Is there a formula for how much to cut from your coil springs to achieve a certain drop? I'd like to lower my truck 3". I'd also just swap the springs if I knew what to replace them with.
I have a 74 RN22... so dont know how much help this will be.... I did not want to experiment with my OEM springs... I found same(or very close ID and OD ) coils from beltek (they were out of stock at the time) and then QA1.net (i cant find direct link to the "oversize coils")...I must of called at least 10 different companies... i think my spring rate was at 450... after I cut...compression was about a 1" when sitting
Don't cut your coils. You might want to go back someday for whatever reason, and in my opinion, the ride just gets worse. The Belltech springs for a MightyMax will lower you a lot. Those are what I have in the picture. I wanted to go back to stock height, so I went with a set of moog springs that NavyMC recommended, because I had cut my stock coils. I just put in different set of moog springs that are a two or three inch drop. I'm not sure since I never measured the truck before I started all this lowering business. They are part number 2278, and aren't as low as the belltechs, but they are nice. I'll take a picture of those when I get home.
I ordered a kit for the rear from Brian at Street Taco. I got the complete kit with blocks, u-bolts and bump stops. I'm not totally sure what size the blocks are, but I told him I wanted a 3" drop. I found the thread for using the Belltech 4270's. They advertise a 2.5" drop, but I think that's on a Mighty Max. The pics from 76 show a nice drop, and would be OK with me if it was slightly lower than the rear. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the Moog's. They're $91 at Amazon! Half the price of the Belltech's. Not cutting the stock coils is good advice. Thanks!
Seventy6, is the thumbnail of your truck showing the Belltech or Moog springs? I ordered the Moog's, and I'm curious as to how they'll look.
The first pic is of the belltech springs with a 4" block. The pictures in this post is of the moog springs with a 3" block. Also the front tires are 185/65/14 and the rears are 205/55/16, just for reference.
Hey Blueline, could you post some pics when you get the Moogs installed? I really want those Belltechs but can't quite justify the price yet.. also, Seventy6Celica, with the Belltech springs and 4" blocks do you have to always worry about scraping or hitting berms?
For me, I was always worried about bottoming out. There isn't that much wheel travel when you go that low. You hit a good bump or pothole and you feel the heck out of it. I like the moog springs I have now, even though they aren't as low as the belltech springs, because I have a grip of wheel travel... compared to the belltechs. I think after this, I'm just going to break down and get the QA1 coil overs (only because I want to go like half an inch lower). I've definitely wasted more money buying all these different springs trying to find the perfect, magical, do-all spring. The moog springs I have in now are 435 pound springs, and they are the stiffest of all the springs I've tried. I combo-ed those springs with some belltech shocks and that's a pretty nice ride. If I was going to do it all again, and knowing what I know now, I would get the QA1's out of the gate and not mess around trying to do it on the cheap. You have spring rate choice, adjustable ride height, and they should just fit right in without too much trouble. The only thing I see as being any work is strengthening the lower control arm where the bottom of the coil over would attach. Or you could go big like the AE86's when they attach coil overs on the shock mount of the rear axle without backing that up. To sum up, I don't think I would recommend the belltechs anymore because I feel they are too low. There is too much trade off for being that low vs having a good solid ride. That doesn't mean they are too low for everybody, they're just too low for me.
check out my build thread! i am running the stock Mighty Max coils from MOOG on my 69 Lux. Gave me a significant drop of at least 2 inches, but I am not going to lie, ride quality to me is junk. Its not SUUUPPEERRR bad but I am just picky. I got my set up from Brian "Beefed" with a 2in block, pulled a leaf and I have me a drop of 3.5"....I honestly wanted the 3in to begin with but i think is wouldve been WAY too low for everyday use. PM or hit me up if you need more info!
oh ya, you are going NEED to cut or get new bumps for the rear! Mines were bottoming out without even driving! riding straight on the bumps
ya man you hit it on the nail! i rather have a better ride than having that extra 1/2" lowered suspension. I also might go with the QA1s or check out Air-Rex!!! They do a custom coil/shock/air all in one with needed to cut!!! Can you hit me up with the QA1s you are thinking of using? I wasn't sure on what set up I needed to buy! thanks
I'm not one hundred percent sure about the exact part number for the QA1s. I know beefedtaco has put them on tacomas, so he might be able to lead you in the right direction with that. When I'm ready, I'm going to ask him. Or if you get to it first, let me know. As a matter of fact, you probably will do it first. Headquarters wouldn't be too happy with me sinking even more money into the front suspension after I just finished buying two sets of springs and a new set of shocks.
I'm in the middle of moving, so I'll get started in a week or two. I'll take measurements and pics. At this point I'm not really sure what I'll end up with, and now have a sinking feeling that the rear may be lower than the front.
keep us updated in the coilovers, i'm interested in the product number as well. i don't think i've seen a single one of these early trucks on coils.
i just had a thought. since 67-69 camaro shocks fit these trucks in the front, the coilovers should fit too right? only tricky part would be rears with a leaf setup... but i suppose blocks and a notch could always do.
