Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW

Lew Silverman · 03-09-2010, 10:06 AM

It's time for a front end rebuild on my 1966 Bel Air Wagon 327/275. Can anyone recommend a good front spring for this application? Moroso doesn't have a listing for this body style, but I'm guessing that I need a tall spring with a small wire diameter that will unload quickly when I launch, but a BB/Heavy Duty spring might keep the front end too high at rest and be a bit too bouncy. Thanks for your help!

doug schriener · 03-09-2010, 06:35 PM

Hi- I wonder if ya just put TRW springs in it'll be just fine-perhaps trim just part of a coil.

Lew Silverman · 03-09-2010, 08:29 PM

I think that's my only option at this point. The standard springs have a rating of 300 where the Moroso coils for the Chevelle are about 150! So I'll just start with the lowest rated stock spring and trim a half a coil or so to get the nose down. Thanks for the good advice!

72Malibu · 03-09-2010, 08:35 PM

Call Santhuff, they can fix you up. www.santhuffshocks.com

Lew Silverman · 03-09-2010, 09:08 PM

Thanks! I'll give them a call in the morning!

72Malibu · 03-09-2010, 09:13 PM

No problem. They "hooked" me up

Run to Rund · 03-10-2010, 12:40 PM

I have a 1981 Moog catalog. It shows your springs are 3.812" ID, tangential ends. #662A is 272 lb/in for a design height of 11.75" and load 1906 lb. #6000 and 6004 are for loads of 2062 and 2263 lb, respectively and rates of 304 and 324 lb/in respectively. 6080 and 6246 have good rates (272 lb/in) but very low loads (1214, 1365) so won't support the car. 6190 has a load of 1546 and rate of 290, still would set the car on the snubbers.

Moving to a more current listing, 662A is not listed so probably discontinued. 6000 and 6004 are still listed as of a couple years ago. You can find them online or at Carquest. Otherwise, custom springs as discussed above may be your best option.

Lew Silverman · 03-11-2010, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the info! I spoke with the nice folks at Santhuff, and they gave me the information I needed. I'll put the six cylinder springs in the car for now, just to get a baseline. I've got to scale the front end and get a height measurement before Santhuff can recommend a replacement. Parts and pieces arriving daily!

Run to Rund · 03-12-2010, 01:41 PM

Its just a guess but I think the 662A would be close. You probably will end up with around 270 lb/in or maybe less. After removing heater, etc. hopefully your front end weight will be somewhere around the 1900 lb range. You may find that even loosening the front end bushings you won't get as much weight transfer as you want, or keep it (even with the right shocks) with over 300 lb/in rate springs.

Lew Silverman · 03-12-2010, 05:10 PM

Of course with everybody now running struts, the parts for these old girls are starting to get hard to find. Didn't someone make A-arm bushings with no serrations at one time? My NAPA guy says he can source the MOOG springs, so that's what I'll do. The front end is about ready to fall out of the car, so I'm replacing everything I can unbolt! Once I get to a scale, I'll be able to make a better educated "guess". Details to follow, thanks!

03-09-2010, 10:06 AM	#1
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW It's time for a front end rebuild on my 1966 Bel Air Wagon 327/275. Can anyone recommend a good front spring for this application? Moroso doesn't have a listing for this body style, but I'm guessing that I need a tall spring with a small wire diameter that will unload quickly when I launch, but a BB/Heavy Duty spring might keep the front end too high at rest and be a bit too bouncy. Thanks for your help! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-09-2010, 06:35 PM	#2
doug schriener Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: pennock,mn Posts: 83 Likes: 21 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Hi- I wonder if ya just put TRW springs in it'll be just fine-perhaps trim just part of a coil.

03-09-2010, 08:29 PM	#3
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW I think that's my only option at this point. The standard springs have a rating of 300 where the Moroso coils for the Chevelle are about 150! So I'll just start with the lowest rated stock spring and trim a half a coil or so to get the nose down. Thanks for the good advice! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-09-2010, 08:35 PM	#4
72Malibu Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Republic,Mo Posts: 93 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Call Santhuff, they can fix you up. www.santhuffshocks.com __________________ * 72 Malibu * 1.329-3.99-6.28@106.71-9.98@131 best 60ft to date-1.2997

03-09-2010, 09:08 PM	#5
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Thanks! I'll give them a call in the morning! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-09-2010, 09:13 PM	#6
72Malibu Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Republic,Mo Posts: 93 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW No problem. They "hooked" me up __________________ * 72 Malibu * 1.329-3.99-6.28@106.71-9.98@131 best 60ft to date-1.2997

03-10-2010, 12:40 PM	#7
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 574 Likes: 6 Liked 44 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW I have a 1981 Moog catalog. It shows your springs are 3.812" ID, tangential ends. #662A is 272 lb/in for a design height of 11.75" and load 1906 lb. #6000 and 6004 are for loads of 2062 and 2263 lb, respectively and rates of 304 and 324 lb/in respectively. 6080 and 6246 have good rates (272 lb/in) but very low loads (1214, 1365) so won't support the car. 6190 has a load of 1546 and rate of 290, still would set the car on the snubbers. Moving to a more current listing, 662A is not listed so probably discontinued. 6000 and 6004 are still listed as of a couple years ago. You can find them online or at Carquest. Otherwise, custom springs as discussed above may be your best option.

03-11-2010, 06:37 PM	#8
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Thanks for the info! I spoke with the nice folks at Santhuff, and they gave me the information I needed. I'll put the six cylinder springs in the car for now, just to get a baseline. I've got to scale the front end and get a height measurement before Santhuff can recommend a replacement. Parts and pieces arriving daily! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-12-2010, 01:41 PM	#9
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 574 Likes: 6 Liked 44 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Its just a guess but I think the 662A would be close. You probably will end up with around 270 lb/in or maybe less. After removing heater, etc. hopefully your front end weight will be somewhere around the 1900 lb range. You may find that even loosening the front end bushings you won't get as much weight transfer as you want, or keep it (even with the right shocks) with over 300 lb/in rate springs.

03-12-2010, 05:10 PM	#10
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Of course with everybody now running struts, the parts for these old girls are starting to get hard to find. Didn't someone make A-arm bushings with no serrations at one time? My NAPA guy says he can source the MOOG springs, so that's what I'll do. The front end is about ready to fall out of the car, so I'm replacing everything I can unbolt! Once I get to a scale, I'll be able to make a better educated "guess". Details to follow, thanks! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA