[DeTomaso] Spring rates, math quiz

Paul Timko thedrol at pobox.com
Mon Jun 16 11:28:09 EDT 2014


FYI.  Cutting springs will give you the correct ride height, but it 
increases the spring rate and could result in a very stiff spring.

Paul
#9270

On 6/14/2014 2:35 PM, Mikael wrote:
> Mike Thomas, I wish. I've called 5 places, they tell it's not possible almost before I've finished my question. They only sell based on specific newer cars.
> Did find a DYI place that said they had plenty on the shelf so at least I could measure I.D. and length, buy a few and then trial and error. Just bought super spring compression tool, without it I would be dead now...
> When I got to that place, they only had two springs with right measurements. And they had one of each, not two. Who buys one? They checked another store 20 miles away, they had three(!). So drove there.
> Put one on. Lower but not enough, so started cutting. Stopped now, tired and Le Mans, but will keep cutting until I'm happy. If it doesn't handle well, I'll have to find a place that can and will lower the orig Longchamp springs.
>
> Annoying when a simple task like that takes days and end result may be worse than before
>
> Sent from my BlackBerry Q10
>    Original Message
> From: Mike Thomas
> Sent: lørdag den 14. juni 2014 16.46
> To: 'Paul Timko'; detomaso at poca.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Spring rates, math quiz
>
> Wouldn't the shop you're going to be able to put your existing coils on a
> spring compressor, load them to the average weight on that wheel when on the
> car to set a baseline, then try putting a few different springs from their
> inventory into the compressor to find that 5cm drop for the same load? That
> could eliminate a lot of your experimentation beforehand.
> Just a thought.
>
> Mike Thomas
> VP, POCA
> VP, Panteras Northwest
> Yellow '74 #6328
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of Paul Timko
> Sent: Friday, June 13, 2014 1:32 PM
> To: detomaso at poca.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Spring rates, math quiz
>
> Ken's comments are correct. The shocks are usually installed on an angle (I
> haven't actually seen a Longchamp, so I'm not positive), so a 1cm reduction
> in spring height results in less than a 1cm reduction in ride height.
>
> Paul
> #9270
>
> On 6/13/2014 3:16 PM, Mikael wrote:
>> No spacers
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry Q10
>>
>> From: Ken Green
>> Sent: fredag den 13. juni 2014 22.14
>> To: Mikael; Mike Thomas; 'De Tomaso List'
>> Reply To: Ken Green
>> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Spring rates, math quiz
>>
>> I don't think you necessarily lower the car 1cm if the compressed
>> spring is 1 cm shorter, depends on the suspension geometry.
>> Are you sure there are no spacers in the shocks you can remove, like
>> the spacers on Pantera shocks? If there are, do that first.
>> Ken
>> From: Mikael <mikael_hass at mail.tele.dk>
>> To: Mike Thomas <mbefthomas at comcast.net>; 'De Tomaso List'
>> <detomaso at poca.com>
>> Sent: Friday, June 13, 2014 12:30 PM
>> Subject: [DeTomaso] Spring rates, math quiz
>> So all you math genuises, here's a question. My orig Longchamp springs
>> of unknown spring rate are too hard/long now that I have replaced
> heavy
>> iron: headers, heads, intake. Tomorrow I'm going to a place where they
>> have springs on shelves so I can measure and find close origs in size.
>> I.D. has to be exact (9cm). And I plan to find springs from a car with
>> a V6, preferably sporty soo not too soft. And I realize that I will
>> have to buy several (they're about $60 each) to experiment to get the
>> height I want.
>> But here's the question. Orig springs are 38cm free, and 25cm mounted
>> in shock and weight on car. I'm looking for around 20cm, lowering 5cm.
>> Question: if they have springs with proper diameter, but are maybe
> 33cm
>> at rest instead of 38cm, what is the equivalent height decrease when
>> weight is on spring and mounted in shock? Is there a formula?
>> Sent from my BlackBerry Q10
>> Original Message
>> From:
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