As usual, Atwell is correct. I installed the "competition springs" as
offered by VB on my '80 spit. It lowered the front end about 1-1/2" or so.
At the curb, it sat level (as opposed to pointing uphill) and yes, the ride
was a bit more stiff -- I liked it.
Ed Hamilton
-----Original Message-----
From: Atwell Haines <carbuff@nac.net>
To: John Suchak <suchak@mediaone.net>; jak0pab@jak10.med.navy.mil
<jak0pab@jak10.med.navy.mil>; Spitfires@autox.team.net
<Spitfires@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 4:03 PM
Subject: Re: Front Coil Springs
>At 02:09 PM 2/9/99 -0500, John Suchak wrote:
>>As long as we're on the subject of coil springs, what's the consensus on
>lowering the front of a Spitfire? I'd like to drop it about 1" to 2". Is
>there a source for shorter springs?
>
>Stock springs for a pre-71 Spit will ride lower, but mine is TOO low, see
>below. Ed Hamilton's '80 Spit had Comp springs (from VB I think he said)
>and his had a rake also, but it rode very stiffly.
>
> >Can the coils be cut without compromising their integrity?
>
>Use a cutting wheel, try not to heat the springs up too much so they don't
>lose their 'springiness'. Again, being careful of heat, you can sand flats
>on the top& bottom coils.
>
>>Are there any alignment ramifications associated with such an act?
>
>Well yeah, you'll have to align the car after doing the spring work. You'll
>likely end up with more negative camber (as opposed to the POSITIVE factory
>setting). I'm running neg .5 degree. When the camber changes, the toe
>must be reset.
>
>The suspension engineer that inhabits the Lotus-Cars-List recommends that
>the steering rack position be changed as well, the object being the tie
>rods should be parallel with the ground.
>
>Below is a treatise on springs I archived from the Spitfire Enthusiasts
List:
>
>>From: cshore@harland.net
>>Subject: Re: [Spring free length calcs}
>>
>>
>>
>>Notice that the Spitfire front springs sit in seats or pockets that hold
>>the springs in position, concentric with the shock absorbers. The lower
>>pockets are part of the shock absorber body, and the top pockets are
bolted
>>into the front suspension subframe where the top shock absorber mount
>>attaches. If you use flat spacers, there will be nothing to retain the
>>springs. Do not use 'between the coil' spacers, they will cause high
>>localized bending loads in the spring wire, leading to premature sagging
or
>>even spring failure. You could make flat spacers that fit between the
upper
>>spring pockets and the front suspension subframe, using the spring pockets
>>as a template for the holes.
>>
>>Another cheap way is to take your springs to a local spring shop ( yellow
>>pages! ), and have the free length changed.
>>
>>1) With the current springs installed, measure the compressed spring
>>length.
>>2) Jack or raise ( or add weights if you are lowering ) to the desired
ride
>>height.
>>3) Measure the new spring length.
>>4) Divide the original length by the new length to get the ratio.
>>5) Remove the springs from the car.
>>6) Measure the free length of the springs.
>>7) Multiply the free length by the ratio you calculated in step 4.
>>
>>That is the new free length that you want the spring shop to change them
>>to. The spring rate will not change much, since that is determined by the
>>wire diameter, wire material, and ( uncoiled ) wire length.
>>
>>Measure carefully, every inch of spring length means about 11/2 - 2 inches
>>of ride height.
>>
>>By the way, if you lower the front of a Spitfire too much, the stock shock
>>absorbers will bottom out. This can quickly ruin a set of expensive
Koni's.
>>There used to be an extension adaptor, but I haven't seen them for sale in
>>years.
>>
>>The best long term solution is a shock with a threaded body and adjustable
>>spring mount, but that ain't cheap.
>
>+++++++
>
>
>I'm still trying to get my Spit to stop scraping the ground at the sway bar
>u-bolts. I'm trying a 1/2" spacer between the spring seat & body. This
>shopuld make the sills on my car nearly level (unladen).
>
>Gotta go back to the garage now.
>
>Atwell Haines
>'79 Spitfire
>
>
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