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Poll

Cut or Not?

Total Members Voted: 27

Topic: To cut or not to cut (Read 6607 times) previous topic - next topic

To cut or not to cut

Reply #15
Quote from: vinnietbird;389593
I say cut them a little bit.

 
Agreed!

 

To cut or not to cut

Reply #16
Thanks for all the opinions guys.  I think I may start out by cutting 1/2 coil and see how it goes.  I like the front stance but the back is just not doing it for me, lol.  I measured and IIRC the rear is about 1 1/2" higher.  I do want the rear end just a tad bit higher than the front.

Quote
I like a little rake to a car. I think it looks fine that way, but I think the low profile sidewall tires make the gap look too large.


I agree if I had taller rear tires to fill up the gap, it may not look that bad.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

To cut or not to cut

Reply #17
Quote from: 50tbrd88;389604
Thanks for all the opinions guys.  I think I may start out by cutting 1/2 coil and see how it goes.

Nope, start with 1/4 of the coil at a time. When you cut a spring, the rates change big time and 1/2 at a time is too much...
If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't f**k with 'em

To cut or not to cut

Reply #18
Just for the record the first 1/2 will drop the car APP 1/2-3/4" at best . If he wants to drop 1-1 1/2 he has to cut app 3/4 of a coil. But no more that is the limit of a stock spring CUT. A 1/4 cut will not do very much in my experience. But start small to be on the safe side. Rear springs are easy enough to remove!!
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

To cut or not to cut

Reply #19
Quote from: TOM Renzo;389629
But start small to be on the safe side. Rear springs are easy enough to remove!!

He speaks the truth, I learned the hard way not to cut too much at once, it's real easy to get carried away and ruin a spring. Gotta agree with Tom and do half a coil first, then 1/4 from there if adjustment is needed
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

My Bebe! 1980 Thunderbird, 302 & AOD are the only option boxes checked

To cut or not to cut

Reply #20
Cut them !!!!!!!!!!!!
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

To cut or not to cut

Reply #21
Quote from: TOM Renzo;389629
Just for the record the first 1/2 will drop the car APP 1/2-3/4" at best . If he wants to drop 1-1 1/2 he has to cut app 3/4 of a coil. But no more that is the limit of a stock spring CUT. A 1/4 cut will not do very much in my experience. But start small to be on the safe side. Rear springs are easy enough to remove!!

 
but isnt it true that springs have different rates?  therefor its unclear how much you take off vs how much it will drop.

To cut or not to cut

Reply #22
That's why you start at half a coil, then 1/4 coil from there.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

To cut or not to cut

Reply #23
I have to comment, I love those chrome wheels on your car.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

To cut or not to cut

Reply #24
Get some bigger tires in the back, that'll fill up the wheel wells. :evilgrin:
2002 Honda Civic EX

1984 Ford Thunderbird Elan
5.0 CFI, T5, Dual Exhaust

To cut or not to cut

Reply #25
It'll handle and brake better if you even out the rake.

If you're not using an adjustable brake prop valve, your brake bias is out of whack now with it sitting ass-high like that.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

To cut or not to cut

Reply #26
Quote from: Haystack;389646
I have to comment, I love those chrome wheels on your car.

 
Well thank you sir.  I am growing quite fond of them myself.  Hard to keep shiny though with the hard water we have where I live.  They tend to waterspot badly.

Quote
Get some bigger tires in the back, that'll fill up the wheel wells.


Yeah I need a drag setup...big 'n littles.  Maybe some 33" slicks on the back?  Lol I don't think I have enough power to justify that though!

Quote
It'll handle and brake better if you even out the rake.

If you're not using an adjustable brake prop valve, your brake bias is out of whack now with it sitting ass-high like that.


Don't worry Chuck, the springs are going under the knife this coming week.  I actually have noticed that the rear wants to "roll" more around corners. 

I do have an adj prop valve, btw.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

To cut or not to cut

Reply #27
Quote from: 50tbrd88;389653
Don't worry Chuck, the springs are going under the knife this coming week.  I actually have noticed that the rear wants to "roll" more around corners. 

I do have an adj prop valve, btw.

You've altered the roll axis, so you may feel it coming up and over the center point in the rear.  Ick.

Good you have the adj prop valve.  If you left it as is, you might've wanted to dial down the rear brake bias, seeing as the balance of the car has been shifted to the front.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

To cut or not to cut

Reply #28
Just for giggles and to experiment on getting the height I want (before spending money on springs), how do the stock springs react to some tpuppies??
1988 T-Bird Sport Coupe--5.0 HO, MAF swap, 1-5/8" shorties, BBK/Flowmaster exhaust, Explorer intake, 70mm Edelbrock TB, T5, B&M short throw, Centerforce clutch and PP, disc brake TC rear w/ 3.55's, TC front brakes, '98 Cobra springs, DIY SFC's, other misc .  14.05 @ 98mph with launching too low and shifting too high.

To cut or not to cut

Reply #29
What size tires are you running? I have TC rear springs w/ stock arms, but I'm running 255-50-17 tires.
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo