After nearly 60 years my springs are naturally somewhat shorter than when new, although they still work fine and are unbroken. In order to bring the stance back to looking good I fitted spring adjusters. That did the trick but, although she still glides along, it seems as if the ride is more firm. This makes sense to me as I've effectively stopped part of each spring working. I'm minded just to take the adjusters out, but wondered if 4 new isolators would give me the result I'm looking for (presuming there are only isolators at the bottom of each coil) since my original isolators are bound to be squished. I'd buy new springs but I'm not confident of getting ones that will match the factory originals.
DonSSDD said
Feb 9, 2023
I did new Moog springs on both ends of mine, there are also places in the USA that can supply a stock spring. Rockauto have listings of different brands for a start, I looked at 64 impala.
bjburnout said
Feb 11, 2023
Did our 66 Impala 20 years ago and used Detroit Eaton Spring the orig manufacturer.
Perfect stance and after 20 years we still get compliments of how it looks.
They had something like 23 spring specs for the front end and a knowledgeable agent
helped me get the right ones. There was a different spring if you had power steering, etc.
I would use them again if I do the Beaumont resto.
Fronts, you'll probably need new springs as you can't shim those...I think.
64PARCONUK said
Feb 12, 2023
Thanks, as usual, to all four of you guys. I've got plenty of time to decide which way to go. Bill's crating rear quarters for me (they were the hardest piece of the jigsaw puzzle to find and he's come trumps) along with some other stuff, but not until April. Once I decide, I can get the solution shipped to him and in the crate.
I'm going to see how squished my "seats" are first. If I think the Metro replacements will work, with or without pucks, that'll be my most economic route. The car deserves new seats anyway. I had found Eaton myself and I could go that way with confidence now, if it becomes necessary.
DonSSDD said
Feb 12, 2023
Just decide what firmness you like for a ride, I like it firm and went poly bushings and stiff springs, a larger front swaybar. Didnt add the rear swaybar as it is said not to add much to the xframe cars and are not worth the effort for a driver. Ive had later gms with and without an F41, I prefer the firmer ride of the F41 and what I have is about like the F41.
You have to decide what sort of ride you want. Id go for new springs, your old almost 60 year old springs are likely worn out and the things you add to old springs only hide the worn out coils for a while IMHO. My 63 had big rubbers and metal spacers in the springs and was still almost a low rider in the front.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Sunday 12th of February 2023 08:24:09 AM
After nearly 60 years my springs are naturally somewhat shorter than when new, although they still work fine and are unbroken. In order to bring the stance back to looking good I fitted spring adjusters. That did the trick but, although she still glides along, it seems as if the ride is more firm. This makes sense to me as I've effectively stopped part of each spring working. I'm minded just to take the adjusters out, but wondered if 4 new isolators would give me the result I'm looking for (presuming there are only isolators at the bottom of each coil) since my original isolators are bound to be squished. I'd buy new springs but I'm not confident of getting ones that will match the factory originals.
Did our 66 Impala 20 years ago and used Detroit Eaton Spring the orig manufacturer.
Perfect stance and after 20 years we still get compliments of how it looks.
They had something like 23 spring specs for the front end and a knowledgeable agent
helped me get the right ones. There was a different spring if you had power steering, etc.
I would use them again if I do the Beaumont resto.
-- Edited by bjburnout on Saturday 11th of February 2023 03:45:10 PM
I bought Cargo coils from Rock Auto to help my convertible
Found them too stiff,
Went with pucks and original springs
I concur on that puck method for the rear.
Fronts, you'll probably need new springs as you can't shim those...I think.
I'm going to see how squished my "seats" are first. If I think the Metro replacements will work, with or without pucks, that'll be my most economic route. The car deserves new seats anyway. I had found Eaton myself and I could go that way with confidence now, if it becomes necessary.
Just decide what firmness you like for a ride, I like it firm and went poly bushings and stiff springs, a larger front swaybar. Didnt add the rear swaybar as it is said not to add much to the xframe cars and are not worth the effort for a driver. Ive had later gms with and without an F41, I prefer the firmer ride of the F41 and what I have is about like the F41.
You have to decide what sort of ride you want. Id go for new springs, your old almost 60 year old springs are likely worn out and the things you add to old springs only hide the worn out coils for a while IMHO. My 63 had big rubbers and metal spacers in the springs and was still almost a low rider in the front.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Sunday 12th of February 2023 08:24:09 AM