1970 Camaro springs

**allcamaro** · #1 11-20-2006, 03:44 AM

I have put many many coil springs in a 1st gen camaro`s but whats the secret in putting coil springs in a 70 camaro. I tried 3 different coil spring compressors and no good, the sub is bare. The 70 springs are alot longer and dont compress well in the tools i have. I would love to know the trick...

**k92** · #2 11-20-2006, 06:10 AM

Might try a new tool. Is the engine in the car? It makes it much easier if there is weight on the frame when installing springs.I did my ls6 with just the bare frame, use a good quality spring compressor and crank it down, I then use a floor jack under the control arm to get it up so that i can fasten the lower ball joint.Be sure to properly orient the springs in the front control arms so that you have the same ride height on both sides.

**COPO** · #3 11-20-2006, 04:04 PM

It's is pretty tough to do without the engine in the subframe providing some weight. The floor jack under the control arm will tend to lift the whole subframe without the engine in place to counter it. I had three of my buddies stand on the subframe to add the weight needed. It is a frustrating operation without the engine in place.

A468BU · #4 11-21-2006, 06:04 AM

2x4 off the front horn of the frame to a ceiling joice.

Steven J · #5 11-21-2006, 07:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
2x4 off the front horn of the frame to a ceiling joice.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I did. Kind of a hillbilly operation but it worked

**PeteLeathersac** · #6 11-21-2006, 09:00 PM

Not recommended, especially w/ a nice car...but the old 'dangerous fool' method was to compress the spring with the hoist against the floor, hold compressed w/ exhaust/muffler clamps and release the hoist slowly (today's clamps from China would be even more unsafe), tenderly touching, move them into place on the vehicle then torch the clamps out! .
If you get this far without losing your head, ta-da...you're the hero? .

~ Pete

Kim_Howie · #7 11-22-2006, 01:07 AM

I'll take the 4x4 method

A468BU · #8 11-22-2006, 03:09 AM

opps I meant to say 4x4. This would also be in conjunction with your inner spring compressor.

70-SS/RS-L78 · #9 11-25-2006, 09:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
opps I meant to say 4x4. This would also be in conjunction with your inner spring compressor.

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds much better, The 2x4 is a Darwin Award waiting to happen.

The 4X4 don't sound like a bad idea if you can find a way to secure it.

**allcamaro** · #10 11-25-2006, 11:56 PM

Wow !!! maby it would be best to get the frame under the car first. This could be the first and the last 70.