Chevy & GMC Vans

anyone know if there is a direct cross to an 'off-the-shelf' coil that will work in a 99 astro to provide a 2" lift?

reason I ask is: I can get a MUCH better deal on something like that as opposed to the $190 + shipping on the overland 1 1/2" lift coils (being that i work at a parts store)

I already have a 2" & 3" belltech lowering block kit from my dakota that I believe will work on the 99 to lift either 2" or 3"

ok.. so nobody has input on this one? so much for the easy way out LOL

crash wrote:ok.. so nobody has input on this one? so much for the easy way out LOL

Since you work in a parts store...
Maybe you could measure or discover the measurements for the stock coil ID, OD, etc.
Then contact your rep/distro/mfg and ask if they have a similar coil only longer.
Or if your store has a lot of coils in stock, wander around with a tape measure.

In the old days, I watched a lot of guys raise (or lower) their coil sprung cars
by heating the coil. To raise it, they'd jack the car up XX inches, allowing the wheel
to hang free. Then hit the coil with an oxy-acetylene torch for a few seconds, allowing
the assembly to drop. Not very predictable, I'm sure. The guys that did it all the
time were in demand because they could get it even between left and right sides.

I don't think I'd recommend that route. But if you had a spare set of coils
laying around, it might be fun to experiment with stretching them.


Lumpy

How do you do that AM radio voice?
Doesn't matter. Nobody listens to AM anymore.

www.LumpyMusic.com

Rob,

Please don't heat up any spring steel.You do have to really know what your doing with that.

Lumpy...................You I would hope know better than that.

It crystallizes it and if done wrong effects it's temper.

yeah, heat is completely out of the question.

as for springs in stock, none. they aren't considered a wear item like brakes or balljoints. they are ordered in on an as required basis. that being said..

thanks guys.. ran into a personal road block last night. won't be any modding going on until it's sorted. thanks for your input though

I have read where guys used the 3500 series van springs that are the same outside dia with a thicker coil so they fit into the spring pocket,but cut off the top coil to help correct the ride ht.Of course I am suggesting you have a spring shop that is set up for that to cut it.Hear it is a real bear to get it in there as the Overlands are.The thing that brothers me about this kind of mod as Lockdoc has said and I totally agree with,is they do work,but stress the other stock components that are not designed for that and are likely to wear prematurely.Things like a-frame bushings and ball joints come to mind as a example.What would be really cool would be for you to find that the 3500 series ball joints cross over to the Astro a-frames and fit the spindles so you followed threw with a designed matched heavy duty parts mod.You then would know for sure the springs and ball joints where meant to work together.Just like any mod,it's only as good as the weakest link.So I guess I am suggesting while you have to wait,wouldn't hurt for you to research if the 3500 series ball joints have the same taper and dia as the Astros so they fit into the spindles and the same dia for a-frames.

With Ole Yellar,I am going with 3" spacers for a lift for bigger tires,but the springs and ball joints are a open question.If you do look for crosses in parts,Ill be following along.

A long long time ago,I remember saying I wondered how far I would have to swap parts to have 8 lug rotors.I.E.:the ball joints and spindles or those two parts and the a-frames,etc.Makes me wonder if there are crossover parts out there we don't know even about.One thing that I believe is true,that if crosses like that are out there,it makes the mod bullet proof that would last forever and might open up the possibility to parts that might soon become obsolete.

you could try going to a local spring shop and getting a set made up. Just take in a stock spring and tell them what you are doing and they should be able to fab up a set fairly quickly.

Kidhauler wrote:you could try going to a local spring shop and getting a set made up. Just take in a stock spring and tell them what you are doing and they should be able to fab up a set fairly quickly.

I've heard others mention "a local spring shop". I guess I've never heard of
a spring specialty place. How do you find such a place? Anyone know of
one in Phoenix?


Lump

Lumpy wrote:

Kidhauler wrote:you could try going to a local spring shop and getting a set made up. Just take in a stock spring and tell them what you are doing and they should be able to fab up a set fairly quickly.

I've heard others mention "a local spring shop". I guess I've never heard of
a spring specialty place. How do you find such a place? Anyone know of
one in Phoenix?


Lump

Lump-I just did a google search and found three listings.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Auto+spr ... =firefox-a

I also found in your area this shop:

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/

what about half ton ford pickup or bronco coil springs.