Correct '69 L-78 front springs?

[duntov3030]

Where does one find the correct front springs for '69 L78 restoration?  Searched previous threads, no joy.  I want the correct ride height, etc.  I know there's a lot of "stuff" out there.  Where do I go for the right stuff?

[mrdetails]

Check In the Rick's First Generation catalog. They have a copy of the chart to pick which spring to use taking into consideration what options your car had ie. which engine, air conditioning..... They also sell the labels.
Sam

[Jonesy]

I think Eaton can make them to original specs. I am not sure of this, but I dop recall hearing this before.

http://www.eatonsprings.com/

It says on there website:

Since 1937 EATON Detroit Spring has been the only source for  the correct leaf springs and coil springs for your vehicle because we have -

Over 24,000 Original Manufacturers Spring Blueprints

An in-house design staff

Over 166,000 stock leaf spring & coil spring applications

Over 70 years of leaf & coil spring manufacturing experience

Custom leaf & coil spring manufacturing ability

[duntov3030]

Thanks mrdetails & Jonesy ... I'll check the sources you mention.  I know there's lots of sources out there.  I guess what I really need to know is what source(s) truly provides the correct springs, front & rear, for Z/28, L-78, plain-jane, etc.  The items cited from Eaton sound good.  Maybe a new thread here asking what sources folks have used with satisfied results?

[Mark]

Except for the 4 leaf rear spring on Z28's (which could be used on other cars with the righ combination of options) there is really no such thing as a big block L78 or L35 or L48 spring.  In 69 springs were selected by a computer based on the vehicle type (coupe or convertible), engine type (L6 or V8) and the options added to the car.  This was due to the federal bumper height requirements and GM's need to keep the bumper height within a fairly tight band.  You can get a GM part number for the front and rear springs by adding up your options, but I don't know of anyone who has correlated them 1 for 1 to the moog springs that most of the aftermarket places sell.  Eaton can probably do it though.

[duntov3030]

Mark ... Thanks.  That's exactly what I'm talking about.  I sent Eaton an email earlier this am, describing the computer selection process and asking if they can build springs thusly, or if their stuff is "one size fits all" type product.  I'll post their reply if/when I receive such.

[Steve Shauger]

I have used this vendor, and they have been great. I have used him on BB pace cars & coupes. I switched because eaton sent me incorrect springs three times for the same car. I can tell you it gets old changing springs. Since they couldn't provide the correct ones, I found this supplier and they have been perfect on the 5 cars I used them on. I am only speaking from my personal experience. 

SUSPENSION coil springs, 1934-2007, standard, custom made. Coil Spring Specialties LLC, PO Box G, 632 W Bertrand, St Mary's, KS 66536, 785-437-2025 or coilsprings.com

[Mark]

Heres the GM spring selection charts for the 69 Camaros.  The list shows you the two letter spring code that corresponds to the tag that was on the springs.  There is another pair of charts that turns the letter code into the GM Service part number.

[nuch_ss396]

... there is really no such thing as a big block L78 or L35 or L48 spring.  In 69 springs were selected by a computer
based on the vehicle type (coupe or convertible), engine type (L6 or V8) and the options added to the car.  ....

Mark,

How can that be?  L/89 engines were easily 100 pounds lighter than L/78 engines.  L/34 & L/35 engines with A/C must
be at least 100 pounds heavier than non-A/C equipped Camaros.  There's at least a 200 pound difference there.  There
must have been more spring options.  I see so many BBC Camaro's with incorrect front ride heights.  There must be more
to spring selection.........

Steve, any experience with L/89's with the spring vendor you identified?

Steve A.

[JohnZ]

Mark,

How can that be?  L/89 engines were easily 100 pounds lighter than L/78 engines.  L/34 & L/35 engines with A/C must
be at least 100 pounds heavier than non-A/C equipped Camaros.  There's at least a 200 pound difference there.  There
must have been more spring options.  I see so many BBC Camaro's with incorrect front ride heights.  There must be more
to spring selection.........Steve A.

Did you check out the spring table Mark posted? That's why there were 23 different V-8 coupe front springs, and 19 different V-8 coupe rear springs, covering weight variations from 300 to 400 pounds at each end.

[nuch_ss396]

Hi John!

Yes, I did just arrive at a weight factor using the charts.  I arrived at 249 pounds and that puts me into the "YO" coded front springs.
The problem, and the crux of my concerns, is that I see so many BBC Camaro's that sit too high on the front wheels after restoration.
I assume their owners, or restorers, tried to get the proper springs too.  What explains this problem and more importantly, how can I
avoid the same problem and get the correct springs the first time?

Steve

[Mark]

My PDF file lost a page somehow it dropped the Z28 and BB page.  Heres all three pages of the spring chart.  If your front end hass an additional 288 pounds added to it you should have HA springs, not YO.  YO is for a small block coupe (307 or 327) with that much weight.

[JohnZ]

Mark, that's the same as the first file - just two pages.

[nuch_ss396]

Houston - we have a problem........

[nuch_ss396]

Here's a link to an on-line spring calculator for the '69 Camaro:  http://www.chevynova.org/69_12437_L34_L35_L78_Springs.htm