UMI 1" Drop Springs get installed into a 1971 A body Chevelle. It already had a 2" drop spindle and I was looking for one more inch of drop. It didn't work out. I used UMI Suspension part# 4050F
On my 71, with a aluminum head 383 stroker motor, I went with RideTech's 2 inch, small block drop springs. After they settled about half an inch my front end sits at at a perfect 25 inches measured at the fendee lined up at the center of the wheel. If anyone is curious and has a similar Chevelle. The ride is just a tiny bit stiffer and it never mottoms out with 4 people in the car. Very nice drop springs man. What i love is that they have thicker coils but less of them abd are super easy to install. Those guys make a quality product.
A 1" shorter spring, with the same rate, will get a 2“ drop. You'd need to go with a higher rated drop spring to get a 1" drop. For instance, my stock springs are 345lbs at 15.6" free, 11" load. Upgrade springs are 640lbs at 13.1" free, 11" load. To get a full 1" drop I'd need closer to a 550lb spring at 13.1", but if I went with a 340lb spring I'd drop @ 4", if that same 340lb spring was @ 14", It'd drop @ 2". So your choice is either go a heavier load spring, or a lighter load to minimise compression. Or better yet, keep the stock height springs and do it right with a 1" drop spindle which won't change geometry or spring travel.
I lowered my Chevelle..I installed coil overs to lower it. I measured 24 inches at the same point you did and looks great..running mid length headers so they dont drag. I did see that raising/lowering the coil over nut you see double to change ...so 1/2 inch makes 1 inch.
Looks great to me! My '70's lowest point is about 2.5" off the ground - lowest point oft Chevelle being the passenger side headers. I have 2" drop springs throughout.
You said you're 200 lbs over LS weight. Wouldn't that do it? I liked the lowered look. So you were concerned about the headers hitting ground? Would that be in and out of driveways? I have a 70 El Camino with a 454 and fender lip sits at 24 7/8 with stock springs and 25 1/4 diameter tires. My car was not a big block originally but did have a V8. I would also like to drop the front end just a bit but I have a problematic/steep driveway landing at the street curb that concerns me. Did GM put different springs on the big block cars from say small block cars? Cool video!!
With the 2" drop spindles and those springs, the headers were less than 2.5" from the ground. I liked the look also but I think to make it work, a mid length header would need to be used. Yes, GM used different springs for the BBC and the SBC. I am going to try to put the same springs into another Chevelle with a 350 and stock spindles. I think it will work great there.
What size wheel and tires are you running? I have all stock springs on my Chevelle but it doesn't sit like yours. I also have 15 inch wheels and looking to upgrade.
Where did you order those insulators? I have umi springs as well, part # 4050F. I ordered insulators from opgi because they said that's what fit.. but don't seem correct and look more like a spacer. Thank you. I have a 65 Chevelle
