EATON Detroit Spring

The leading manufacturer of leaf and coil springs for the street rod and restoration automotive industries

We Help Maintain American Icons by Manufacturing Leaf and Coil Springs Right Here in America

Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047

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      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

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  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Suspension Parts
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Shocks
      • Attaching Parts And Hardware
      • Installation Kits
      • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
    • Street Rod Suspension Parts
      • Mustang II Front End Springs
      • 48 Inch Truck Springs
    • Allstate - Chrysler
      • Allstate
      • American Motors
      • Bricklin
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chevrolet Truck
      • Chrysler
    • Daimler - Ford
      • Daimler
      • DeSoto
      • Dodge
      • Dodge Truck
      • Edsel
      • Ford
      • Ford Truck
    • GMC - Jeep
      • GMC
      • Honda
      • Hudson
      • Hudson Truck
      • Hummer
      • International
      • Jeep
    • Kaiser Darrin - Nissan
      • Kaiser Darrin
      • Kaiser-Frazer
      • LaSalle
      • Lincoln
      • MAHINDRA
      • Mercury
      • MG
      • Nash
      • Nissan
    • Oldsmobile - Rambler
      • Oldsmobile
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      • Plymouth Truck
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      • Rambler
    • Sterling - Willys
      • Sterling
      • Studebaker
      • Studebaker Truck
      • Toyota
      • Willys
    • Request A Custom Quote
    • Search For Parts Here
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Articles
      • Tech Questions
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Featured Elsewhere
      • EATON Detroit Spring Podcast
      • Buy Ford Manuals
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

    • Browse By Topic
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Attaching Parts
      • Ride Height & Stance
      • Ride Quality
      • Manufacturing Springs
      • Replacing Springs
      • Modifying Springs
      • Ordering Springs
  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
    • Send Us Photos Of Your Ride!
    • Free Stuff For Car Shows!
    • Facebook
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      • Spring Tech Videos
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
    • Dealer Information
  • Find Parts That Fit Your Vehicle
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839

When Do I Install Coil Springs On A Hot Rod? What Do I Do Until Then?

Mike,

I recently purchased a 1934 Ford 3 window coupe replica.

To make a really long story short its an older kit that just never got put together, but in an excellent condition.

My first order of business is to get a rolling chassis. The build book that was provided by the manufacturer calls out for a Mustang II front end.

That’s great, that’s the suspension it came with, but I have and will be using an aftermarket setup with upper and lower a-arms. I got started with a leveled chassis, a-arms, yoke and leveled rotors and “NO springs installed” with proper a-arm angles.

I have about 9″ where I need to install a 14″ spring. Is this right? I haven’t been able to compress the spring far enough to get it in there. Using a compression tool, I semi got it in there one time, but I was not able to compress it far enough to attach the lower a-arm and yoke to the upper a-arm.

It looked like I was getting ready to go off-road with this baby. I know I need to compress the spring to get it installed, but this is ridiculous. I was only able to compress it about 4″.

I can probably get a good fit if I cut the tangential end of the springs to about 10″ to 11″, but I worry.

What will happen when I drop the engine and transmission?

Will the front end bottom out?

What should I do?

Or what will be a good starting point?

The springs have a flat end on one side and a tangential end on the other.

Julio

Julio,

When setting up a chassis it must be done with the same rake as the finished vehicle will be sitting at.

So if you are starting with the frame level and the car will sit with a rake, you will have trouble getting her right.

As for the springs, they are designed to support weight. Fitting the springs now without the motor and trans -and I’ll bet a whole lot more- not installed on the car will result in the car sitting way too low when finished.

Most builders mock up the suspension with turnbuckles to sit the car at it’s final height, and then install the springs once she is done.

Which Mustang II spring to use is based upon the year and engine size of the car.

We have 23 different springs which can be found here: Mustang II Coil Spring Lookup

-Mike

Filed Under: Tech Question Tagged With: Coil Springs, Custom Designing Springs, Manufacturing Springs, Street Rod

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OEM Replacement & Custom Springs

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EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
1555 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047
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