[Shotimes] GEN 1 -- Help in Obtaining Stock Replacement Springs

[George Fourchy]

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 08:28:48 -0800, Fred George wrote:

>Where do I buy stock form/fit/function replacement springs? Any help 
>from Al Fitz or other recylcers?

Out here in California it is still possible to get decent quality original springs
from the wrecking yard.  I got a pair of strut/spring assemblies this last spring
from a '90 or '91 SLO that looked pretty good, for 25 bucks each, and put them on
the Plus from Hell, after I took off its temporarily installed NAPA/Tokiko sets to
take to Madison for Kris Angermeier.  I didn't figure they'd be much good (just
needed something to hold it up), but they were almost new in performance.  The
springs held it nice and high, and the struts were amazingly stiff for being
original...they definitely passed the jounce test.  I don't know how many miles they
had, but I do know the Lowrider's factory struts are still on the road, on a
friend's '91 Sable.  They came off at about 90K miles.  L's factory rear springs
started sagging pretty badly after about 150K miles, and have long since been
replaced (100K ago) with another set of NAPA SLO springs.   Joseph Van Oss has the
Plus from Hell now, and he can say how it rides and handles with those old stock
spring/strut sets.  I'd bet he's satisfied with it for street/mild track use.

Also, you might be interested in the fact that Lowrider is running (since 2000) on a
pair of wrecking yard front springs from a '91 LX, and is sitting, handling, and
riding JUST fine.

In my opinion, and in that of several others, like Kerby, the NAPA/CC rear springs
are quite satisfactory.  They may be progressive, but they are predictable (totally
unlike Eibachs on a Mustang, which is why I won't have them on anything) when
pushed, like on the track at Summit Point or Blackhawk Farms (or Road Atlanta!).  
You might be being just a bit wishful when insisting on 'new' factory springs, when
there are several alternatives that are cheaper, available, and do the job just
fine.  You have to remember....these cars aren't new anymore.....they're not even
close.

George  (....pretty picky myself when it comes to ride and handling, but _very_
pleased with my CC/Tokikos in the back and junker/Tokikos in the front....)  and the
Lowrider