Look DG no jackstands!
Front suspension is mostly reassembled and the car is sitting at ride height. I swapped out my front springs with some Hotchkis springs I had which should be slightly stiffer. The Hotchkis springs overall length was 1" shorter but they had finished ends and my old springs had one unfinished and one 'semi' finished end.
I was guessing the finished ends and stiffer rate wouldn't compress as much but the only way to find out was put it together and set it down. As it worked out it's only 1/8" lower than the old springs.
Now the issues.......previously I was not running lower bump stops and never have experienced harsh bottoming or coil bind. I installed some 1-5/8" cone bump stops on the lower arms and that leaves 1/2" to 5/8" free space between the bump stops and the frame stops.........not good, nor is the anti-roll bar relationship to the lower arm. That bar bushing grease zerk has 1" clearance from the lower arm......I'm thinking grease it remove the zerk and plug it just to be safe.
One solution to gaining travel/clearance may be these Global West cast aluminum .375" spacers, does anyone have experience with them?
Global West says 1 at the spring equals 2 at the body, though with the 3/8" spacer they spec 5/8" lift, not 3/4".
Regarding stance - 5/8" lift up front would be the max without altering the rear ride height. Fender openings front to rear would be 24.5" and 24.75" if those spacers deliver as stated.
Another gain could be cutting the bump stops or replacing with shorter style. The OEM lobe/triangle stops look like they may provide more initial travel. Prothane offers triangular stops in two heights 1-1/8" & 1-1/2" and Energy offers a 1-3/8".
I'm leaning towards the spacers and 1-1/8" stops at this point.
Any experience input would be greatly appreciated!