Front Axle / Front Suspension: Avanti front springs

[swvalcon]

Plan to go though the front suspension on the Avanti this winter. I have a set of HD springs out of the buick wagon rear. Wondering if I should use them or just go back new stock. Anyone here use a set of HD's in their Avanti and if so how did you like it?

[Hawklover]

Steve back in Jan of 1967 when I purchased the first of numerous Avantis over the last 60 years I removed the front springs and put in HD springs and to gild the Lilly put in half inch spacers. Now as 2026 approaches I can honestly say the car still sits up perfectly in the front!

[StudeRich]

Yes it Sure does. The "Stance" Front Rear looks perfect as the correct ride height Cars were, BUT, the WAY too much Fenderwell showing above Both front and rear tires shows it is WAY too high.

[Gunslinger]

Stiffer coil springs in front and softer leaf springs in back will help shift the forward weight bias rearward somewhat and will improve handling.

[swvalcon]

was thinking of putting about 1" lowering blocks in the rear but will do the HD springs first and see how it looks and handles from there first.

[bezhawk]

When Herb Adams did the Avanti race car his school of though is soft springs, and stiffer shocks and anti roll bars. I agree. Too stiff a spring makes everyday driving a unpleasant experience. The last one I did, I used stock Lark six cyinder springs and even then, cut one turn from the length. Sits perfect, but might settle a little too much in the coming years. Even so, I have the stock AC spacers if that happens. I use Blistein shocks and Thiebault 1 " sway bars.

[wcarroll@outrageous.net]

I wonder how that modified Lark 6 spring would compare to a fresh stock spring considering the affect coil cutting has on spring rate.

I do agree softer springs with high quality dampening might be a better way to go for a daily driver.

I recently convinced a client to upgrade the shocks on two of his vintage cars -a 1974 TR6 and a 1965 Falcon.

The springs in both were stock and tired.

The new adjustable shocks (Bilsteins and Konis) transformed both cars.

IMO, the tired old springs allowed the shocks to do more of the nuanced work which meant no more door rattling and cowl shaking when going over road transitions (had gas shocks previously), better transfer during hard shifts, more precise steering. less brake diving and hobby horsing when getting on and off the throttle, etc..

He couldn’t believe the difference.

Anyway from a performance aspect, I guess what I’m getting at is that I would spend money and time on installing high quality adjustable shocks before HD springs.

If you are looking to restore ride height due to tired springs, then a spacer might be the way to go.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

So, Bilstein and Koni shock absorbers are not gas?