Question for just us 2.3 guys/gals

[cheapstang]

Alright so i just met a guy that autocrosses his gt and is getting rid of the old shocks, struts and springs. If i were to take the 5.0 springs and cut a coil on the heavier front springs...Would the cut coils make it stiffer but kind of cancel out the fact that they are supposed to be for a heavier front end? Im just going to take the front 5.0 coils and cut a single coil. i want a good 1.5"-2" drop. I hope you guys all understand my question...are the rear coils different? or could i just leave my 2.3 springs on the back?

Thanks a bunch!
-Kyle-

 

[rd]

I would do the cut and try technique, no more than 1/3 to 1/2 coil at at time. It will be stiffer in any case.

It takes some care to get the right height, and not too low. I did the rear carefully, then cut 3/4 coil off the fronts, and ended up about 1/2 in too low in front. I put 4 cyl springs in front on a 5.0 car.

 

[Red_LX]

On my old Mustang I put some 5.0 springs in the front with a coil and a half cut off, it dropped it around an inch or so...I also put stock 5.0 springs in front later and that raised the car about 2" over stock.

 

[cheapstang]

im looking for a 1.5" drop. do you think 2 coils maybe? and what about the rear? I would think that maybe the rears are the same

 

[Red_LX]

Dunno...it rode pretty stiff with the 1.5 coils cut off.

Also you can't cut the rear springs.

 

[rd]

You can cut the rear springs, only on one end, but I think that is the case with all four.

I cut the rears on my 82. They were orig 255 V8 springs. I ended up with 3/4 coil cut.

I would cut in no more than 1/2 coil increments, so that you don't cut two much.

 

[Red_LX]

I thought you couldn't cut the rears because the tops are flat and the bottom has the pigtail.

I wouldn't cut em if it were me...they won't sit right against the spring pockets if you do.

 

[cheapstang]

thats why i want to take exactly like...1 or 2 coils

 

[Red_LX]

Ah, I'm wrong...the rear coils aren't flat at the top Just saw the spare set I have sitting in my basement.

 

[cheapstang]

so i could cut those too?

 

[Red_LX]

I guess... I wouldn't take much off them. The rear coils are easy to remove and install so try a half coil on them first and see how it sits, and go from there.

 

[cheapstang]

ya i just got the springs today...I wish i had a stock set of 4 cyl springs to compare to the 5.0 ones... I think im going to cut 2 coils off the front and maybe just one off the back

 

[Red_LX]

The rear springs are all about the same....the 5.0 front springs are way taller than the 2.3 front springs though.