Thread: Coil overs

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I have coil overs on my '31 and am curious as to what happens to load capacity when they are adjusted. Since there are several past and present racers here thought I would ask.

OK - the rear coil overs are TCI's All American and with each, I believe, 200# springs (but don't hold me to that figure - I need to try to find the color code). There is approximately 3" of adjustment - with them currently set +/- an inch from the bottom. Now say that I want to increase rear end height/rebound, I'll move them up some amount. Since I believe that the springs are variable rate, what does that do for their compressibility? Does it in fact change those 200# springs to say, 225#? Why do I need variable rate springs? Or don't I need them? These are a bit soggy where they are with the almost full '32 gas tank? Should I just invest in some -- say 250# springs rather then fool around with 'squeezing' these? If I buy different rate springs, who should I buy them from - TCI is way too slow shipping and these appear to be "standard" 3x10 inch race car type springs. Speedway has chrome ()AFCO's from 115 to 600 lbs for about $45 ea

If they are progressive rate springs, my experience with compressing them is that you will lose some of the soft side of the progressive rate and get into the more firm part a bit earlier in the suspension travel. 200 lbs. should be real close on the rate, think I would try cranking in about 3/8" of compression on each before I spent money on a heavier spring.

If you have adjustable valving try adjusting your compression. Slowing the the shock down can make a big difference.
Ken

Dave S and Ken - I'm going to crawl under the car again tomorrow to do both of what you suggest.

First of all, I'm going to try to find out by TCI color code what I really have. There has been some confusion as when I was putting the car together, they asked me to return the fronts - someone put some that were way too soft in my shipment - surprise, they actually checked. Then I'll make my spring and shock valving adjustment. There will be some difference as I raised the rear of the car by using the highest bolt hole. Even with the tall tires, that '32 gas tank was a wee bit lower then I wanted.

Here's a pretty good article by AFCO and more about springs then I ever needed to know:eek. I haven't read the entire write up yet, but will before I get down and dirty tomorrow (the floor, not the car is covered with leaves and dust - forgot to close the door yesterday and it was windy)

http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages...g.shtml#stress

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

If you have adjustable valving try adjusting your compression. Slowing the the shock down can make a big difference.
Ken

Dave, not to hijack your thread, but I have Viper Coilovers from Pete & Jakes. The adjusting knob on the top has four "clicks". I'm assuming that fully counter-clockwise is the softest, and the damping gets progressively tighter as you tighten the adjusting valve. Is that correct?

Originally Posted by rspears

Dave, not to hijack your thread, but I have Viper Coilovers from Pete & Jakes. The adjusting knob on the top has four "clicks". I'm assuming that fully counter-clockwise is the softest, and the damping gets progressively tighter as you tighten the adjusting valve. Is that correct?

Roger - somewhere in my 'archives' I have that information from TCI, but yes, they go from softest, full CCW to stiffest full CW. Mine I believe have 6 clicks, but not a big deal

Originally Posted by IC2

Roger - somewhere in my 'archives' I have that information from TCI, but yes, they go from softest, full CCW to stiffest full CW. Mine I believe have 6 clicks, but not a big deal

Dave - based on your 6 clicks I went back out and put a bit more grip on the knurled knobs. They had a definite "hard spot" about four clicks to CW, but once past that they each have ten (10) detent clicks. Once exercised they adjust easily full range now.

It may help you to measure how much the spring is compressed at ride height now, before adjusting them any further. Just a thought. I have these same 200# progressive coilovers, but don't have the car finished yet. Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by deuce4papa

It may help you to measure how much the spring is compressed at ride height now, before adjusting them any further. Just a thought. I have these same 200# progressive coilovers, but don't have the car finished yet. Keep us posted.

Pretty tough - I for sure can't get under there when it's on the ground being very low and full fendered with a '32 gas tank and the brackets I made to hold it to the '31 TCI chassis in the way. Plus the exhaust.

Photobucket not working for me either.

A bit of an update. I just spent a couple hours looking for 11" springs. TCI has them - that's it. No one else uses this length. 8, 10, 12 and 14 inches are the standard.

So - another Speedway order for some 10" springs along with some Genesis 1" spacers from Hoerr Racing. As long as I have had these parts/TCI chassis, not a bit of recourse for the extra bucks I've spent. Too bad I wasn't as "smart" as I am today. If I had a lathe, the spacers would already have been made.

Luckily Speedway has some 190 pound at garage sale cost, which with the correction factor are only 6-8 pounds over what is needed.

Dam' this is fun!!!!!

OOPS - they only had one 190# so I ordered some Carrara/QA1. They showed up this afternoon and are on their way back to Speedway tomorrow - one has a 1/2 list and both have lousy chrome plating with black/bare spots. Ordered a pair of AFCO's 200# which will work, tho a wee bit heavier then I need and they might need a shim with my spacers (which are almost too pretty to hide)

well i hope you have better luck with QA1 then i did i have a set of coil overs in the front of my gto what a joke .spring rate was way off they would not sell me just springs .but a nother front end coil over kit$$$ . i have a lathe made to pucks out of 7075 t6 till i pick up some new spings from summit that would just sell me just springs .... great guys there to help me out .i can say the guy that work for QA1 turn me off i will never buy any thing they make again

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

well i hope you have better luck with QA1 then i did i have a set of coil overs in the front of my gto what a joke .spring rate was way off they would not sell me just springs .but a nother front end coil over kit$$$ . i have a lathe made to pucks out of 7075 t6 till i pick up some new spings from summit that would just sell me just springs .... great guys there to help me out .i can say the guy that work for QA1 turn me off i will never buy any thing they make again

Pat - the visual quality on those QA1 springs was so bad I can't believe they can stay in business. When I talked to customer service at Speedway, you could almost hear "Dummy" being whispered as I explained the problem. The chrome - yeah, how can you chrome only the outer side in a chrome vat. One stands up nice and straight - the other - lists about a half inch regardless of which end you stand it on plus is .25 shorter. AND, they actually felt flimsy - makes me wonder if they really were 185# springs. AFCO replacements will be here on Monday.

I got somewhat educated on coil over springs - you have for coil overs only about 4 standard lengths foe 2-1/2 or 2-5/8 - 8, 10, 12 and 14 inch with rates from less then 100 to over 1000 lb in. Then there is a fairly simple formula to determine what you have based generally on wire diameter and free coils. If any one is interested, I'll dig it up and post.

I have probably 30 springs from when I was working on my pro stocker-----none are what they are supposed to be