question on hotchkis coil springs

[almcbri]

I bought a set of hotchkis coil springs off of a guy at PT.com and he said they had been cut, but were installed on his 68 camaro. When I put the springs on, they had no resistance when connecting the uca/lca's to the spindle. I didn't even need a spring compressor? The way it looks, the springs will not work, but I thought I would ask first. When I lowered the car on the ground, the springs were still not compressed and had a little play.

Will these work once I get my engine, trans and other stuff on the car, or do I need to buy some new springs? I looked at camaroboy69's web site and checked out how he had cut his stock coils, and after laying my stock coils next to my hotchkis coils, they would be the same length as the hotchkis, if I remove the coils from the stock ones. Thanks for any info., I have never ran into this issue, so I thought I would ask.

[brownz]

dont hold me to it but would think when you install the engine and trans and all the other parts the front end will come down and compress the spring I
would try it out before you go spending more money on another set of springs that you might cut anyways.

[ProdigyCustoms]

If they went in that easy they have been cut, and ruined. When you put a motor in it the engine crossmember will on the ground.

[69Nova]

They wont work. I had the same thing happen, my car was retarded low it would have not been driveable.

[almcbri]

thanks for the info. I guess (venamous type) sold me some junk off of his 68 camaro.

[hotrodf1]

Hold on - I wouldn't throw them out yet. Get a motor in there.

I had to cut my Hotchkis front coils as well to get it to sit decent (even though they are supposed to be a lowering spring). And they didn't seem to droop any more after miles were put on the car.

I can get them in and out without having to compress the springs too (of course the suspension is at full droop at this point).

Car had a nice stance, about 3 or so inches of susp. travel before bottomed.

I will say one thing, those springs are stiff, I used stock gas shocks, and they weren't enough. I would get the revalved Bilsteins that Hotchkis has available, like $100 EA, unless you decide to go adjustable or something. I think those coils are in the neighborhood of #600lb/in. rate or so, but I'm not for sure on that.

Good luck.

[eville]

Just wait and see once you have your motor in.

I have the hotchkis springs in my car with AFX spindles (.75 drop). I'll need to cut my coils a bit to get the car a little lower.

When I put mine in, I did not need a spring compressor.