Source for 'EY' Coil Springs for '69 Z28/RS??

[69Z28-RS]

I asked this question already, but it was under a different subject/thread and I haven't gotten any response:

I have EY springs in my '69 Z28-RS, and one of them is broken, thus I need new springs.   I need my car to 'sit correctly'.
1) Is there a good source for these springs with proper ride height, and spring rate?
2) Can a broken spring be repaired?  (ie. welded, heated and re-heat treated?)
3) Are there sources for 'custom springs', given coil diameter, length, #coils, and steel rod diameter?)

This was an unexpected problem for me, and I need a solution...   
Gary

[lynnbilodeau]

I feel for you.  I don't think there is any source that custom matches springs for 69 Camaros.

I don't believe there is any way you can repair a broken spring.  It would not have the same spring rate.

I KNOW others will disagree, but because there were so many springs installed on our cars depending on options, I believe the best approach is to carefully measure the diameter of the spring wire, then start looking for someone who is selling a pair of springs taken out of a 69 Z/28, and purchase them if they are a dead on match.  Same wire daimeter, same number of coils.  I have two pair of springs that i bought from two different sources, both swearing that they personally removed them from a 69 Z.  They are different.  Your ey springs indicate the car came with options that increased the front weight by 69 to 148 pounds.  The problem with the tags, is most of them are gone.    Post an exact diameter of the spring wire, and tell us how many coils.  There are still some good parts cars out there.

Good luck.

Lynn

[69Z28-RS]

Hi Lynn,

The wire thickness (dia) is 5/8", coil loop diameter - 4-3/4", freelength of the spring = 15-3/8", 8 loops.
I've contacted the source (coilsprings.com) recommended by Steve Shauger, and given them this information; it seems (thus far) that they can match those numbers;  I do appreciate your comments, and I will also try to find another 'EY' spring out of an original car.  My springs still had the tags on them fortuantely (but my car hasn't left my garage since 1980, so I suppose that helped).

Gary

[69Z28-RS]

I did a little research over on Team Camaro, and most of the coil spring discussion was between the Moog 6308 and Moog 6320 units, but when I checked thru some of the auto parts suppliers (ie. Advance Auto Parts), they actually list the Moog 6314 or 6312 for the 69 Z28...   Without having the actual spring specs, it makes it difficult to determine if one of them  might be better (or adequate).   Z28's, even with less weight on the front than non-Z28 camaros of the same year, always sat a little lower in front which makes me think the Z28 spring was shorter.   The one I removed (EY) has 8 loops and 15-3/8 to 15-1/2 uncompressed length on removal.   
Can anyone comment on either of these parts which might help?

Gary / 69Z28-RS

[BillOhio]

I just went thru something similar. My car is a non rs z. Heartbeat city sent me coils for a small block non ac car. Which they recommended.  It sat like 3 inches too high. Google pozzi racing and he has a chart with moog numbers. I ordered new ones from summit and they were were here the next day. I used the 6308 set. Now it sits with the molding in the front wheel well about at the top of the tire.  Looks good. I believe the wrong set from hbc were 6320. I think 6312 is a spring that will  sit a half inch higher than the 6308

[69Z28-RS]

Bill,  thanks a lot!   I think that's exactly what I was looking for... the 6312 might be what I need with my extra 90 lbs or so weight over a standard Z28; and should push the ride height down to the right level.  Do you have a source for getting that information on the various Moog springs?   i don't want my Z28 sitting up like an SS...

Gary

[69Z28-RS]

After getting Bills message, I did what I should have done previously, and checked online for 'moog coil spring specifications', and found the following springs which might be *closest* to what we need on our Camaros.
Spring #    Inside Dia    Bar Dia    Load rate (lbs)    Spring Rate (Lbs/in.)    Free Height    Install Height    Ends Type
5370               3.63     0.64              2022                  357                        15.94                 10.25                TT
6310               3.63     0.63              1928                  329                        16.12                  10.25                 TT
6312               3.68     0.64               1800                  337                        16.06                  10.75               TT
6320               3.68     0.64               1724                  380                        15.29                  10.75                 TT
6314               3.68     0.61               1644                   289                        16.44                  10.75                 TT
6308               3.68     0.64               1607                   380                        14.98                  10.75                 TT

I'm leaning towards the lowest (10.25") installed height springs, which I believe is closer to where the original Z28 springs sat (although I don't have factual information on this, and I do have some concern over tire scrubbing (std size tires with RS package).   Being a bit stiff sprung is OK with me, so I'm thinking that the 5370 or 6310 might be the best choice  (my RS/cowl car is about 90 lbs heavier in the front than base z28).   What do you guys think?   Anyone with any applicable experience here?   (There was no information in the spec sheet for number of coil loops)..

PS.  I'm also awaiting information from 'coilsprings.com' to see what they recommend...

Gary

[BillOhio]

I need to correct my numbers, the 6312 was the one that made it sit too high not the 6320. The 6312 is the longest and highest load rate of the 3. 

[69Z28-RS]

Following up on my previous email:   When I disassembled my original Z28 front suspension for rebuilding, I found one of the original springs (EY tags) with a broken coil...  I want to replace my front springs with the closest I can find to the original spring, both in height/looks and performance.

Based on information from Steve S., I sent my good 'EY' spring to Coil Spring Specialties in Kansas, and have been discussing with them my options.  They have spring steel of slightly smaller diameter (0.59")  than the original (0.605") and slightly larger (0.61").    I want the spring to end up with the same number of coils as the original (8 total coils), and I desire the installed height in the car to be the same as original Z28s.   I can request the 'free length' as manufactured to be whatever I desire, in order to get the installed height (in the car) to be what I need, unfortunately, I'm unsure what that is since my front end is totally disassembled currently. 

My question is:    Does anyone have a source for the design-spec compressed spring length for a '69 Z28?? 
If not, does anyone have a Z28 that is sitting at the correct height (for a Z28) that they can measure the compressed spring length (ie. from upper pocket to lower pocket with all weight on the wheels and it's springs)?

Gary / 69Z28-RS

[z28rich]

Moog 6320. here is Garys car with the 6320 spring

[69Z28-RS]

Rich,

Maybe it's the perspective, or just my eyes, but to me, the car in that photo sits a bit higher in front than the original Z28's did...  I think it should be just a bit lower in front than in rear and that one appears to be a tad higher in front than in the rear.   
I ordered some 6320 springs and received them, but there were visible differences in that spring and my original:    original:  8 loops; 0.605 wire and the 6320 had 10 loops with 0.64" wire size.   I returned the 6320 springs without using them.

Gary / 69Z28_RS

[z28rich]

heres an orgianal

[z28rich]

this is Jim @ HBC 69