

[Hotchkis]

Hi Black67 - sorry to hear you're having a little trouble, there is a lot of good information in this thread already. If you didn't pull the arms, make sure the spring is indexed correctly with the part numbers facing up. The spring will also settle a bit after driving.

Forty years after these cars were built many have sagged and sit low on stock springs, others have different equipment that change the weight. We try to give people a general idea of what their car should look like with our parts, so we just created a Ride Height Gallery (http://www.hotchkis.net/slideshows/), which we're adding to regularly. Your car should sit about like Randy's maroon '68 Chevelle (http://www.hotchkis.net/slideshows/index.php?ID=17). If its higher than that, check the items listed above.

We recently added a 3-inch drop spring (http://www.hotchkis.net/cart/subcategories.php?Cat=3) for 1st Gen F-Bodies due to customer demand for a significantly lower ride height. We will likely offer the same for A-Bodies if customer demand is high enough.

Feel free to call us if you need more information.

[79-TA]

Have any pictures?

I have Hotchkis leafs on my car (2nd gen) and ended up helping them out with 1.5 inch lowering blocks.

Lots of good advice so far, so make sure things are right and give your car some time to settle.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

isnt it frustrating.....

[Black67SS]

Just trying to be patient here waiting for the weather to clear so I can get a few miles on the suspension.The sad part is our season will be finished up real soon here in Newfoundland and I would really like to have this sorted out before then so I can get on to the next part of this never ending project.I checked over what I could(didn't find anything) and now I'll just cross my fingers that it settles out.We had our first hint of snow this time last year!If I have to start cutting springs I want to get to it sooner than later.
Tony

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

cut them bishes!

[protouring70]

I have found that if you take it for a drive get on a back road and swerve back and forth to help settle. (not at fast speeds!)This helps!

[Black67SS]

I had the car out for a good rip today and on the upside the fenders are now a little closer to the tires(about 3" gap).My new wheel/tire combo should be ready to install on the car this week.245/40 18 on the front.I'll wait untill then to start cutting the springs.I would like it to sit as though it is sitting right on the tire from the side profile.I hope I can get it there.

[79-TA]

When changing wheel tire combinations, just remember that you can get a consistent measurement by measuring from the center of the wheel to the middle of the fender arc. Overall wheel/tire diameter won't affect this measurement. Getting the look you want will be affected by overall diameter of course.

[400firebird]

how much are you going to cut off if any

[ZZ427]

How about Hotchkis start manufacturing 3" lowered coil spring to match the new 3" lowered leaf spring .:idea:

[Ishmael]

How about Hotchkis start manufacturing 3" lowered coil spring to match the new 3" lowered leaf spring .:idea:

I just looked around for some. It would make sense.

[Hotchkis]

Stay tuned, they're in the works. In the meantime cars with Hotchkis lower A-Arms can pull the shims out with standard Hotchkis Sport springs and it gets an even ride height.