I am getting ready to rebuild the front-end of my 68 SS big block. Does anybody have experience/oppinions about drop spindles vs. lowering springs?

1.Your camaro does not have enough negative camber gain under bump at stock ride height.
2.Cutting the springs to lower it will place the suspension in a better part of the curve where the upper A frame is starting to pull in more. This will actually improve your geometry a little.

3.The limiting factor is if you get too low the lower A frame will start to hit the sway bar mount. At that point though, you will be scraping the ground with the headers or trans.
4.Most drop spindles are heavy and are made of Cast Iron. with a steel spindle pressed in. Your factory spindles are made of forged steel.
5.Don't go so low you don't have adequate suspension travel. I have seen a lot of modified camaros lowered so much they are bouncing off the bump stops and it screws up the handling.

Thanks for the input. I think I'll go with the lowering springs from Hotchkis. I also read a few posts back about being able to modify drum spindles to accept disc brakes. Anybody performed this? I don't want to buy new(or old) spindles if it isn't necessary.

springs are definitly a great way to go. don't overlook the springs manufactured by Eibach. the quality is excellent as is the balance between performance and ride quality.i also suggest using a quality shock as Koni. i did use my drum spindle with a Bear brake kit along with the Pro-Motorsports spindle extender.

Madju and pozzi,

I am also about to rebuild the front end on my 68 big block and am in need of some quality front end springs. I checked with both Eibach and Hotchkis, but neither have a set of springs for my car - They don't even have a functional part number anymore. The only place that I have found to carry any big block springs was Guldstrand, but I wanted a progressive rate system so I don't sacrifice ride quality. Do either of you have the part numbers for the springs you mentioned? If you could post them, it would be very appreciated. Thanks.

penguinjohn

sorry, that post was for Madju and CJ, but if anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to post them.

The guldstrand springs I got years ago were for autocross, on a small block car. I had to cut them to a 13.5 inch free length to work on my 67 Camaro. The cut end is not the same as the normal end as it is not flattened on the end.

The moog #6041 is what I have. Two springs come in the box, so the number is for a pair. They rate out about 650 to 700 when cut as I have done. Probably 600 to 650 without cutting. I would guess you'd want to start about 1 1/2 inches taller for a big block.
Be aware, most Camaro springs settle, and I would not cut a set of springs shorter until they had been in the car for a couple of months. A good set of Eibach or Hyperco springs would set sooner.

The spindle for disc and drum are basically the same. Except the drum brake spindle has about a half inch longer boss where the brake shoe anchor pin screws in at the top. The threads are the same. Just cut it down with a hacksaw and grind it flat. when you bolt the brake caliper bracket on, check for straightness and shim or grind a little to get it right.

I have a '69 Camaro with a 396. I also want to rebuild my front end and add new springs, probably in the Fall. I have a D&R Classic Automotive catalog that offers a set of coil springs for a big block '67-'69 at $54.95 / pair. The catalog says to order by engine size and year. Standard or heavy duty, with or without AC. It sounds just like what the doctor ordered. Anybody have any experience with these coil springs from D&R? Their order number is 800-472-6952. Their tech line is 630-393-0009. It seems like many of us have this common need... I hope D&R is the ticket! Looking forward to your replies. Jim

I have also beein looking at custom springs from PST. Just waiting on an e-mail reply. I'll post the info as soon as I get it.

I doin my front end, too. gonna cut the coils a turn and see where it sits, maybe cut some more, it's real high right now.

I live near D&R, and will call parts from there. No experience with thier springs, but they're good people to work with. Bought a set of headlight bezels today, and they let me pick thru the boxes to find the best ones. OER my A#$@%#@! these things look like they were painted by a chimp! Par for the course, I guess. At least they exist. Imagine what it's like to try to redo a 442!

OK. I finially made up my mind and purchased some springs. Geez, all the deliberation on this site can really muddle up one's confidence in his selection! Anyways, I settled on the Guldstrand GT springs for my BB '68. The person who answered the phone (Dave I think his name was) was incredibly helpful and said that he would be more than happy to work with me to build the car exactly the way I wanted. They should be in about the middle of next week, and until then my hands and time will be tied up with disassembling my front end. Hope I don't have any homework this week! I'll let you guys know how they turn out.

penguinjohn

Hey penguinjohn, could I get a little info about your springs? What is the spring rate? Do they lower the car any? I'm getting ready to order springs for my BB Camaro and am trying to get as much info as possible. Thanks and good luck man!

MadJu,

I wish that I could give you alot of information to help you with your decision, but the guy I talked to at Guldstrand was adamant about not disclosing his spring rates with ANYONE. Get this - - I asked him about the spring rates that I had seen posted in an old issue of HOT ROD ("the brother's camaro" issue) and he told me that they were made up to protect them from someone ripping off their specs. Pretty smart! Anyways, they're the standard issue Grand Touring spring set from Guldstrand, at, I believe, somewhere around $159.95. He said that they came long (no length given) and that I will need to trim them to the proper ride height. I cleaned out the garage and moved the car in tonight, but could'nt start work because I couldn't find a spring compressor. I plan to install as new PST bushings, 1 1/8 sway bar, new springs, shocks and do the Guldstrand modification so it will probably be up on stands for the next week. I'll post a notice when I'm done and let everyone (sound's like there are alot of you guys in the same predicament) know how things turned out and all the specs you might need. I wish I had a spring compressor!

penguinjohn

A spring compressor should not be needed. Just place the car up on some good sturdy jackstands, disconnect the sway bar links, pull the shocks, place a floor jack under the lower A arm, and jack up a couple inches. break the lower ball joint loose and lower the jack. A floor jack with wheels is best. And place it 90 degrees to the car and close to the ball joint.

Adding to the dropped spindle info, I'm not totally against them. But they should be longer than stock (top to bottom) and made of something other than cast iron.

I agree with David, no compressor required. My left side is 3/4 apart now, work in progress. KEEPING THE SHOCK CONNECTED until the spindle is off will ensure things don't get out of hand!

Not using a spring compressor is ok as long as you are not using stock replacements. Lowering springs are shorter and not a problem.

It was impossible for me to install stock height springs simply by removing the ball joint. I couldn't get the lower a-rm low enough to fit the spring in. I had to completely remove the lower arm, install the spring, and then use the floor jack to compress it. It was a real bit$# getting the two a-arm bolts back in.

I got the stock spring back in by just removing the ball joint. I also dropped the sway bar. Once the arm was down i had to use a crow bar to get the spring to sit in the a arm correctly. It was a little tough, but not that hard

PenguinJohn,
The part number for the springs from Hotchkis that I was referring to is 1907F. Their webpage doesn't specify wether or not they are for small block or big block Camaros. I figured that they would be the same except for the spring rate. Anybody know what the difference is? The Hotchkis springs lower the front 2 inches and are rated at 600 lbs per inch.