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Author Topic: 1971 coil spring thoughts  (Read 4619 times)

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Offline Tonycando

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1971 coil spring thoughts
« on: March 30, 2015, 12:02:26 PM »
Hollowed out motor and cyl heads trans and scatter shield with 150 lbs sitting on the motor my car is 1" from the top of travel so I'm guessing someone must have put some stout springs in my car.
No shocks in it also but what are you thoughts on this,would you start cutting a little coil off to try and bring it down .

Thanks all

 Tony

Offline amc49

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2015, 12:13:46 PM »
Cutting springs makes them act like stiffer springs FYI, but cut just a little and probably OK.

If trans and scattershield hollow too not nearly enough weight there. Don't even think of cutting until car fully weighted...... ...........

Offline Tonycando

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2015, 01:29:25 PM »
Cutting springs makes them act like stiffer springs FYI, but cut just a little and probably OK.

If trans and scattershield hollow too not nearly enough weight there. Don't even think of cutting until car fully weighted...... ...........

Complete trans no flywheel so I'll add another 50 lbs and see,but I got a feeling it won't make that big of a differance

Offline Tonycando

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2015, 01:30:30 PM »
Also does anyone know a good source for ball joints and tie Rod ends for this 71
Thanks

Offline 72DutchWagon

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2015, 02:23:00 PM »
Did you find this old post from 71Hanto; http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=dea24cc5627937cac7a8c90ce80ce415&topic=7913.msg56786#msg56786
It describes the difference in front spring length between 71-73 and 74 later Pinto's.
I'm guessing I'm having the same sort of problem with a previous owner presumably having changed the springs for standard 74 and later length ones.

Offline Tonycando

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2015, 02:39:58 PM »
Did you find this old post from 71Hanto; http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=dea24cc5627937cac7a8c90ce80ce415&topic=7913.msg56786#msg56786
It describes the difference in front spring length between 71-73 and 74 later Pinto's.
I'm guessing I'm having the same sort of problem with a previous owner presumably having changed the springs for standard 74 and later length ones.


That was a good read thanks,sand I did find that PST has front end kits for the 71.

Offline 72DutchWagon

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2015, 12:50:16 PM »
I did some more searching on site on the 71-73 coil springs, and ran into this post http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?topic=7218.msg42906#msg42906 by Oldkayaker, and got more confused, he states other free lengths for 71-73 and 74-80 coil springs.

Time to call in the professionals, I emailed the following text to EATON Detroit spring;

Dear Sir or Madam,

I'm writing this because there seems to be no information on the Internet about the proper suspension measurements of 71-73 Ford Pinto's.
There is ton's of information on 74-80 Pinto's, and out of ignorance, lot's of people are installing 74-80 coil springs into earlier Pinto's. I believe that is completely wrong and even outright dangerous.
There is a growing active community interested in all sorts of Pinto's, look for instance at fordpinto.com. My project is presented there under the name 72DutchWagon.
It would be in the interest of all of the community if a reputed company like yours could may'be take a look at your manufacturer blue prints and come up with the correct (and safe!) unweighted coil spring height numbers for 71-73 Ford Pinto's.
I'm not asking to reveal any trade secrets, but a few numbers would help a lot of us Pinto fans to be more aware of the differences between 71-73 Pinto's and 74-80 Pinto's.
I will of course make sure that a topic on fordpinto.com will be adressing this issue.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation, if this is not possible than thanks for your time reading this mail.

And got this answer;

Geert,
 
Very good request. The 71-73 Pinto front coil springs are much lighter springs than the 74- and up springs.
 
While the ID's are pretty much the same, the wire diameter is smaller and the spring rates are lighter and free height is less for the 71-73 springs vs. later years.
 
Depending on what 74 - 78 spring was used on a 71-73 Pinto the front would raise between 1.75 inches to as much as 3-inches over factory height.
 
Our part number for the 71-72 without factory air conditioning is MC1706. With factory a/c the part number is MC522.
 
For all 1973 Pinto's our part number is MC522.
 
I hope this helps everyone on the forum. Now who else do you know who we can help?
 
 
Thank You
Mike

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Re: 1971 coil spring thoughts
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2015, 02:16:45 PM »
As informative as this inquiry is to Eaton, and their response, The question begs:  What kind of use will the car be exposed to ? Aside from the physical criteria of the dimensions, Will the car be exposed to "sporting driving" or just OEM stock usage. My '72 racer has cut Mustang II V8 springs and it will rearrange your dental work over bot dots as I discovered when I street drove it. I regularly used a Kidney belt going to Autocross events.
 If compromised street/sport driving is needed, then a Progressive wound spring would be ideal, but again this can be a ride height paradox for full travel off the Bump Stops. A 71-73 Pinto had two engine options (1.6L & 2.0L) and of course whether or not A/C was present. The 74-up had 2.0L (74 only) ,  2.3L , and in 75 a 2.8L v6.  Keeping in mind that cutting springs increases the rate, you open a can of worms on driving comfort.
 As a comparison, My 84VW GTI had Eibach springs and Koni Sport Adj struts, as a "combo"  from a performance retailer. After complaints from the wife , I found that the car was riding on the bump stop rubbers and all of the tight wound coils were compressed at rest. I had just enough give in the springs and Bump stops to stop the tire from shredding on the fender flares. A long correspondence with a Koni engineer in the USA didn't solve it so I bought H&R sport springs and raised the car to only a 1/2" lower than stock. Since this wasn't a Coilover strut arrangement, the spring was the only option to restore functionality.
 Lesson learned, decide what you want and consult the pros first , or read up a bunch and find a lift to work out your suspension travel issues all the way, Before you buy Springs and Shocks.

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