Gday -

How do i go about measuring what height/length front springs i need?
If i jack the car to the desired height, and measure from the spring platform to the top, will that give them enough info?
It has 200b struts, so the stock 1200 springs are too short.

Linc.

If you have 200B struts, then you'll need to do the cups first? Have you done that bit yet? My Old man can help out if you need help there.

As for the spring heights, I've always found that with 1200 springs it's always too high.

Chris

yes cups are done.
remember i was telling you about the lower platform being welded on too low? well i figure rather than change that, ill get longer springs. I just dont want to stress the struts too much with re grinding and welding.....

Linc

Ah.

I don't think there are any small diameter "1200 sized" springs that are longer.

The 120Y ones are shorter, the 240Z ones are shorter..So I'm not sure.

Sometimes shorter but stiffer springs will lift the height.

Chris

I'm really showing my age here but did you guys in Aussie get the Hillman Avengers ??? If you can find one grab the rear springs , they a a bloody good fit in the Datto 1200 spring cup and are longer and stiffer than the stock 1200 ones. We used to use them cut down in our early club cars. If you can find a station wagon the spring rates were even higher...

No Avengers didn't make it here which is yet another point where this sunburnt country falls down. Wasn't there some possibility with the Viva suspension as well?

Don't expect pity from us stateside! You guys got quite a few cars that we never even heard of!

Yep, NZ is lucky in one respect as to getting a good range of cars but boy we were stung with some piles of shit. I was reading recently that Auckland (our largest city) is second only to Los Angeles for cars per head of population which proves we are all petrolheads. The figures are the same for Ferraris and HSV Commodores.... but we also get Skodas, Ladas and Yugos.????
As to the Viva connection I'm not sure but all cars of the era seemed to have springs of the same dimensions. I've got springs from an MG Midget in the front of my coupe , they are as hard as hell and dropped the front 3 inches (75mm for you youngsters) but are more suited to track work than street...

just to clarify, im going to have some springs made up, i just need to know how to take the measurement. when the car is at the desired height, do i just measure from cup to cup? or do i have to take into account spring sag?

Linc.

Cup to cup plus the amount the spring will compress under the static weight of the car. So if the front of the car weighs 750 pounds and you are using 750 pound per inch springs, they will compress an inch from the free length when the weight of the car is set on top of them. Make sense? Good luck.