Springs for GM A-Body

Marvin Robinson · 10-22-2009, 01:45 AM

I'm replacing the springs and shocks my 71 Olds 442 (F/SA) with a 455. I have new Ranchos adjustable rear and Calvert front shocks, car wt. is 3765 with me in it. I'm looking for recommendations on what spring rates I should use in front and rear. Should I have different rates from side to side?? Who's springs would be best to use??

Thanx

Jeff Stout · 10-22-2009, 09:09 AM

Is this the Marvin that raced a Impala or Caprice at US 30 back in the eighties?

67ss · 10-22-2009, 02:59 PM

As stiff as you can get in rear. A stock moog spring would work or look up nightmare performance on the net and let them give you a recomendation on one of their springs. The stiff rear spring will help control the frequency at which the rear of the A-body cars want to unload. A Moroso Trick Front spring will be fine up front or give Santhuff's a call and get a recommendation from them. The front will likely be the trickiest in getting the right rate the first time and you may have to do some trimming or shimming. Savistke Custom and Classic sells spring seat spacers which will help with setting front ride height. They are at www.scandc.com

john corcoran jr · 10-22-2009, 11:42 PM

Jeff: Yes it is the same guy, he's just not Starvin that much anymore.

Marv: Comp. Engineering shows one listing for the rear springs, and yes they state that right side spring is stiffer than left. On the fronts you have 3 or 4 choices depending on front half weight and spring rate desired. Remember when I changed the front springs on my Firebird, the fenders dropped right down leaving little room between the fenders and the tires. When I changed brake master and steering box, wheel clearance became acceptable. I say pull the weight off, scale the car, then change springs.
John

Marvin Robinson · 10-23-2009, 01:17 AM

Jeff,

Yep, it's me.... I rebuilt the motor at 99k in the 79 Caprice in 85, and it was still a regular gas daily driver, but wound up running 14 teens and knocking down 22 mpg on the highway (thru the mufflers, on street tires). I qualified that car for the NHRA Div 3 Bracket finals 3 years in a row (Union Grove's team - I qualified 2 more years witn my 87 IROC, running mid 13's), and got to the last 7 cars my first year (lost on a double breakout, but I really treed the guy in a 17 second Duster, misjudged the stripe) - a picture was put in National Dragster. I also won the Midwest Fall BracketNationals at Byron with it.
I put another 135k on that motor before a tow truck hit my wife from behind in '90 and put the trunk in the back seat, otherwise, I'd still be driving it! I still have the motor and a 12.73 et slip from a run on nitrous in the Caprice at Byron. That was a REALLY fun car.

I sorta took ten years off 92 - 2002 while I helped put 3 kids thru college.... John Corcoran helped get me back into the NHRA wars, and I'm having a ball...... I'm still surprised at how many people remember me or one of my race cars. Are you any relation to Harold Stout (S/SS Camaros and Trailer Dealership)?

Thanx,

Marvin

72Malibu · 10-25-2009, 01:34 PM

I use Santhuff 18x5x200 lbs springs on my chevelle @ 1925 front end weight. www.santhuffshocks.com I use MOOG oem replacement springs out back.

10-22-2009, 01:45 AM	#1
Marvin Robinson Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gary, IN Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Springs for GM A-Body I'm replacing the springs and shocks my 71 Olds 442 (F/SA) with a 455. I have new Ranchos adjustable rear and Calvert front shocks, car wt. is 3765 with me in it. I'm looking for recommendations on what spring rates I should use in front and rear. Should I have different rates from side to side?? Who's springs would be best to use?? Thanx __________________ Marvin Robinson 3188 STK/SS

10-22-2009, 09:09 AM	#2
Jeff Stout VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: phoenix Posts: 1,484 Likes: 65 Liked 704 Times in 281 Posts	Re: Springs for GM A-Body Is this the Marvin that raced a Impala or Caprice at US 30 back in the eighties?

10-22-2009, 02:59 PM	#3
67ss Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Springs for GM A-Body As stiff as you can get in rear. A stock moog spring would work or look up nightmare performance on the net and let them give you a recomendation on one of their springs. The stiff rear spring will help control the frequency at which the rear of the A-body cars want to unload. A Moroso Trick Front spring will be fine up front or give Santhuff's a call and get a recommendation from them. The front will likely be the trickiest in getting the right rate the first time and you may have to do some trimming or shimming. Savistke Custom and Classic sells spring seat spacers which will help with setting front ride height. They are at www.scandc.com __________________ Chad Harris 67 Chevelle SS http://mysite.verizon.net/harrisracing

10-22-2009, 11:42 PM	#4
john corcoran jr Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: darien, il Posts: 53 Likes: 0 Liked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Springs for GM A-Body Jeff: Yes it is the same guy, he's just not Starvin that much anymore. Marv: Comp. Engineering shows one listing for the rear springs, and yes they state that right side spring is stiffer than left. On the fronts you have 3 or 4 choices depending on front half weight and spring rate desired. Remember when I changed the front springs on my Firebird, the fenders dropped right down leaving little room between the fenders and the tires. When I changed brake master and steering box, wheel clearance became acceptable. I say pull the weight off, scale the car, then change springs. John

10-23-2009, 01:17 AM	#5
Marvin Robinson Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gary, IN Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Springs for GM A-Body Jeff, Yep, it's me.... I rebuilt the motor at 99k in the 79 Caprice in 85, and it was still a regular gas daily driver, but wound up running 14 teens and knocking down 22 mpg on the highway (thru the mufflers, on street tires). I qualified that car for the NHRA Div 3 Bracket finals 3 years in a row (Union Grove's team - I qualified 2 more years witn my 87 IROC, running mid 13's), and got to the last 7 cars my first year (lost on a double breakout, but I really treed the guy in a 17 second Duster, misjudged the stripe) - a picture was put in National Dragster. I also won the Midwest Fall BracketNationals at Byron with it. I put another 135k on that motor before a tow truck hit my wife from behind in '90 and put the trunk in the back seat, otherwise, I'd still be driving it! I still have the motor and a 12.73 et slip from a run on nitrous in the Caprice at Byron. That was a REALLY fun car. I sorta took ten years off 92 - 2002 while I helped put 3 kids thru college.... John Corcoran helped get me back into the NHRA wars, and I'm having a ball...... I'm still surprised at how many people remember me or one of my race cars. Are you any relation to Harold Stout (S/SS Camaros and Trailer Dealership)? Thanx, Marvin __________________ Marvin Robinson 3188 STK/SS Last edited by Marvin Robinson; 10-23-2009 at 01:33 AM.

10-25-2009, 01:34 PM	#6
72Malibu Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Republic,Mo Posts: 93 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Springs for GM A-Body I use Santhuff 18x5x200 lbs springs on my chevelle @ 1925 front end weight. www.santhuffshocks.com I use MOOG oem replacement springs out back. __________________ * 72 Malibu * 1.329-3.99-6.28@106.71-9.98@131 best 60ft to date-1.2997