Need info on use of Moog CC655 Springs.

[64V-K7]

Just ordered the CC655 springs from Jegs. Should be here in a few days. Does anyone have a source for the large washers that retain the lower inner bushings, part #532190? I asked Stude Intern'l and they don't list them, although there is someone doing a search. Forget about asking the counter-bots at NAPA or the like. This was stuff from before the "Beginning of Time" for most of them.

[karterfred88]

Don't know how close these are, might work-looks like most original retainers for all older cars are discontinued numbers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1982-CORVETTE-LOWER-CONTROL-ARM-BUSHING-RETAINER-KIT-/271931935515

[64V-K7]

Don't know how close these are, might work-looks like most original retainers for all older cars are discontinued numbers.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1982-CO...-/271931935515

I ran into those but it seems they don't have the concave serrations on the rubber side, nor are they depressed near the bolt hole. The depression on the Stude washers bite onto the inner bushing sleeve and press it against the shoulder of the pin, making everything immobile. I'll guess you could use a couple washers inside the large one, but will wait to see if anything comes up..

[64V-K7]

CC655 in an Avanti

I have the springs in my car now (Avanti II) . Here's a couple preliminary shots.




The difference in height between the old springs with and without the aluminum spacer





You could insert the spring and swing it up this far before needing the jack..

Not yet on the floor, so ride height isn't known yet. The ease of installing the spring vs the removal process for the old was dramatic. The 655 may need the spacer to keep from bottoming. Will report back...

[Skybolt]

I have the springs in my car now (Avanti II) . Here's a couple preliminary shots.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]49624[/ATTACH]

The difference in height between the old springs with and without the aluminum spacer



[ATTACH=CONFIG]49625[/ATTACH]

You could insert the spring and swing it up this far before needing the jack..

Not yet on the floor, so ride height isn't known yet. The ease of installing the spring vs the removal process for the old was dramatic. The 655 may need the spacer to keep from bottoming. Will report back...

Reinstalled my cc655's a few days ago without the front clip or engine installed. This used to be nigh on impossible with stock springs. A jack and a tire lever in the right place and I was able to bolt the front suspension to the frame with the springs installed.

Len

[64V-K7]

So the car was put on the floor today. It's almost at curb weight, lacking the hood, engine fluids, etc. The height of the wheel arch at the center line of the wheel was 27.5"



The tires are 215/60R16.

With the 655 springs being softer and removing the .5" aluminum spacer, there's now a pleasing reminiscent of the original rake.

[r1lark]

So the car was put on the floor today. It's almost at curb weight, lacking the hood, engine fluids, etc. The height of the wheel arch at the center line of the wheel was 27.5"

Bob, for future reference, what was he height of the wheel arch previously (with the original springs)?

[karterfred88]

Bob,
Is your "R3" 1970 a Chevy block or Stude? I'm trying to guess the finished height for my R2 '63 since there is a bit of a weight difference. I don't have much room to spare between the bell crank housing and the ground now, with the original sagged springs.

[64V-K7]

Bob, for future reference, what was he height of the wheel arch previously (with the original springs)?

About an inch higher. The original springs were extremely stiff and there was that 1/2" aluminum spacer. The spacer was left out and the softer initial spring rate on the 655's yielded the difference. I'm looking for some settling also after it gets on the road.

[64V-K7]

Bob,
Is your "R3" 1970 a Chevy block or Stude? I'm trying to guess the finished height for my R2 '63 since there is a bit of a weight difference. I don't have much room to spare between the bell crank housing and the ground now, with the original sagged springs.

Funny you mentioned that. It's a replacement 350 SBC, but I no sooner had it in the car, than I gave myself a dope-slap and asked "WTH didn't I just put in a built Stude engine. The Powershift would have bolted right up... and could have generatred some interesting chatter.

The ground clearance on my car has varied since it was new. With the 60 series tires in front, the main crossmember is 8.5" off the ground, the shock absorber bolts are 4.5" as is the bottom of my (deep) transmission pan. It's been a passing thought to fabricate a skid plate to protect the trans.

[rbigcal]

Would these springs also work on a 64 wagonaire. I should have replaced them when I had everything apart. Now that I have car back together and drove it a little in my back lot the front dropped down quite a bit. So now I guess I know why somebody had somehow installed some old springs from coil over shocks inside of the coil springs !

[StudeRich]

Would these springs also work on a 64 wagonaire. I should have replaced them when I had everything apart. Now that I have car back together and drove it a little in my back lot the front dropped down quite a bit. So now I guess I know why somebody had somehow installed some old springs from coil over shocks inside of the coil springs !

They probably will work fairly well, just keep in mind, this is THE Heaviest Car Studebaker built and has heavier springs than any other, except the higher performance Avanti. This could mean a bit of a lower stance in front, especially with Good or New H.D. Wagonaire springs in back.

[Flat Ernie]

Do these springs work on earlier cars? I've got a '53 C/K V8 - I'm looking at doing springs and shocks in the next few months. I already put a bigger GM front sway bar on it, but hadn't driven the car in several years, so no back-to-back comparison, but it does handle OK. Trying to work steering and suspension upgrades over the next few months.

[nels]

I've installed several sets o these springs also and they do work well. I did notice one annoying problem and that was an occasional thud noise in the front suspension. I decided it was due to each end of the spring, the first revolution, not being ground flat where it mates to the next coil when compressed. On occasion this rounded section of the coil would cam over the next coil during cornering and I could hear an audible thud or click. I minimized this by hand grinning a flat area on the first coil where it could potentially contact the second. This is what you see n a standard Stude coil.

[rbigcal]

The way it is now, it's about 3" lower in the front measuring at the rocker panels. Way too much stance. I would think that the front would be about the same as a convertible with the extra 70lbs. of weights up there. I have an aluminum radiator and a/c compressor, which might offset it a little. After installing the engine and rest of the front end, it looked ok at first, but after taking a little test drive it dropped quite a lot.