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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / spring free height

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Discussion Topic: spring free height

billy50

08-05-2025 @ 6:51 AM

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hi there. I'm new here. but I've been around flatheads since the 60's. My dad had 3 32's I had a 40cpe. I have just purchased a real nice 50 club cpe. It has been lowered and i want to put it back up to stock stance. What I'm looking for is the stock free height for the front suspension. pn 8a 5310 b ? can you hrlp me? Thank you, Billy

carcrazy

08-05-2025 @ 7:41 AM

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Contact the folks at Eaton Spring Co. in Detroit. They should be able to give you the correct spring free length for the stock springs.

https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/

Kens 36

08-05-2025 @ 7:48 AM

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Billy,

Are you looking for the coil spring length or the ride height? Measured from where?

Ken

billy50

08-07-2025 @ 12:33 PM

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free height, unloaded, free standing, total overall length. I find springs says 2" or 3" lower, lower than what? I am re doing a 50 cpe . ordered a set of stock height springs came at 15.5". the car had been lowered, took out the lower spring, they are 11.5". that would be 4" drop. I'm trying to find out what the stock height is I don't know if the new stock springs I got are correct height. thanks for your help. Billy

kubes40

08-07-2025 @ 5:40 PM

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There's a lot more to spring "height" than a simple measurement when it is in its free state. Coil width has a lot to do with it.
A shorter spring can be engineered to maintain the same height of a particular car as a longer spring.
If you want to get the car back to where it was designed to sit, I'd strongly suggest you buy either NOS or new from Eaton.
Otherwise, you'd rolling the proverbial dice.

When springs are designed, they are specified to hold a specific weight when compressed to a specified height. That is how they are tested.

The springs you have seen advertised as (ex.) 2" lower would indicate 2" lower than stock. In other words, the car should sit two inches lower than when it was new; prior to the springs sagging due to age.

Back in the early 1970's it was fashionable to "jack up" the front of a Chevelle, etc. Lord knows I did that to a few.
As I recall, a spring from an '71 Oldsmobile 98 with A/C and a 455CID had the same free height as the stock Chevelle spring, 454CID, A/C. The one I recall the best was a '71 SS I'd swapped springs out. Front end went up a full 3".
So, to reiterate, height is only one factor when you choose springs.

Mike "Kube" Kubarth

This message was edited by kubes40 on 8-7-25 @ 5:45 PM

51504bat

08-07-2025 @ 7:54 PM

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You don't mention how the front springs were lowered. Cut coils, heated? Regardless, take the advice above from Carcrazy and contact Eaton Spring for new stock height springs.. Problem solved. I used them for both the front and rear springs for my '54 Ranch wagon. Fit perfectly.

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This message was edited by 51504bat on 8-7-25 @ 7:54 PM

billy50

08-08-2025 @ 9:08 AM

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According to Eaton. Stock 1950 Ford cpe springs are 14.5" high, 5.5" dia and .625 wire size. So now I get to talk to the peeps who sold me the wrong springs. Thanks for all you help. Billy

kubes40

08-08-2025 @ 9:42 AM

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Good luck Billy.

Mike "Kube" Kubarth

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