ROLEXrifleman

From what I have read the rear springs are the same, part # 10305134

The front V6 springs are part # 22197230 or 22197223
The SS springs are part # 22197228

The question I have is, I have a 98' V6 that I'm getting parts for. I Bought a set (front and rear) of 2002 SS take offs ( car had 7K on it), what can I expect from the SS springs versus having gone with V6 springs or even Moog aftermarkets. BTW, I paid $75 for the springs

This is a daily driver so all I'm looking for is comfort getting to work. Also, any recommendations on decent shocks and struts? Was looking at the kyb gas a just for the money.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

not much I would guess, due to the 3800 being an Iron Block and the LS1 an aluminum block the weight difference between the motors is only like 60 pounds (from what I've read on here) and there are plenty of folks running BMR and Strano lowering springs on their v6 cars and those springs are designed for the v8's without any issue.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

You've read about 3800s on this website? In my 7+ years here I've never heard anything about them, or their weight mentioned. Truth is I know jack about the v6 models or their parts. However, SS cars got Z28 springs unless they were optioned for something better. That something better was a blue Eibach lowering spring that came as a package from SLP. So, the springs you have, are they black or navy blue? Because that is gonna change people's opinion on the spring as the two are totally different in characteristics.

ROLEXrifleman

The springs are black with the above mentioned part #. I'm not looking at this like a performance mod, it is a v6, just as a freshen up to some tired 110K springs.

But since the OEM part #'s are different was just curious if there was anything else I needed to know about using them.

the main thing that I've read is that the V8 springs are rated 35lbs stiffer

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

pretty sure it was here, I don't really spend much time on to many other forums where I might have seen something like that, but I clearly remember reading it wherever it was, according to this http://www.transamworld.com/2002-fir...ifications.php the curb weight difference between the 2 complete cars is only 140 pounds so I doubt you would feel much of a difference.

either way my point is still valid, that MANY v6 owners run Strano and BMR springs which are higher spring rates then factory v8 springs so it shouldn't be an issue.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Front spring rate is different. Not sure the exact numbers but the Z28/SS springs are stiffer and may make the front end sit a bit higher on a V6. My Stranos sit my V6 front end a bit higher than it would otherwise.

ROLEXrifleman

257# for the V6 vs 292# for the SS/Z28
so it's 35# stiffer

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I have never seen a stock coil spring sag. I've never heard of anyone freshening to a newer set and when they did and went with something like Moog the car didn't sit right afterward.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

You've been on this site since 2007 and never seen saggy stock spring?

It happens. My 98 had sagged springs.

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

mine where sagging HORRIBLY, they where so low when I switched to BMR springs I only saw like an 1/8th inch drop on the front. here are a few pics from when the car was BONE stock and you can see the severe rake pretty clearly.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Not anything that sticks out in my mind. We all know the SSs with the Eibachs sit lower in the back over time and I attribute that to saggy rear springs but that would be the blue ones I mentioned above. My car had these when I bought it and had a slightly nose up stance which is very common.

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

You could have done the heater hose mod in the rear and had FREE lowering instead of spending all the money on springs like people do

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

Actually I did for a while, but the car had 180k+ mile factory deCarbons at the time these pics where taken and the heater hose (done a few months after these pics) didn't drop the rear enough for me and I needed new shocks so I did springs while I was at it instead of reusing clearly worn out parts.

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

I have a friend who just replaced his DeCarbons at about 180k. I've been bugging him for years to replace them. A lot of people feel that they're horrible out of the box, and they're certainly GONE by 60-70k. I can't imagine what it'd be like to ride around on them at that kind of mileage. These cars are rough enough even with good shocks.

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

scary on the highway felt like a bad enough bump in the road would knock me into another lane.

FWIW, I don't have a comparison for this but I just took the stock rear deCarbon I have in room (amongst the pile of other car parts) and fully compressed it then timed how long it took to fully extend and it came it at 4.5 seconds (I don't know if this number really means anything or not but thought i'd share it).

of the 3 setups I've had on the rear (stock, Monroe Max-air and Bilsteins) I would say the Monroes Max air was the smoothest going over the ripples in the highway (that form on hills as a result of improper paving) but they where VERY picky about the proper air pressure they liked to be kept at and being I could see the rear literally raise up when aired up (with heater-hose moded stock springs) I didn't think they would be viable for a lowered application, but I might just try it and see because I think one of the Bilsteins might be blown out.

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

seen posts in the drag racing forums on here of budget racers swapping their v8 cars to v6 rear springs to get more squat to hook better as well as the heater hose mod.

nothing wrong with 3800 series 2 that you have either easy to mod and tough as heck , check out tim kings 4th gen firebird that ran 8's on a 3800 (rwd record holder) , fwd record is 8.6 @159 on a stock bottom end other than cam/chain (ZZ Performance) . GM powertrain engineered them just before the ls1, cross bolted mains , tough crank & rods , on wards 10 best engines of all time list.

libertyforall1776

iTrader: (2)

The SS front springs feel SO much better than the V6 front springs even doing something simple like quick lane changes. I am considering putting a set on my RS as well. I would love to see someone post a photo who has put SS front springs on their V6 Camaro. Curious to see if it really raises the front end any.