Front Coil Springs

[green_weenie]

I am looking to buy front coil springs for a L78 '69 Nova. All the major suppliers carry these (Paddock, Classic, etc.). However, Rick's First Generation Camaro catalog offers new springs that are rated per the actual option packages (as were from the factory). Are these worth the extra money? Would they be the same for Novas? Any info would help. Thnx

[Keith Tedford]

If the springs are correct, then the company should be able to give you actual ride height dimensions for a given spring set. Most aftermarket springs, including the ones that I have used, give the cars a very tall ride height. This is also guaranteed to give "A" body cars wheel hop problems.

[Nova Research Project]

green_weenie;

Visit the spring calculators here Nova Research Project - Spring Calculators and look up the code and part number for your spring.

Chevrolet used 27 different front coil springs in 70 and 17 in 69. Unless you are interested in the front end being very high, I would look to get a spring that matches the specs of the original part number.

Armed with the spring number you can search a spring that should work for you. Eaton Detroit Springs claims to make springs off of the original blue prints. There are other springs sources too. The Camaro shared many springs with the Nova. Camaro springs that are identified part number or code should be a direct replacement. A few of the suppliers can match springs to applications. Unfortunately a Camaro spring for a certain set of options is not a direct replacement for a Nova with the same options. I have the Camaro info if you want to check the spring code to be sure.

Greg

[DaJudge]

I get springs for my Pontiacs from Performance Years because they order them by factory blue prints and specs that correspond to options, engine, ride and handling package, etc. It is worth the extra money because the ride height is correct and the car rides as new. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[Keith Tedford]

In the Chevelle-Monte Carlo parts book P014, there are charts to calculate the added weight of the vehicle, front and back. From this you can figure out which springs to use. There is also a chart showing how much the ride height changes when you go to one of the heavier springs.

[Don_Lightfoot]

For anybody that is interested I have all the Chevelle spring codes and option weights on my website. Am also making any and all spring decals (among others) as only 2 or 3 of the spring decals are being reproduced, the ones for my car were not.

[Nova Research Project]

The calculators on my site use the same parts book information to calculate the weight based on the options. I have the Nova completed. One of the Camaro's calculators is complete. The Chevelle calculators are in the works. Just runing out of time in the day....

[TDW]

I just got a set of the decals from Don for my car. They are excellent. .......Tony