Picture worth a thousand words

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DaveFhlug

Picture worth a thousand words

Post by DaveFhlug »

Hi guys,

There was some pictures of where to cut the rear springs on a late Spider 2000. I have yet to find the picture(s) so I can make sure I cut the springs properly. Anyone have the pictures that show what point to cut?

Thanks,

Dave
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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by v6spider »

Where you cut them is totally dependent on what ride height you are trying to achieve.. my experience with it is you have to take out one complete coil at a time. Noting where the end of the top of the coil is and going exactly below the end to the next coil and cutting. That way the coil doesn't curve when it is compressed... cut-off wheel on an angle grinder or cut-off saw is probably best. make sure no to get it too hot and lose temper of the coil..

Cheers!
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
DaveFhlug

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by DaveFhlug »

do I cut at the top or bottom of the coil?
grittracing

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by grittracing »

if you cut your springs does it change your "Tamper" i think its called. The angle your tires ride. Will you be eating up the insides of the tires? Like i would on my truck if i cut them.someone told me my ride was to high i kind of like my stance
azygoustoyou

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by azygoustoyou »

TronDD
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 4:29 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 2000
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by TronDD »

grittracing wrote:if you cut your springs does it change your "Tamper" i think its called. The angle your tires ride. Will you be eating up the insides of the tires? Like i would on my truck if i cut them.someone told me my ride was to high i kind of like my stance
If the spring gets too hot, it will change the temper of the springs. It's a metallurgy thing.

Lowering the car by cutting the springs, will change your camber. You need to get it realigned after.

Tim.
1979 Fiat 2000
1986 Trabant
1969 Chevelle
2003 Jetta TDI (Daily driver)
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by azruss »

when you cut your springs many things happen. on the rear, since it is a straight axle, the tires remain perpendicular to the road. you do change the way load transfers under braking and accel. when you cut the fronts, you change all the geometry. castor, camber, and alignment. now you have fewer coils carrying the same weight, so expect the car to feel a bit stiffer.
DaveFhlug

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by DaveFhlug »

azygoustoyou wrote:Did you see this post Dave?
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... ng+springs
I have seen the post, but the pictures are missing.
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jfrawley
Posts: 260
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:00 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by jfrawley »

Sorry, I don't know why those pics are missing but here is the before

Image

And then after a coil and a half was removed from the rear and one coil from the front. Looks better and handles better, but rides a little stiffer.

Image
John Frawley
Frederick, MD
1982 Spider
http://www.dcfiats.org
Sunracer

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by Sunracer »

On the later cars I like to take 1 and a half coils off front and back. You can re position the removable upper perches to make sure the spring ends fit in their proper spot. You will need to get a new alignment. You can cut the springs with a hacksaw or better yet a cutting wheel. This will avoid getting heat into the spring with a torch which as others have said will affect it's strength. PB
TronDD
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 4:29 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 2000
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by TronDD »

So no one makes a spring that is already at a good height?

Tim.
1979 Fiat 2000
1986 Trabant
1969 Chevelle
2003 Jetta TDI (Daily driver)
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tartan18
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by tartan18 »

I am so disappointed that none of the primary vendors of 124 parts make a spring set for mid-1970's cars to lower them. I have a 1975 and I'd like to lower it but I haven't a clue which spring set to buy or how many coils to cut off my car. Much too confusing a topic until someone distills it all down to a simple formula. Distill ?? mmmm now that you mention it a wee bit of Scotch would be nice. 8)
Jim MacKenzie
1975 Fiat Spider
Finest Italian Automotive Technology
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Curly
Posts: 526
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:09 am
Your car is a: 1968 AC Coupe and a 1976 CS1 Spider
Location: Gippsland - Victoria, Australia

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by Curly »

If you're willing to buy overseas, Kings Springs in Oz make a lowered spring set to suit the 124 series. This is what they look like on my '76 CS1. The rears are a progressive rate spring.
Image
Kings Springs catalogue can be found here: http://www.kingsprings.com/
Daniel

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by Daniel »

DAVE
Image
my experience with it is you have to take out one complete coil at a time
I wouldn't cut the springs 1 coil at a time as v6 put it but the first coil will get you a lot closer to where
you most likely want to be . 2 Coils off will lower your car a lot i've done one coil front and 1 and half off
the rear and been happy with my late model spider .



Daniel
DaveFhlug

Re: Picture worth a thousand words

Post by DaveFhlug »

Okay guys, what I want is a picture of the springs and where to cut them.

Thanks,

Dave
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