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Anyone cut coil springs on Caddys?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Chevychopper, Apr 10, 2013.

  1. Chevychopper
    Joined: Nov 28, 2005
    Posts: 257

    Chevychopper
    Member
    from Smyrna, DE

    Workin on a 1964 Caddy Convertible and want to cut the springs to drop approx 3". Has anyone dropped a caddy this way? I realize you can buy dropped springs but on a shoe string budget, need to save coin for the cool stuff.

    thanks.
     
  2. 5559
    Joined: Oct 25, 2012
    Posts: 362

    5559
    Member
    from tn

    never done a cad -but have done a lot of 60s gm trucks . Cut the front coils one coil at a time until you get the right amount of drop. Dont know about the rear of a caddy ,but if its got rear coils you should be able to use coils out of a smaller gm product (i use coils from 80s models monte carlos or celebritys on my trucks) check to see if the rear coils have close to the same taper- if so then its a bolt in
     
  3. HotRodAV8
    Joined: Oct 7, 2002
    Posts: 88

    HotRodAV8
    Member
    from Seattle Wa

    cut too many coils on my 62 cad. replaced the springs with some used big block 70 camaro springs. got the look i was after and it rode great.
     
  4. 50 customcoupe
    Joined: May 8, 2011
    Posts: 411

    50 customcoupe
    Member

    I have a OT '70 caddy coupe de-ville, I used '64 Impala front coil springs on the front of mine--cut one ring off--made the car sit just right and it rides GREAT. Lowed the front about 4 inches. Hope this helps....Ray...
     

  5. Chevychopper
    Joined: Nov 28, 2005
    Posts: 257

    Chevychopper
    Member
    from Smyrna, DE

    Great information. I know the rear have the tapers on them. As fate would have it, i have a set of 64 impala springs. May try them on the front. What did you do for the rear ray?
     
  6. flatheadpete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2003
    Posts: 10,479

    flatheadpete
    Member
    from Burton, MI

    I had cut coils on my '65. Rode great and sat really low.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Chevychopper
    Joined: Nov 28, 2005
    Posts: 257

    Chevychopper
    Member
    from Smyrna, DE

    Very cool. Did you also cut the coils in the back?
     
  8. flatheadpete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2003
    Posts: 10,479

    flatheadpete
    Member
    from Burton, MI

    Yep. Was lowered when I got it. It had some steel bar stock-turned-spring retainers that bolted to the lower arms. Basically they held the rear springs frim to the control arms so they didn't fall out.
     
  9. Terrible Tom
    Joined: Feb 15, 2010
    Posts: 582

    Terrible Tom
    Member

    I cut two and a half coils out of my 52 Olds and it's just right. Lowering blocks on the back, though.
    Tom
     
  10. I cut 2 off my '64 Caddy many years ago and it was just right. I left the rear as is since they were pretty sagged-out already. I forget if the ends of the springs have a registration on both ends, they may be flat at the top. To be safe, use a straight edge or square so you take exactly a full coil off.

    I usually take 1 coil out, reassemble it enough so I can take it off the jack, give it a few bounces and eyeball it. Then take another whack at it if I want it lower.

    Bob
     
  11. texasville64
    Joined: Jan 4, 2012
    Posts: 13

    texasville64
    Member
    from texas

    I have a 64 coupe and I cut one coil off each spring all the way around. I also ground down the last coil to give it the same taper as factory and used a torch to flatten the coil so the spring would sit the same as factory. Basically the spring looks factory just one coil shorter.
     
  12. Chevychopper
    Joined: Nov 28, 2005
    Posts: 257

    Chevychopper
    Member
    from Smyrna, DE

    Thanks Texas, how much do you think the 1 coil dropped it? I'm going to try 1 coil first and see how it lays... then work from there.
     

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