Odd ball front coil spring

[BMJs 67]

While looking at my Bump yesterday, I realized that I wanted the front a little lower again. I cut the coils when I overhauled the front end a while back, and the camber still looked ok, so I pulled the springs out again last night to take another half ring off of them. I brought them into work and noticed something strange. The passenger coil is .050" larger diameter than the driver side. My guess is that at one time or another one of the springs broke and got replaced with the wrong size. My question is, would Ford have put different size coils in from the factory for any reason?

[Joshpow]

It is possible the coil may be correct. The engine and tranny sit to the passenger side a little, so there has to be some compensation there. I have heard the springs are different, but I am not sure if it is coil diameter or total length. Hope someone else can give you some positive advice, being as I am a little unsure of my info. I am pretty sure of it, but not 100%.

[69timemachine]

My '69 springs were the exact same way. Also the '74 390 truck that I got my spindles out of was the same too, and it used the exact same thickness springs as my 240 6-cylinder truck. I thought the V8 would have had heavier springs. Anyway, I figure the varying thickness springs are because of the powertrain sitting to the right, and also because that is also the direction of the engine torque. Just my .

[fordman]

its nothing to worry about. all of the trucks i have parted out have had the same size springs when i took the truck apart.

[fitzwell]

Springs are different. I Believe it has something to do with spring rate. If you get a chance to look at a Napa coil spring catalog, they show one part # for the springs, and in the back of the catalog, they show a passenger side and a driver side spring in the set.

[FORDification]

Yes, the passenger side spring is a little longer than the driver side, to compensate for the additional weight of the engine/transmission being offset to that side of the truck. I can't say for certain, but I don't believe they had different wire diameters...one was just a tad longer than the other.

[69timemachine]

I used my digital caliper and measured my '69 springs and the '74 springs a while back. The passenger's side on both pairs was slightly thicker wire than used on the driver's sides. I can't remember the exact numbers offhand, but I think the driver's was like .640" and the passenger's was like .680". It wasn't a big difference, but a difference nonetheless. I think the passenger's spring was about 3/4" taller when placed side by side too. I can re-measure if someone needs to know.

[FORDification]

I used my digital caliper and measured my '69 springs and the '74 springs a while back. The passenger's side on both pairs was slightly thicker wire than used on the driver's sides. I can't remember the exact numbers offhand, but I think the driver's was like .640" and the passenger's was like .680". It wasn't a big difference, but a difference nonetheless. I think the passenger's spring was about 3/4" taller when placed side by side too. I can re-measure if someone needs to know.

If you've got two springs that you KNOW are a matched set from the same factory installation, I'd be very interested in your verifying the wire diameter measurements. That would be some good information to know!

[BMJs 67]

I can't positively say that my springs are a factory set, but I can verify that the passenger side wire diameter is .050" larger than the drivers, according to my dial calipers.

[69timemachine]

Keith, Yes, my springs are definitely the factory-installed originals. My truck was 100% unrestored and original when I got it because it had spent the last 23 years in a barn untouched and only has 93,000 original miles. Sorry for the delay in replying; I've been really busy this week. I'll try to re-measure my springs and post the measurements this evening or on Sunday.

[Joshpow]

I thought it was either length or size, not both. Wow, I guess I learned my 1 thing today! This really helps clarify the spring swap I plan to do when I change my front end to discs. I wanted to clean a set I have and cut them a little to use. They were under the parts truck backward, and that confused me. The long one was the DS. Never paid attention to how it set. Now I know my speculations were correct. The long spring was supposed to be on the other side.

[Dragon]

My '69 springs were the exact same way. Also the '74 390 truck that I got my spindles out of was the same too, and it used the exact same thickness springs as my 240 6-cylinder truck. I thought the V8 would have had heavier springs. Anyway, I figure the varying thickness springs are because of the powertrain sitting to the right, and also because that is also the direction of the engine torque. Just my .

The springs change size depending on the truck capacity rather than on engine size. A 302 weighs almost 600 lbs and a FE weighs 625.

[69timemachine]

Wow. I would have figured an FE would weigh quite a bit more than that. Any ideas what the 240/300's weigh?

Okay, I re-measured my springs. Turns out my memory is better than I thought because my speculation in my earlier posts was close. The driver's side wire thickness is .650" and the passenger's side wire thickness is .680". It doesn't sound like much, but I guess they had their reasons for doing it. I would guess that if someone accidentally swapped them, then the truck could possibly lean slightly, torque over more under heavy acceleration or towing, or cause generally strange handling on bumpy roads. Just my . Hope this helps!

[Dragon]

One thing about engine weights just like hp ratings. There where different ways to weigh them, what accessories and such. 625 is an FE without starter, alternator or power steering. This includes brackets. To remove the engine that is the items you remove to simplify the lift. The bell housing stayed bolted to the tranny so to get the flywheel to clear you removed the starter.

[fordman]

kieth has posted a engine weight chart somewhere on the site but i could not find it.