Where to find "stock" new springs?

[TWINRAY]

I can imagine the color of the air in the garage during the 12 hours!!! Blue maybe? You're making me feel better that I decided to have the shop do my front end later this summer. I'll pull the motor and rebuild it before I could figure out how to do a front end, I'd loose my grip on a coil spring and hurt myself!

Good luck

Before you ask, I couldn't do the springs last nite cause Corvette Central shorted me 4 washers for the lower CA's and the bolts they gave me for the Upper CA's where the alignment shims go, were shorter than I liked - so I had to go to the hardware store this AM for some #8 bolts and washers. I did put the ball joints on the CA's so I'm all set to go tonight- famous last words. I'm wondering if the problem some people have with poly bushings (sqeeking) is because they aren't lubed properly. It takes a little time to do it correctly so that the "special" silicone grease they give you is spread all over the bushings and the shells. When you give it to a shop, it's rush-rush to get it done. They also press the old shells out. I did the CA bushings on this car in the late 70's. I had the rubber bushings then and had a shop do it. One of the CA shafts has a big gouge in it from the pressing. Now I think it is impossible for the backyard mechanic to put in rubber bushings but the advantage to poly is that you can do it yourself and nothing will be gouged plus you know they will be lubed properly. Just a thought. When I'm taking the springs out and putting them back, I wear my old high school football helmet just in case one of them starts bouncing around the garage - just kidding, but you do have to be careful. When I was taking them out this time, I had the lower CA's fully dropped down and on one side, I thought the spring was ready to be pulled out. Well it still had a little bit of spring left in in when I (stupidly) tugged on it by hand. It sprung a bit and hit me in my elbow -my good elbow too, my other one is semi-screwed up with tendionious. Tonight I can only work after dinner to 9pm cause it's "2 wheel Tuesday!"

 

[TWINRAY]

Getting ready for Watkins Glen September event

Fred..........So how did the spring job go??

Bill

Finished at 6:30 pm last night. Poly bushings (sorry John and Vettehead Mikey), Moog ball joints and poly grease boots, Elgin springs. Tie rod ends with VBP HD sleeves were done last year along with VBP heavy duty rear strut rods - the heym type. I even did all the cotter springs with the "correct" ones. It fought me till the end. I had to take the fan off and remove the radiator shroud (that thing is a real FPITA) in order to tighten the left front upper control rod bushing bolt. Couldn't get the torque wrench on all the bolts so on those I guestamated. Loctited all the shaft bolts and tonight will take a spin around the block and give height measurements. I didn't take height measurements with the stock springs, so I don't know if I'm higher or lower. If it tracks straight and stearing wheel aligned OK, I will pass on the alignment - but with all the changes, I don't think that is going to happen. Just had an alignment last year and next yrs project is the real trailing arm bushings, so I'll need one then again. Only concern I have is that on the upper control arms, left front bolt and right rear bolt, is that they didn't completly tighten up??? All the others were OK to 50 ft lbs torque but those two didn't want to stop turning and it looked like the big bushing washer was getting too close to the shaft with little poly in between so I don't know what was going on ?? It shouldn't go anywhere with the locktite on the threads. Anyone to comment on why they didn't seem to tighten up? or maybe they were just about to and I stopped turning too soon? I don't know. I have new rotors and brake pads but will not be putting these on just yet. I just have some minor BS interior work to do but think I will try to get the wipers working this year. I'll be driving for about 3 hours in the dark to get to the event and I've been lucky the past 2 yrs with no rain in the dark. Rain in the light is no problem with the Rain X but with the lights reflecting and rain, and no wipers, you can't see s__t in the dark. I'm not electrically minded so the wipers have been a problem.

 

[TWINRAY]

Ride height - SB w/AC Elgin Coil Springs

For those that are interested, the ride height with the Elgin Front Coil springs sold by Corvette Central (Elgin #5762) are:
12" from top of lower control arm bolt to floor and
8 1/4" from lowest point of lower ball joint spindle to floor

These are with KYB Gas adjust shocks. Everything seems to be fine.

If someone gets around to it, would they please post the height with the stock springs.