Thread: Eliminate Front Coil Spring Spacers?

My 74 Avanti has a rather thick Aluminum spacer under the coil spring and a thin steel spacer on top of the spring.

I have a set of MOOG CC-655 coil springs that I will install when I've reconditioned/rebuilt the suspension. I would like to eliminate the Aluminum spacer as I assume that will set the car a bit lower and I currently have no plans to cut them further.

The control arms/A-arms are solid with little to no rust pitting in the seats for the coil springs so my plan is to leave the spacers out.

I'm curious about the experience of the forum members in doing this. Did you just leave 'em out or add a pad of some type (thin steel/urethane) to the interface area. Or as an addition, What would you recommend?

Thanks, Bob

Usually H.D. Stude. springs being shorter required the thick spacer to get the Car LEVEL, this was especially true on Air Cond. Cars they did not use the Rubber Spring pads.

All of the Standard Spring Cars had Rubber Pads under the spring, half circle on approx. '63-'66 and full circle UPPER AND LOWER on '50 to approx. '62.

So I see no reason why you could not do whatever you like with it, if it were mine I would probably try a 526249 Rubber pad at least on the bottom.

How thick is "rather thick"?
I would try without the spacers and see how the Avanti sits and if there is any interferance.

Originally Posted by studegary

How thick is "rather thick"?
I would try without the spacers and see how the Avanti sits and if there is any interferance.

Thanks Joe, Rich and Gary. You all have provided the information, I believe, I'm looking for.

The spacer is about a fat 1/2" so not that thick but Joe submits that an approx. 3/4" height reduction is possible so I plan to leave them out. The reason I need the drop is the original SBC was a touch high and the newer 383 SBC will have an aluminum intake, water pump and radiator further reducing the weight and probably raising the front some more.

The mention about squeaking was significant so I looked into Energy Suspension urethane isolators, about $15/pair. They have one that will fit at 5/16" thickness and will probably compress some more so I'll look into them or Rich's suggestion on the 526249 rubber pads.

The Avanti sat on the high side of what I'd want originally so this will help. I'll cut a bit out of a coil if I need to but I'd rather avoid doing that.

Thanks again all, Bob

Originally Posted by Mike Van Veghten

The second thing I did to my Lark wagon after I bought it...remove the 1" air conditioning spacers. But that wasn't enough, I ended up cutting a full coil also.

As for the rubber...in all my cars...including this Lark (a Stude !), I've never had audable "spring" squeeking noises from my cars. OTHER squeeks...yea !!! As long as the spring is seated correctly, it should not move in either pocket (upper or lower).
Your choise, but...remember, the thickness you use will raise the car some amount.

Mike

Thanks Mike

The good news is with a fresh install it shouldn't be hard to add the rubber later as I'd like to start with it as low as I can without cutting coils. Might be a little hard to hear the squeaks over the Mufflers!!?? I plan to install anyway.

Bob

Originally Posted by Mike Van Veghten

Bob -

Mufflers....you're gonna use mufflers....? Oh the humanity...mufflers...!

Yea...me too, just bought a set of the long Dynomax Turbo mufflers for my (soon to be..daily driver) Conestoga.

Mike

The local constabulary are pretty forgiving about exhaust sound level on custom type vehicles in my little corner of the world but don't like to be pressed to the limit so I used these initially on the 83.



Judy complained about sound level so I converted to Magnaflow SS glasspacks but on the 74 I'm going back to the ones shown in an earlier post on the 83.

Yesterday the local muffler shop bent the 2 1/2" head pipes to fit the 2 1/2" ram horns on the 383 in the 74 as I'm slowly getting closer to setting it in to engine compartment.


Bob

Paul, have you got too much money invested in those too short Flowmasters to just install Longer ones.