Thread: front coil spring? 63 comet

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hi everone i just ordered most of my new suspension parts. shocks,springs tierods, upper and lower control arms,ect the car was a v6 170 but now it's a 302 but i bought v6 parts but bought v8 springs with air conditing my qustion is will i have problems with the v8 coil springs with v6 front end parts the guy from the online parts store recomended that i put these springs on i belive they have 1 three quarters more coils then the v6 springs i know v8 weighs few hundred pounds more than the v6 will my front end sit up to high and will i have other promlems will the tires lean thanks i know i should of got a v8 conversion but some day plan on removeing the shock towers so i dident want to spend that kind of money twice

Your six weighed 385 lbs and your 302 weighs about 460 lbs a 75 lbs difference.
You may have gotten away w/the 6 cylinder springs or maybe a set of springs from a wagon....joe

thanks i looked up the weighs of both engines and u was right but is that bare or is the full with all parts on them. i wanted to get v6 spring but about 10 people told me that i should get v8 springs and the guy on line store told me to but i thought v8 spring would left the front end up to much like a gasser maybe that would look ok i guess.

in 63 260 was the v8 and what i looked up was the 260 and the 302 both weigh about 460 pounds so i might be ok so if anybody let me know if the v8 springs will work on the car im just going nuts about these dorn springs lol it 3 44 am here i i cant stop thinking about these springs

you could just go with the v6 springs. if you do not like the height with the v8 in you can buy adjusters to change the height.

Actually the original motor would have been a straight 6 not a V6, but that aside......

There are variables to be taken into account when figuring out the "perfect" front springs. Ideally the correct spring will leave the lower control arm parallel to the ground when everything has been bolted up.

Besides the basic engine weight any additions or subtractions to front end weight should be looked at. Things like an aluminium intake vs the stock cast iron intake can shave as much as 40 pounds off engine weight, aluminium heads can be worth 50 pounds, even a few pounds can be shaved by going with an AFB vs a Holley, smaller battery, alternator vs a cast iron generator etc can all add up. A transmission swap will also affect front end weight.

Without knowing a bit more about your specific setup, the V8 springs are probably the correct choice for your project. If it does set a little high, live with it for a while as it's not uncommon for a new set of front springs to settle an inch or so over the first year of use. If the nose does sit a little high that can always be compensated for somewhat by going with a shorter tire.

As far as the tire leaning (camber) anytime major front suspension parts are changed the car should be realigned, and there should be enough adjustment in the suspension to compensate for camber/caster changes.

You might have a significant difference in spring height as well as load carrying ability - for example, I had a mid seventies I-6 Granada. I purchased an identical car, but V8 version from a friend. This car had just had a complete front end rebuild including springs (he blew the diff. and had just too many other repairs and wanted to get rid of it - cheap). Mine needed that front end - including the springs so I unbolted everything and moved to mine. Wow - the front end with V8 springs - way too high - I ended up cutting about a coil and a wee bit more for ride height. In your case, might be way too low plus too soft for the V8 and you can't "add" a coil.

Another case - my '31 had 160# coils supplied by TCI in the front - way too light which meant I had to crank the adjusters almost to the end of their threads to level out the lower 'A' arms. Now, I have 300# springs and the adjuster is up about an inch for level 'A' arms.

Get the springs to match the engine - or face doing the job again and these Falcon/Comet chassis cars with McPherson strut suspension are not a fun project with a spring compressor and minimal working room.

FWIW, all 6 banger suspension parts are weaker in design than their v8 counterparts when it comes to Falcon, Comet, Mustang application of the early 60's.

I'd put in whatever springs you have, get it assembled with all the components and if it's not where you want it take it by your local spring company, like General Spring General Spring offers leaf springs, coil springs, lift kits, leveling kits if you have one, and let them make you coils to meet your needs. Like Mike said, expect it to "settle" an inch or so as the new springs break in to their design carrying capacity.

thanks everybody for your info i m just going to cut 3 quarters of a coil off before putting on because v8 springs have 1 3 quarter coils more than straight 6 spring have

I wouldn't be cutting any coils before you test fit the springs!!! Ratings on coil springs these days are seldom accurate enough to be little more then a guide!!! Before cutting I'd suggest putting them in the car, leave the A-Arm bolts loose, spray the heck out of all the bushings on the front end, put the coils in and bounce the heck out of it for awhile.....then start measuring and cutting coils. When cutting the coils, cut about half of what you think you want then put them back in the car and repeat the above procedure....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I wouldn't be cutting any coils before you test fit the springs!!! Ratings on coil springs these days are seldom accurate enough to be little more then a guide!!! Before cutting I'd suggest putting them in the car, leave the A-Arm bolts loose, spray the heck out of all the bushings on the front end, put the coils in and bounce the heck out of it for awhile.....then start measuring and cutting coils. When cutting the coils, cut about half of what you think you want then put them back in the car and repeat the above procedure....

Dave - did you forget what a PITA one of those hidden McPherson strut early unibodies were in the '60s and '70s?. I still have scars showing from the many I did along with those puny lower ball joints Ford supplied on those cars.

Didn't forget, raced Mavericks and Mustangs for years. Just saying what it takes to do it right..... Heck, if it was easy everybody would be doing it!!!!!

thats not the correct drawing for a 63 or 64 comet---the modified McPherson structs didn't come out until later
The comets had upper and lower arms but with the springs mounted above the upper arm

There is a little alum tool to put under the a arm to the frame that makes servicing them a snap--

And the 6 bangers had weaker ball joints and smaller brakes and my 66 Mustang is hard enough to stop with stock brakes. I wouldn't put a v8 in a 6 cylinder car WITHOUT changing the whole front suspension including brakes.