why isn't my car settling?

v8power

Frequent Racer
Jul 24, 2008
511
0
0
okc
when i pulled the v6 out i re-did all the front suspension, everything is polly bushings, and i am running new tubular upper a-arms. the car is STIFF i weigh 145 and i can barley get the front end to bounce now that the engine is it. the spings are stock v-8 springs. i would like to change them, can they be that stiff? i did take quite a bit of weight out of it. im puzzled here guys, any help would be great. thanks
 

TNTS79

Dragway Regular
Jan 6, 2006
1,252
0
0
Illiniois
I know some people tend to run the v6 springs upfront just to get some more travel and cushion out of their front ends... I run an aluminum headded small block in my car which weighs 3200 lbs w/o my carcass in the cockpit. I have a set of moog springs for a V8 in mine and it would be just about right if I had about 100 more lbs on the nose... I plan on dropping some weight by picking up an iceman core support, dropping the ac box, swapping for an aluminum radiator, and possibly tubular upper and lower control arms over the winter. I will prob. go with a set of springs for a v6 next year to give the front end a little softer feel...
 

Doober

Moderator
Jun 2, 2003
14,704
1
38
Catalina, AZ
www.cardomain.com
Did you do new bushings all through the front? If so try loosening the a-arm nuts (just enough where there will be a very slight bit of play) with the car at ride height, cycle the suspension some to try to help it settle a little, then torque them back down and see how it sits. You may need to do a little driving too... how high is it sitting exactly? Some of the G-Bodies originally sat pretty high in the front compared to where they look more at home.
 

v8power

Frequent Racer
Jul 24, 2008
511
0
0
okc
it sits probably about 1.5 inches higher in the front, but its so stiff. i will try loosening a few things up and get it to move around a little better. i will try the v-6 springs too.
 

StreetBu

MalibuRacing Junkie
Mar 21, 2004
4,158
3
38
Upstate NY
When I installed them in my car I made the mistake of tightening them down with the car in the air. It was VERY specific in the instructions, Which I threw out ](*,) , to have them basically finger tight, put the car on the ground, then tighten them up just snug. If you dont use the whale snot they send with the bushings or overtighten them, it'll ride like it has solid suspension. Ask me how I know :lol:
 

v8power

Frequent Racer
Jul 24, 2008
511
0
0
okc
When I installed them in my car I made the mistake of tightening them down with the car in the air. It was VERY specific in the instructions, Which I threw out ](*,) , to have them basically finger tight, put the car on the ground, then tighten them up just snug. If you dont use the whale snot they send with the bushings or overtighten them, it'll ride like it has solid suspension. Ask me how I know :lol:

what bushings are you talking about? lower and upper a-arm?
 

StreetBu

MalibuRacing Junkie
Mar 21, 2004
4,158
3
38
Upstate NY
Yes, front upper and lower a-arms.
 

slimbo

Moderator
May 21, 2007
4,223
0
0
www.yellowbullet.com
my car with an alum head small block sits just right with a new v6 spring wth a 1/4 coil cut off. it still has heat and inner fenders.
IMG_0210-1.jpg
 

COPO 572

Dragway Regular
Mar 23, 2004
1,325
0
0
Morrisville, NC 27560
Just a thought, it is an old racer trick to have the front suspension hanging when you tighten down the a-arm bolts. This helps give the front end some spring in the right direction when launching.

The reverse (which I think may have been suggested) is to have the front suspension compressed and then tighted the bolts. This would fight the front end when it goes to rise on launch.

Just keep the bolts loose. Another thing I did in the past was to grind/file off the serrated edges of the metal tube the bolts go through. This eliminates their "bite" and allows free movement.

COPO
 

DrFeelgood

Frequent Racer
Aug 25, 2008
406
0
0
Wooster,Ohio
COPO 572 said:
Just a thought, it is an old racer trick to have the front suspension hanging when you tighten down the a-arm bolts. This helps give the front end some spring in the right direction when launching.

The reverse (which I think may have been suggested) is to have the front suspension compressed and then tighted the bolts. This would fight the front end when it goes to rise on launch.

Just keep the bolts loose. Another thing I did in the past was to grind/file off the serrated edges of the metal tube the bolts go through. This eliminates their "bite" and allows free movement.

COPO
What kind of springs are using up front? I'm dropping in a bbc too. Thanks
 

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