Originally Posted by .boB

Cutting coil springs is a time honroed hot rodder tradition. I cut 1/2 a coil out of my 1970 Torino Cobra when I was in HS (a year or two ago). Progressive rate springs and aftermarket springs a re fine - if you have the cash. But you can get pretty good results on a street car.

Fewer coils will slightly increase your spring rate. But that's not a bad thing. When you have a shorter coil, you want to decrease the range of motion a little bit. The downside is a slightly harsher ride. But performance springs usually have a higher rate, and also cause a harsher ride.

The big trick with cuting the springs is to minimize the heat. If the metal gets too hot it will lose it's temper and rapidly sag. Then it's just a piece of emtal, and not a spring any more. You can place the spring in a bucket of water with just that 1/4 coil sticking out. Or wrap it in a wet rag right up to the cut line. When steam comes off the rag or out of the bucket, stop. Cool off the metal and then continue cutting.

NEVER use a torch on a spring. Back in my day, plasma cutters had not been invented yet, so I don't know if you could use one or not. I'd be reluctant to do it , though.

Originally Posted by hpwrestler220

Front cut the bottom and rear cut the top, right?

Originally Posted by hpwrestler220

Alright, i can't wait to do this...

I just wish that i knew how to do the math to tell what my spring rating is once i cut the spring since there will be less coils, thus slightly increasing the spring rating.

One last thing, even though i am cutting the coils, no matter how much i cut, whether it be 1/4 coil or 1/2 coil, the pigtails of the spring still must face to the passenger side, correct?