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Hi Everyone
For my modified Dolomite, I decided to run the Rimmer Brothers Uprated, 1”drop springs up front. I have a set already in the rear from when I first “restored” the car and the fitted fine but the front ones have always been an issue.
When I first “restored” the car. I got the full set of Uprated 1” drop springs, and the rears fussed perfectly, no issues. But the front ones made the nose sit about 2” higher than my very worn stock springs so I returned them and just ran on cut front springs, oops.
But with me engine swap, I presumed that the 3.0 V6 I was swapping in was heavier than the 1500 engine was removing, so I repurchased the Uprated springs, but run into the same issue, the front suspension is sitting in the bump stops of the shocks, even with the engine and gearbox mounted up. Granted there’s maybe another 10/20 kilos to go back into the car such as front bumper, rad, water pump, alternator etc, but the front is so stiff I doubt it’ll move all that much.
Has anyone else ran into similar issues with these springs? I have a feeling I’ll have to get some more custom springs made
Think the Jag motor is all alloy, correct me if i'm wrong! In which case, it is almost certainly LIGHTER than the all iron 1500 4 banger that came out, which is in turn lighter as an engine/trans assembly than that of the Sprint engine/overdrive box unit most commonly used. If you are following "normal" proceedures with your conversion, the engine is probably well back in the bay, shifting the CofG further back too.
As i've noted before, many times, there is virtually NO info available as to Dolomite standard spring rates, except for the semi apochryphal 140lb all round for a stock Sprint. Since "everybody knows this" it's probably not true either! It's certainly not mentioned in my copies of the various works manuals. If you don't know the rates and lengths of the stock spings, how can you work out what will be stiffer and/or lower?
Confronted with this dilemma on my own conversions, i've found the best solution to be shox with adjustable spring platforms to set ride height and to run them with standard Sprint front springs (which suit the overall weight of the CAR, more or less) and whatever rear springs were stock on the original model, both in weight and length. I've found that handling is readily compromised by having the back end too stiff whereas, apart from a slightly crashier (not in the bent metal sense) ride than needed, it's hard to get the front TOO stiff.
However, saying that, i've never been tempted to go OTT and fit 500lb compo springs on the front (you can get them and they might work on a pure track car but that's not what i'm about)
You and Sam are not the first to find that the springs supplied from Lincoln can raise the car rather than lowering it! Or maybe it's just one set being sent out over and over till they find a car they WILL work on! Who knows?
Steve