Restoring Original height for 69 ?

[akavinn1]

I am sure this has been discussed a ton of times before ,but when I got my 69 spider the rear looks really high so I would like to restore it to the original hight it would have been front and back . I also heard in Italy it was even lower. Any suggestions ? Parts ?

[bradartigue]

I am sure this has been discussed a ton of times before ,but when I got my 69 spider the rear looks really high so I would like to restore it to the original hight it would have been front and back . I also heard in Italy it was even lower. Any suggestions ? Parts ?

Get springs from any Spider made prior to 1973. They were never lower in Italy. The only increases were for 1974 regulations in bumper height and again for 1979 (the 79-85 Spider 2000's ass-high stance is the result of rear bumper height requirements in the USA).

Performance springs will also lower the car but make the ride a little bit rougher.

[akavinn1]

I was thinking of getting a old set but was thinking maybe there were new replacements that were the same as 69.

[vandor]

> They were never lower in Italy.

Agreed.
I think the misinformation about that comes from the fact that Fiat had some PR photos of Spiders that were quite low, definitely not the production ride height

[akavinn1]

Would the old springs be safe ?

[Exit98]

Hey Eric,

4 big bags of cement should do it.

[bradartigue]

Would the old springs be safe ?

Unless they are broken or corroded to a point of being thing, yes.

Have you measured the height, because those measurements are all published for the stock cars. You may be seeing things!


Some other thoughts:

Lower profile tires, if you have them, also make the car appear taller.
An incorrectly loaded suspension, when installed, will increase the height.