New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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70spider
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Your car is a: 1970 Fiat spider
Location: N.E. New Mexico

New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by 70spider »

I am about to start ordering the parts for a complete new suspension and have been reading alot of old posts. It seems the new lowering springs will actually increase the height of a 1970 spider. If this is the case what options do I have if I need to replace the springs? Is it possible to cut the new springs if so how much? Has anyone done this on an early spider? My current ride height is 24 1/8" with 175/70x13 tires (an emergancy buy when I purchased him), when I switch to 185/70X13 tires I'll gain about 3/4".
Any help will be appriciated. Thanks Pesto
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
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70spider
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Your car is a: 1970 Fiat spider
Location: N.E. New Mexico

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by 70spider »

Update. Questioned answered by Csaba @ AutoRicambi :D
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by fiat218 »

Oh great! Hidden answers now :mrgreen:
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by njoconnor »

Ya gotta lift the flap, Jim. :lol:

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....
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spiderdan
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Your car is a: 1968 124 Sport Spider
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Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by spiderdan »

Image
Dan
1968 124 Sport Spider
"Angelina"
2015 Toyota Camry XSE (hers)
2016 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited (cottage toy)
http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/68spi ... t%20Spider
http://www.youtube.com/user/Coontache/videos
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70spider
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Your car is a: 1970 Fiat spider
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Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by 70spider »

The answer from Csaba was the springs that he sells do not raise the ride height on early spiders but the springs from VAS will. :D
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
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spiderdan
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Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by spiderdan »

Tx 70spider
:mrgreen:
Dan
1968 124 Sport Spider
"Angelina"
2015 Toyota Camry XSE (hers)
2016 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited (cottage toy)
http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/68spi ... t%20Spider
http://www.youtube.com/user/Coontache/videos
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by fiat218 »

70spider wrote:The answer from Csaba was the springs that he sells do not raise the ride height on early spiders but the springs from VAS will. :D
he said VAS :shock:
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
User avatar
70spider
Posts: 676
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 3:05 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Fiat spider
Location: N.E. New Mexico

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by 70spider »

Well what he actually said was VIcks springs may increase the ride height in the early spiders. He was just giving me an answer to my inquiry on whether the new performance springs would raise the ride height on my 70 Spider. It was by no means intended to cast a negative light on the product Vicks sells. Csaba has been extremely helpfull in my attempt to restore my Spider to a daily driver. I hope that clears it up.
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by fiat218 »

I know he didn't
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by njoconnor »

Thanx, 70spider. Dang. Wasn't really thinking about changing springs next year, but between Csaba's info here, and the way his springs match Blue 72.....

Add them to the list.

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....
PMcG

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by PMcG »

What about coilovers?
fiathead

Re: New Springs affect on an Early Spider

Post by fiathead »

When I replaced the springs on my 69 Spider, I either used Vick's or IAP's 'lowering' springs. My Fiat was modified back in the early 70s by Jerrari in CA and had been running very low springs. The new springs made the car sit too high, so I cut a coil and think it still sits higher than it should. One of these days, I'll cut another coil to get it somewhere close to where Jerrari had it. I talked to Dave James (the man behind Jerrari) several years ago and he said that they just cut the factory springs to lower the car.
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