Ride height, rakes, etc. - split from Impala rescue

IndyG3 wrote:

BlackChevelleSS wrote:I like em lowered enough where theres 0 to 1 inch between the top of the tire and the wheel well opening.

Oh, then you'd love what I just did to my car!

Let see some pics...

Biomedtech wrote:Let see some pics...

http://www.g3gm.com/t1449p15-finally-proof-that-it-exists

I posted a few pics on my project page. I haven't had much time to take any new ones recently, but I haven't changed much on it since I took this picture.

What front springs ? I know you probably put it on here someplace but im too lazy too look.Thanks.

ant7377 wrote:What front springs ? I know you probably put it on here someplace but im too lazy too look.Thanks.

WOW welcome to Lazyville LOL

Re: Finally! Proof that it exists!

Post by IndyG3 on Tue 20 Apr 2010 - 2:45
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Black was right on the tire sizes... 245/60's on the front and 275/60 rears on 15x8 rallyes all the way around for now. A congratulatory handshake is in order for him! Laughing

As for the springs, they're whatever Global West's 1 inch lowering spring is. I picked them up since they were about $10 more than the factory style replacements...couldn't pass up on a deal like that! They ride surprsingly well. They're much shorter than factory springs, but they're a bit stiffer to make up for the size difference. They definitely firm up the ride without making the car uncomfortable to drive on Indiana's fine, un-crater-filled roads. Oh, wait, that's a lie...Indiana roads are terrible, and I'm amazed the car still rides very well for all the suspension work that's been done. Rago's right, this thing WOULD look great lowered another inch or so in the front, but this stance is as comfortable as I'll get with lowering it. I can barely get a jack under it how it is. It sits really, really low in person. Cool

I'm not big on lowered cars either, but one thing is does accomplish is lowering the CG, which helps handling somewhat. But I'm also not into jack-up cars. The old "California rake" of the old days sucked for handling, with the rear way up in the air etc.

I, too, grew up with cars sporting the "California rake" and the handling did suck on most of them. But, I remember a neighbor who had a silver/blk '69 Nova SS with the "rake" and, if any car looked good with that stance, it was that Nova! To this day, I drool over the thoughts of that car!

Jim_Rockford wrote:

Mcarlo77 wrote:I, too, grew up with cars sporting the "California rake" and the handling did suck on most of them. But, I remember a neighbor who had a silver/blk '69 Nova SS with the "rake" and, if any car looked good with that stance, it was that Nova! To this day, I drool over the thoughts of that car!

LOL we called that the stink bug stance..lol It was a sign the owner had no clue.

Pics of one coming soon. Keep an eye on my project thread.

LOL we called that the stink bug stance..lol It was a sign the owner had no clue.

Most of the time, that was probably true. But back then, this was more about looking "cool" on the street rather than about the handling of the car. Everyone was emulating the funny cars at the drag strip.

i love my stance,and with the 275-60's it handles like a dream.


when i bought the 73 in 2002,it was all original,but someone did the rake job to it,and handled like $h!+.

i think that someone did that to my car too. How can i fix this? Are there just spacers below the springs or is there more to it?

@jim rockford: i saw an US aircraft carrier there once. Impressive stuff. I live about 20 minutes of driving from there.

Rakes can be done a few different ways. If you look at Chris' photos, it appears as if his front springs were cut. Back in the day, I had rear lift springs. Now I'm forced to use them again for the time being just so the front end doesn't sit nose up. (I already dumped around 200 lbs from the front end with more weight loss planned in the future). Some day I'll go with the stock HD rear springs when I figure out a good solution to bring the front back down. Yes Bryan I know.... get coil-overs.

IMHO no spacers should ever be used on these cars unless you like to test your luck. Spacers are best left to strut type vehicles.

old days i remember air shocks and springs from a wagon

hmm, now im confused... there is only ine i believe about 1,5inch plate below rear springs so im not sure if that is spacer. but it does look like ones they sell on ebay. i sure hope that front springs arent cut, because it has a very high stance as-is. i wouldnt like it sitting any higher. about longer rear springs, is there any way to determine which one they are without taking them off? maybe count the windings?

There shouldn't be anything under the coil springs except the mount that's welded to the axle. Also there shouldn't be anything above the rear spring other than a rubber isolator pad. Got any pics?

Only way that I know of to find out about your springs is to count the coils & measure them with a set of calipers. Then go to these pages & see what you have or at least get close.

Front springs
http://www.g3gm.com/t2376-front-spring-rates

Rear springs
http://www.g3gm.com/t2375-rear-spring-rates

no photos at the moment unfortunately, i will take some when i get home. if the weather is nice i might also take the car out to show you the stance.

how does that mount look? what i have under my coils is a lot like this "lift kit", but somehow smaller and wider.

i sure hope its just spacers, so i can throw them out when i will change the bushings. although i quite like the stance it has, in my opinion form does not prevail function in any case, so they are going into the trash can



ps: i forgot to attach the link. here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/REAR-2-COIL-SPRING-SPACER-LIFT-KIT-SET-Z28-SS-RS-LT-GT-/110632776668?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1977|Model%3AMalibu&hash=item19c23a33dc