75rag4sp

I am getting ready to install the front half of the VBP Street and Salomn kit. That kit comes with 550lb front springs. The car is a 75 L82 convertable. I have no intention of putting in a big block and a rebuilt motor will probably include Alumnimum heads so it will be even lighter than stock.

I don't mind a stiff riding car ...(The car came stock with the gymkana spring set up) but it seems like everyone here is running 460lb springs. Am I asking for a sore butt. I installed the 360lb rear spring and love it so far.

Question...Does anyone wish they went either firmer or softer? I'm debating on if I should swap the 550s for 460s

Gordonm

I had the 550s in mine and thought it was a little harsh. I went to the 460s and it seems to be very good. Still very firm but there is some give when going over bumps. The only time I wished for 550s was when I autocrossed this year. Even with the 460s there was very little roll in the car. The tires are the limiting factors on mine. I also have a SB with aluminum heads and some other lightening features off the front.

75rag4sp

Thanks this is exactly the feedback I am looking for. PA roads are natoriously bad. I'm a little worried that 550s may just be a little too much. What are you running in back. I really like the 360lb spring quiet & smooth but solid.

Gordonm

I am running a 330 rear spring with the 460s in front.

Evil_1979

I have the 550lb springs from VBP in my 79 L82. The ride is a bit harsh, but I don't mind. I autocross my car as well and really like the 550lb springs. For just cruising I would probably have gone with 460's- Watching the other C3's and the body roll- I'm glad I have the 550's and a thicker sway bar.

My limiting factor on the auto-X is my stock rear spring- soon I will be putting in a 330 lb glass spring and a rear sway bar.


If you plan to race I would go with the stiff springs. If you plan on just plain spirited driving and cruising, the 460's would be way the way to go.

Cheers!
~Kevin

Fevre

Seems there is 2 schools of thought on body roll, some like to control it by stiffer spring and some like to do it with thicker sway bar. I would think for mostly street driving with spirited driving every once in a while a thicker sway bar would be a better option. I have just installed 460's but do not have the car road ready as of yet.

75rag4sp

Well the kit comes with a Monster Sway bar and Poly end links...that is going on for sure.

I think I'm gonna stick with the 550lb springs. After all its a Vette...why am I being such a sissy. If I want a soft ride I have a 1970 Boss Hogg Cadillac Convertable to drive!!!

Evil_1979

And there you have it!

If you were buying the springs, maybe 460's would be more viable, but as you already have the 550lb springs- put 'em in there and drive it like you stole it!
~K

gkull

I've gotton pretty good at changing out springs in my garage. So it's not a biggy.

That one supporting vendor had the multi rate front springs. I think that a 460/560 or a 500/600 would be great.

If all your joints were poly and the front sway used correct ends and poly mounts do to the spring weight transfer induced by a 1 1/4 inch sway and 460 inch pound spring should have the same amount of body roll at the tire traction limits as a 550 spring with 1 1/8 th front bar. This is all mathmatical, but it is very close.

PatsLs1vette

im running the 360 rear spring with 460 fronts but cut almost 2 coils off mine and i like the way it rides,firm but not too harsh,but thats also switching to bilstien shocks too.

Matt Gruber

mine (550) is not stiff at all (because i left those big bars in my closet)

Ganey

550 works for me.

gerry72

I'm using 550lb. springs in my smallblock '72. It's not harsh except when you hit one of those sharp bumps, like a pot hole. The trick is not to go too stiff on the shocks or big on the bars.

Frank75

We have crappy roads around here too. I had a GTA with 500+# springs in front and it handled well but rode pretty hard. My vette has one coil cut from stockers and it rides better but doesn't handle as well. I have a sway bar kit that I'm hoping will help the handling and also plan to install a VB&P spreader bar. Can't hurt to try, you can always change back.

turtlevette

your sig pict is enough for me to decide that 550s are the way to go. Body roll may not be all that detrimental to handling but i just hate the look. The new vettes corner so flat you can't even tell they're going around a corner and thats the look i'm after with my C3.

gkull

Hey Turtle Vette! How many track events did your make this summer?

I probably have taken 300+ pounds off of my front end and I don't know if my 550# front springs and 1 1/8 front bar have softened with age or if I need to go to bigger front shocks with more dampening. I really need something adjustable. I have started to experience a wobble just at the transition from high speed WOT to stomping on the brakes. Our local track has some undulations and I actually experienced rear lockup in this section at 110 - 120 mph...... It's not a big deal the car stays straight. You feel it happening and glance in the mirror and see a blue cloud and maybe 100 feet black marks before you can react and lift on the brake a little.


Gordonm - What size sway are you using in that picture?

The big point on spring selection is the driving style and intended tires. Stiff wide low profile tires will have a more profound effect on the ride quality of your than just simple spring rates

Gordonm

I have a 1 1/8 front bar with a 3/4 inch rear bar.

Turtlevette, most of the role is from the lousy tires. I was amazed looking at the side of the tire how much role the tires had. I have some pictures of the C4s and C5s at the same event and looking at the tire vs body roll my old C3 does not look so bad. I j ust went back and looked at the album from the day of racing. Mine looks almost as good if not better in the corners as some of the other C4 and C5 cars. They were only about 4 seconds faster than me and most were running Hoosier tires. I don't think the body roll is bad at all.
http://autox4u.com/pictures.htm
Check out the album and some of the other cars in the same turn.

75rag4sp

Thanks guys. The 550s should fit well with the package. I bought the whole kit...included Shocks springs and sway bars. I would think VBP has put this together in a pretty balanced package. I will install it as is and tweek if I want some modifications. Again I'm pretty used to a stiff ride and prefer it to sloppy any day.

gkull

You need a user name and PW at that link?????

73jst4fun

Yes, I'm planning on installing new front springs this fall and will go with the 460's