Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW

Run to Rund · 03-10-2010, 12:40 PM

I have a 1981 Moog catalog. It shows your springs are 3.812" ID, tangential ends. #662A is 272 lb/in for a design height of 11.75" and load 1906 lb. #6000 and 6004 are for loads of 2062 and 2263 lb, respectively and rates of 304 and 324 lb/in respectively. 6080 and 6246 have good rates (272 lb/in) but very low loads (1214, 1365) so won't support the car. 6190 has a load of 1546 and rate of 290, still would set the car on the snubbers.

Moving to a more current listing, 662A is not listed so probably discontinued. 6000 and 6004 are still listed as of a couple years ago. You can find them online or at Carquest. Otherwise, custom springs as discussed above may be your best option.

Lew Silverman · 03-11-2010, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the info! I spoke with the nice folks at Santhuff, and they gave me the information I needed. I'll put the six cylinder springs in the car for now, just to get a baseline. I've got to scale the front end and get a height measurement before Santhuff can recommend a replacement. Parts and pieces arriving daily!

Run to Rund · 03-12-2010, 01:41 PM

Its just a guess but I think the 662A would be close. You probably will end up with around 270 lb/in or maybe less. After removing heater, etc. hopefully your front end weight will be somewhere around the 1900 lb range. You may find that even loosening the front end bushings you won't get as much weight transfer as you want, or keep it (even with the right shocks) with over 300 lb/in rate springs.

Lew Silverman · 03-12-2010, 05:10 PM

Of course with everybody now running struts, the parts for these old girls are starting to get hard to find. Didn't someone make A-arm bushings with no serrations at one time? My NAPA guy says he can source the MOOG springs, so that's what I'll do. The front end is about ready to fall out of the car, so I'm replacing everything I can unbolt! Once I get to a scale, I'll be able to make a better educated "guess". Details to follow, thanks!

03-10-2010, 12:40 PM	#1
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 585 Likes: 9 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW I have a 1981 Moog catalog. It shows your springs are 3.812" ID, tangential ends. #662A is 272 lb/in for a design height of 11.75" and load 1906 lb. #6000 and 6004 are for loads of 2062 and 2263 lb, respectively and rates of 304 and 324 lb/in respectively. 6080 and 6246 have good rates (272 lb/in) but very low loads (1214, 1365) so won't support the car. 6190 has a load of 1546 and rate of 290, still would set the car on the snubbers. Moving to a more current listing, 662A is not listed so probably discontinued. 6000 and 6004 are still listed as of a couple years ago. You can find them online or at Carquest. Otherwise, custom springs as discussed above may be your best option.

03-11-2010, 06:37 PM	#2
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Thanks for the info! I spoke with the nice folks at Santhuff, and they gave me the information I needed. I'll put the six cylinder springs in the car for now, just to get a baseline. I've got to scale the front end and get a height measurement before Santhuff can recommend a replacement. Parts and pieces arriving daily! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-12-2010, 01:41 PM	#3
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 585 Likes: 9 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Its just a guess but I think the 662A would be close. You probably will end up with around 270 lb/in or maybe less. After removing heater, etc. hopefully your front end weight will be somewhere around the 1900 lb range. You may find that even loosening the front end bushings you won't get as much weight transfer as you want, or keep it (even with the right shocks) with over 300 lb/in rate springs.

03-12-2010, 05:10 PM	#4
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Proper Front Springs for 1966 Bel Air SW Of course with everybody now running struts, the parts for these old girls are starting to get hard to find. Didn't someone make A-arm bushings with no serrations at one time? My NAPA guy says he can source the MOOG springs, so that's what I'll do. The front end is about ready to fall out of the car, so I'm replacing everything I can unbolt! Once I get to a scale, I'll be able to make a better educated "guess". Details to follow, thanks! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA