On my 65, the rear springs are pretty sagged. the only thing keeping the rear up are the air shocks someone added at points past. Let the air out and she's sagged. When I change out the rear end, the air shocks are coming out.

I know I can buy new, which I'm loath to do, as it's just too much of a crapshoot. Been there too many times. More than a few years ago Clint sent me a pair of used 70 Parisienne front springs for my 67 (which I chose to use coilovers on). And so when I finally found a use for them on my 65, they worked out absolutely perfect! The car sits perfect! Couldn't be happier.

So I'm of the mind that a decently clean, good used pair from a V8 B body should probably work well in the basic sedan.

Anyone have a pair from a known car?

Any thoughts,

Thanks, Mark

Yes, thanks Mike, I'll do some research and get back to you.

Don, Is a 63 spring the same dimension as a 65? Same ends as 65 (Tangential and Pigtail)?

Mike, I think the USA pontiac might have 2 pigtail ends?

Here's a little image of the end types,

Here's the 3 rear springs that have been in my 67,

From the left,

Moog 6431 which I am using in the 67. Stiff, but not that bad. Car sits about 1" higher. (broke in nicely)

Stock CF code springs. Rather soft. Narrow wire. (wished I had have kept them for the 65)

Moog CC601. Variable rate, HD wagon spring. Cannot be used in anything else. Too stiff. I tried them, and there was zero movement.

Mine has the same on both ends, tangential, the ends sit in a pocket. Rockauto show the 65 and 67 as the same?

The acdelco seem to be cheaper if you can figure out the spring rate you want. Maybe by checking the spring specs on ac delco and moog you can figure out what spec you like. It a pig in a poke until you install them? And I like what I like and you may want something else.

If you can get them locally, maybe you can install them and take them back if you dont like them? Canadian tire sell moog I believe. Ac delco should be available locally too. 

Mark, have you checked here?
www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet/1964-Chevrolet.pdf

Might give you some ideas or you may find the one for a 65?

Thanks Don. Lot's of good info in these tech spec PDA's

And sure enough, there is one for 65, I'm amazed at the said curb weight for a Bel Air 2 door sedan V8. 3610lbs. The Laurentian should be similar.

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet/1965-Chevrolet.pdf

I'd think a stripper Biscayne 327 with a 4 speed, single exhaust, Std brakes and steering would be pretty light. Start adding all the stuff and you probably get 200 lbs more.

From the 65 document, Red dot is the 65 spring spec for a 15411 Biscayne 2 door. "C" The lightest spring.

Thanks for the link Brad. That looks like a pretty comprehensive quote form! Fill it all in and you can get exactly what you want.

I'd like the car to sit up just a touch higher in the back than the front. A little stance you could say. The front is pretty much at what I estimate to be close to the stock height. What was nice about using used springs; they were mostly "pre settled". It was a crapshoot, but I think it actually worked. It did come down just slightly after some road travel.

Going with my gut, I'm kind of the mind that with the car being a basic 65 sedan, a set of used springs from, say, a heavier 69 or 70 Parisienne 2 or 4 door HT or 4 door sedan would probably come in just about right. I'm not adverse to changing a few pairs until it's right. The rear beats the front hands down for ease of install.

This picture was taken before the car was driven after the new front end, so it is just a little lower and level front to back. The rear is still on air shocks.

20 years ago my 66 Impala was sagging. I contacted Eaton-Detroit spring and got it right the first time.

They had been making springs for American cars for over 100 years. The tech I talked to spent some time

going over the specs and told me there 23 specs for front springs on 66 Impala.

Ordered 4 @ US$100. per corner and the car sits perfect. Buddy said that was too much and orderd

locally and regretted that, ended up ordering from Eaton-Detroit after all.........

I've bought springs from DE once before Bernie. Fronts for the 67 (since change to hybrid coilovers). I couldn't have been happier with the service. Good company for sure.

On their spring lookup, a set of 65 Biscayne 2 door sedan standard +1" rears would be about $350 Canadian including shipping. Unfortunately I'm just too cheap to justify that.

Nice stance on the Impala though!

Thanks Guys. Maybe this could be a decent solution. 

I went out today and did a before and after shot. With air pumped up and fully without. 

Surprisingly, It works out to only be around 1". Which tells me the springs are really not as bad as I'd imagined. I think some 1.5" spacers might be just perfect. I plan on some cheaper KYB Gas-A-just shocks in the back, as were installed up front.

Randy, where did you get your spacers from? And thanks Don for the offer.

Looks good, drive it and see if it works after the new parts. 

A bit of price shock when I went to look it up.

Here is what I ordered in 2017

1965-1970 Impala Caprice Biscayne Rear Coil Spring Lift Kit | McBay Performance

Went through the buying process and now about $ 100 delivered.

or through eBay

McBay-PERFORMANCE | eBay Stores

-- Edited by ABC123 on Friday 22nd of January 2021 04:12:42 PM

Thanks guys for all the input. Turns out I did keep those old rear JF springs from the Grande as they just turned up today. The still have the tags on them.

Below, here's how they would compare to what I think might be in the back of the 65. The 67's were tired, but they still might have more heft than the old 65 springs. I'll probably try them when the time comes.

Ive got a set of springs in my garage from 67 impala i helped the guy put air ride in, your more then welcome to them