suggested springs and vendor

[kbee00]

So I have finally gotten things back together and just purchased Charlie's 1972 124. With all that's going on, my project car is not going to get done anytime soon and I want a car to drive this year. The car is in very good shape structurally and looks good from 20ft.

Anyway, the first thing that needs attention are the shocks and springs. Probably original - two shocks are dead and the car is not sitting square so out with the springs as well.

I have found Koni yellows here:

http://www.importrp.com

for $90 and change. So those are going to be ordered soon.

Now for the springs - I see Ricambi Auto has a set of performance springs - and others have them as well. The problem is that they are listed for all years. And for sure the later cars with heavy bumpers had to have had heavier springs - and I have gone thru dozens of posts on this subject - am worried about my car being lifted rather than lowered. I am putting a set of 205/50/15's on the car so probably don't need a bunch of lowering - but I do like the full wheel well look.

Soooo - what have you with experience found for proper springs for a '72 ? I don't want to be cutting coils or modifying parts - so please don't suggest I go that route.

Thanks so much for your help and I am so glad to be back in the saddle - AND in my "new" blue Fiat!

Also - see my post on wheels -I am desparate to find a match to the two I have. http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 19&t=23012

kbee00

[fiat218]

Hell cut it

[vandor]

>Now for the springs - I see Ricambi Auto has a set of performance springs - and others have them as well.

Yes, but we are the only ones with progressive rate rear springs

>And for sure the later cars with heavy bumpers had to have had heavier springs

A friend and I did some research on this some years ago and we measured spring length, wire diameter, number of coils, etc etc. The only difference we could find is that the big bumper's cars rear springs had several inches more free length. All the front springs we measured, both early and late, were all the same.
Supposedly when Fiat was still here one could order heavier front springs for Spider's with A/C, but that never made sense to me as the A/Cs were installed by the dealer, so the factory would not have known which car will have A/C during production.

>am worried about my car being lifted rather than lowered.

This actually has happened with a certain vendor's springs a few years ago, so they told people to take out the rubber isolators to lower the car.
I don't think the rear of your car will be lowered much with any of the springs, but the front will be some.

[narfire]

If you are going to use the Koni's, the new springs I don't think will be an issue. I had IAP reds and had to cut one coil with the KYB shocks as the back seemed jacked up and then after installing Koni's the car was actually low in the rear with the cut springs. I sourced a set of uncut rears and with the Koni's all is good now. If you have not done so, consider the 1 inch front sway bar...I suspect you'll notice and love the handling improvement..
Csaba's progressive springs sound great...whish I knew about this site years ago.
Chris

[kbee00]

Thanks for the help. Csaba - I have ordered a set of springs from you - and some other misc bits.

[Exit98]

kbee,

Keep us all in the loop on this. Kicked up rear ends seem to be a never ending issue around here, and cut springs keep coming up as the solution.

Ride height seems to be a function of the shock and spring combination, so let us know how Csaba's springs and the Koni's work out. Take some before and after pictures and measure before and after too. II put IAP's with stock KYB's on my big bumper 76 and the height came down about an inch all around. More important for me, they evened things out since before each wheel height was different. I run stock 13 inchers and i'd like it to come down more, but I can live with what I've got, and like you, I don't want to cut.

Back in the day I installed whatever Koni's were available at the time on my original 72 and the back went way up, although it settled somewhat once the shocks loosened up, but the rear was higher than stock. Sure handled better though.

[kbee00]

Doug,

Good idea. Here are the assumed stock ride heights. I measured to the highest part of fender lip. The tires are 185/70/13's

http://s150.photobucket.com/user/kbee00 ... 5.jpg.html

http://s150.photobucket.com/user/kbee00 ... 5.jpg.html

Rear is 24.75"
Front is 25.25"

Once I get the new springs and shocks installed, I will measure and post again.

kbee00

[ga.spyder]

Glad to see you back and good luck with the new car!

[kbee00]

See my updates on my restoration thread regarding the new springs and dampers.

any suggestions on where to set the Koni's is appreciated.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 99#p182199

kbee00

[kbee00]

Moved this suspension thread to my restoration thread.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 30&t=23097