where to buy springs

[RobSelina]

I've figured out what I want for the front of the 1500. I want 1.5" lowered springs (they'll actually raise the front 0.5" in my case) with a 330lbs (give or take) spring rate. I'm having trouble finding something like this. I've e-mailed speedwell, but no reply. VB and Moss have lowered springs, but no specifications on spring rate or actual ride height changes, so I'm shying away from them at this point. Advice?
Thanks, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Rob

 

[aeronca65t]

These guys have various springs for your car. No prices on their website (you have to call to makes an order) but I'm pretty sure that they are about $130 a pair (USD).

https://www.spridget.com/

 

[Matthew E. Herd]

Moss offers 340 lb/in and 400 lb/in springs. The winners circle (I talked with them recently on this) may have some in stock as they placed an order. In the catalog from Moss, they say expect 6 weeks for delivery for the 400 lb/in springs. They run about 65 dollars a set. VB probably offers something similar, but I forget. Its the rear springs that are expensive. Moss offers 1" lowered for something like $140. All in all, still inexpensive. How did you arrive at the determination that the car will be raised .5"? Supposedly the 340lb/in springs offer a marginal lowering and the 400lb/in springs lower the car approx 1." Since the actual unsprung length of the stock springs (at 271 lb/in according to the Haynes manual) doesn't vary significantly from model to model (approx .5" from bugeye to rubber bumper), this seems to indicate that the ride alteration should be the same regardless. However the rubber bumper vehicles were raised, I don't believe it is in the spring department. Also, the moss catalog claims that the lowered springs are only for earlier cars. This does not make sense to me as the only difference I can determine is the increase in number of leaves from 5 to 6. The mounting points are unchanged so far as I can determine, so aside from possibly being a bit too weak, they should still be bolt on. If the rubber bumpers are removed, it should not be any different from the earlier cars. I guess that my bumpers weigh approximately 70lbs each. Aside from that detail, the cars are pretty much identical in the suspension department. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm trying to determine the differences so that I know whether or not those rear springs are viable. I have not consulted the gentlemen at the winners circle, who might know the answer to my question.

 

[RobSelina]

My vehicle sits 6.5" from the bottom of the rocker up front to the ground, and 8.5" from rocker to ground out back. Since I'm sitting 2" lower up front, I figure 1.5" lowered springs will net me an additional 0.5" of clearance, in addition to the stiffer spring rate.
As far as Moss' indication that the springs are for chrome bumper cars only, I have no idea why they wouldn't work either. I've been curious myself...

I looked in the winners circle catalog before posting, but they only had springs with a 500lbs rate listed. Do they have other springs in addition to the ones in their latest catalog?

Thanks, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Rob

 

[Bugeye58]

Rob, if my feeble memory serves me correctly, the free length of the rubber bumper springs is longer than the chrome bumper ones. I show 9.4" for the earlier springs, but don't have a 1500 reference to go by. The Victoria British springs are 8.8" and 340 lb. for the 5-5081, and 9" and 330 lb. for the 5-5082.
Jeff

 

[RobSelina]

good info. I think I'm going to get the 5-5082s from VB since I need a few other things from them on my next order.
Thanks,
rob

 

[Matthew E. Herd]

Jeff, that's correct, the free length for the bugeyes is something like 9.4" where the RB free length is something like 9.9 inches at the same spring rate. Also, the winners circle offers moss springs in addition to their own parts. Most likely they would be cheaper and they should have them in stock soon, unlike what moss's catalog indicates about their own supplies.

 

[Bugeye58]

Thanks, Matt. Those were the numbers I had in my head, but without a solid reference, I didn't want to quote them.
Jeff