65-70 rear springs

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

65-70 rear springs

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I have the Moog cargo coil rear springs in my 1970 Parisienne & 2+2 convertible. They sit a bit higher, but overall ok. At times I think I should have done a bit more research and just gone with a normal rear spring, I think someone told me that the cargo coils were the only things available, and I went with them.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Exactly what I'm looking for, a touch higher than stock.

I think I'm going to order a set while I can still get them.

Thanks!

ABC123 · Uber Guru

Think about coil pucks.

If you can find them.

After I found the set of "Extra Load" springs were way too stiff on the convertible, I went back to original springs and pucks from Global Western.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

ABC123 wrote:
Think about coil pucks.

If you can find them.

After I found the set of "Extra Load" springs were way too stiff on the convertible, I went back to original springs and pucks from Global Western.

Yes, that is certainly plan B if I can't find some new ones that are suitable.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I did extra load in my 67 and had to take them back out. No compliance to them. Too stiff.

I think the metal spacer pucks combined with what you have and know are a good way of doing it.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

cdnpont wrote:
I did extra load in my 67 and had to take them back out. No compliance to them. Too stiff.

When I was out on my morning walk I was thinking more about this and I think I'm going to play around with spacers. First I will park it on the driveway and see what maybe 1/2" or 3/4" extra height will look like but I'm guessing it won't need a lot. This is how it currently looks (no seats or spare tire/jack in it right now, so it will be a touch lower when I put that stuff in.

20240409_115212[1].jpg

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

People might talk down about them, but if you are only looking for 1" or so and not towing, air shocks can be a pretty decent solution as well. Easier than pulling springs, and you can fine tune them to what you'd like.

Had them on the 65 and they worked pretty well with no real negatives to speak of.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I just pulled them off, it had air shocks! I've never been a fan of air shocks but I can't explain why... I know what you are saying though, they are great when you have an ideal ride height you want.

If I do change springs it will be the variable rate pieces that are supposed to maintain original stance (although I'm not sure they do and I'm not sure how close this is to original stance right now).

1965CS · Guru

4SPEED427 wrote:
Randy's thread about front springs prompted me to ask about rears for the same cars, 65-70 B body Canadian Pontiacs (or full size Chevrolets).
Has anyone used the Cargo Coil style rear springs on one of these cars? I'm curious what it did to ride height?
Also, has anyone tried a wagon spring in a sedan or hardtop? I'm assuming it would lift it quite a bit.
I removed the air shocks from my 66 Grande Parisienne and it sits just a little bit too low in the back for my liking, so I want to replace the rear springs.

I used the 'wagon' springs in the rear and didn't seem to affect height or ride stiffness. The main difference I noted is when loading up the trunk it doesn't drop much.

LT1Caddy · Poncho Master!

I had a set of HD coils in the car when I bought it. It sat too high I thought so I replaced them with a set of stock springs from another B body Chev. I thought it looked better till I filled the tank, now to low.
So I'm going to replace the stock spring with the HD, maybe cut a coil, should be better.
Remember the gas tank is at the very rear of the car and "levers" the rear end down very easily. (then if you put a load in the trunk....)

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thats very true, a full tank is probably close to 130 lbs hanging behind the axle.

66 Grande guy · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

You gotta stop putting lovely pictures of that car on this forum. You're making me crazy!

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

Back in the late 70s I put quite a few used wagon springs in 65-70 full size Chevrolets. The car would be about an inch higher and a bit stiffer but the he ride was still very good. The economy was not very good back then and cheaper always won. I do remember one car that when you jacked it up the Moog cargo coil would fall out because the overall length was a bit shorter than the stock spring. I think the hat may have been an A body though.
Paul

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Prefectca wrote:
Back in the late 70s I put quite a few used wagon springs in 65-70 full size Chevrolets. The car would be about an inch higher and a bit stiffer but the he ride was still very good. The economy was not very good back then and cheaper always won. I do remember one car that when you jacked it up the Moog cargo coil would fall out because the overall length was a bit shorter than the stock spring. I think the hat may have been an A body though.
Paul

Thanks, that may be something to consider.