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What to use for spacers - lowering front springs.

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RickB

RickB

Yoda
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I know I could use some nuts that fit over the longer bolts.
What's a more elegant, less ugly solution?
Is there something made just for doing this?

When doing this I suppose I need to use some kind of jack under the spring pans that I can carefully lower? Maybe a little scissor jack? Replace one bolt at a time maybe so the thing doesn't come all the way out? Anyone here ever do this operation?
 
I used 3/4" round aluminum stock with a 5/16" hole drilled in it....cut to the appropriate length.

You can add 5/16" ID washers to "fine tune" things.
I'd start with aluminum stock that is about 3/4" long at first (for the street) and see how that works.

Remember that if you drop your car too far, you will affect the tie rod angle and disturb the "bump steer". Then your car will track funny.
 
You can loosen 2 bolts on the diagonal, then remove the other two and install the longer bolts and spacers, then do the remaining two. Spacers? Go to your local metal supplier and rummage through his scrap/short bin. And yes there are custom made spacers for this application. You may also be able to find spacers at your local hardware store.
 
You can get a short scrap of galvanized water pipe (1/4") that can be cut into as many little cylinders of various heights as you like. Makes it cheap and easy enough to try several different ride heights. Remember that the height of the spacer does NOT equal the change in ride height. A little bit at the spring pan equals almost twice as much at the tire.

Glen Byrns
 
Yes, an inch at the pan will be about 2 inches at the wheel.

Removing that rubber bumper from the front raised it up 3 or 4 inches, so I figure I need 1.5 to 2 inches of drop at the pans. I'll probably go conservative and only drop them down 1.5 inches.
 
you might want to watch ebay for some pre-rubber bumper springs.
 
I used the turn signal lights that were mounted to the rubber bumpers. I mounted them by screwing them to some backing material ( thick rubber ) at an angle. I put some caulking in - actually RTV - from the backside. It's not a perfect fit, but it's close.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

Trevor, you mean like this?

springs on ebay
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

Yup, except look for some from the US. I think new they are about $38 each. I've seen them go for $15 a pair on ebay.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

Think springs are only about 30 bucks each from Moss.

Bet tony even has a used set.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

I'll keep watching ebay & I'll also ask Tony.
Thanks guys, that would be much cleaner than the spacers.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

Rick, I just got some 1/2" spacers from moss. Combine tose with a used pair of 1275 springs and it should give you 1.5 - 1.75 " of drop.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

I went ahead and bought the 1" drop springs for a chrome bumper car. It was p/n 264-605. $125 for the pair. I think they list for more in the catalog, but they were running a sale.

I didn't even think about the spacer route, but I still feel it's an improvement to replace the old set of springs.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

From the pictures, it looks like Rick needs about 3.5 inches of drop. I'm guessing that the Datsun engine is lighter than the triumph lump and sitting a little further back. I do not think the spacers alone will get him where he needs to be. I would guess that stock springs from a 1275 and 3/4 inch spacers might be a good starting place.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

Looking at the springs for a 1975 I see 8 coils, the earlier ones seem to only have 7. If I'm counting right /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Seems like Trevor has hit it right on the head!
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

By the way, rubber bumper cars have a spacer for the front spring hanger on the rear leaf spring (this is roughly under the seats). You can remove that spacer and drop the rear about 5/8" for no cost.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

You guys got me going.

In addition to the lowered springs, I was going to make up a set of collars to lower the spring, but I decided to order the Moss parts. Couldn't find enough bearing collars at work to do it and besides..

..I'm tired of fabricating parts.

Should drop the nose nicely. I'd actually like to have a little bit of a nose low rake.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

Ohhh, a wedgee.
 
Re: What to use for spacers - lowering front sprin

In the old days, we just cut the springs with a torch.

I used to ride around in a Spitfire that would roll up "bell strips" at the gas stations.

You young-uns might not recoginze bell strips, but they were a rubber hose used to ring the bell at gas stations when a car drove up. That way the attendant would know that a car arrived and they could run out to offer service and pump the gas. That was long before self-service, infra-red sensors / motion detectors, beepers, automated service etc.
 
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