cutting springs on a 72

[dom]

I want to lower my 72 just a little, maybe an inch or 2. Has anyone sucessfully cut down early springs and if so by how much for the front and back? Does the fact that one side of the spring will no longer be flat matter? How much will the car be lowered if one coil is cut?

[AndyS]

when I got my AS Spider, someone had cut the springs to lower the car. It rode like crap, and bounced all over the place. even with better quality shocks, the ride never settled down. I finally got a set of quality springs, ( they were actually real Abarth Rally springs, which of course are not available anymore. only lowered the car a small amount) and the car was transformed.

these cars don't like to be lowered very much. I love the 124 spider, but the front end and steering is in an antique design, and you end up messing up the geometer when you lower the car more than a small amount. cutting the springs changes the spring rate, and the fact that the end is sticking up doesn't help things either. people heat the end of the cut spring up with a torch and bend the end down and grind it flat, but super heating spring steel isn't good for it either. had a spring break on me that was heated up like that.

I am not up on what springs are available for the cars these days, but I am sure someone makes a decent spring that won't ruin the ride and lowered the car a small amount. I know this seller, and it might be worth asking him about his springs. supposed to lower the car 30mm, a little more than an inch. i would not go much lower than that.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fiat-124-Spider ... 1283wt_952


here is another set from the land down under

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fiat-124-1968-1 ... 543wt_1139

[johndemar]

Those progressive springs are from Spider Point and can be had for about $100 less if ordered direct from them.
I'm thinking of ordering them for my 76 and have heard positive results from others on Mira.
Been told the performance springs leave a harsh ride, and if you cut a 40 year old spring you still end up with a 40 year old spring. The progressives provide a softer ride when driving normally but will stiffen if you really get into it.

[vandor]

>I want to lower my 72 just a little, maybe an inch or 2.

The early cars are already lower in the back than later Spiders. By lowering the car you mess up to front end geometry, as the a-arms will be pointing up even at rest.

>Has anyone sucessfully cut down early springs and if so by how much for the front and back?

If you do it, don't cut more than one coil off either front or back.

>Does the fact that one side of the spring will no longer be flat matter?

Not really.

[dom]

Thanks guys.
I guess I will leave them. I decided to paint the car a bright yellow so I was thinking of giving it a racier look. I was going to go with a pale color and a trunk rack but i switched.... bipolar sucks