my 72 280SE 4.5 [heavy w108 content]

[lewda]

trimming down the springs

Ok, so today, i went ahead and took about half a coil out of the rear and trimmed the front bump stops more, here are the pics...



which gave me this:




bump stops on front lower control arm where cut in half and flipped upside down back into the control arm:


my new clearance into the garage:


back in the garage:


In total, the rear has 1.75 coils cut, the front has 2 coils, I could trim more off the front, but i think i need to get the tie rods in order first. I am hoping the rear compensator doesnt push the rear back up again, if anything, I may loose the rear camber, if it at least stays this low, this will be good enough for me for now.

Heres a pick of the progress so far:

[D&W]

sitting pretty

[lewda]

if the stance stays this way....meaning the rear doesnt get pushed back up, then its on to the wheel selection!

[SD202]

must. acquire. old school.

[DinanDave]

Very Nice.

[244Brick]

must. acquire. old school.

This +1

[lewda]

ok, so the battle scars begin! Drove to the grocery store with the wife and the exhaust is definitely scrapping it up like crazy

coming back home, putting it back in the garage, I ripped the center exhaust bracket off:




This is the current height of the resonator, which will be removed soon and exhaust piping tucked higher:


dumped


saw this at work across the street, need to be dumped:

[lewda]

must. acquire. old school.

yes you should

Very Nice.

thanks! I think I am finally satisfied with the height, the old busted tie rods do not like what I have done though, need to be replaced ASAP.

This +1

do it!

[TeckniX]

+2 on that. But it has to be a pre 73 just because of the headlights

[martinm13]

Martin, your car is static low right? How many coils did you cut front and rear?

Well I read some more about the Hydro-Pneumatic Compensator, and its sole job in life is to right the rear. It was designed so when the car was loaded up in the rear, which driving, the car would eventually raise the rear to a normal driving height...sooooo...my cars rear was low for about a week, then driving it around I of course noticed the rear was coming back up. So, at least i know the compensator works...

Was static, got around to bagging it in the fall. I cut a substantial amount off of the rears, like 3 coils. It was just as low static as it is now when I air out. I need to cut the bump stops and get different shocks and stuff now. Don't get rid of the hydro-pneumatic compensator if you decide to put a spring in there. They are worth a fortune to somebody trying to restore one of these to oem spec, especially if they work.

[lewda]

Was static, got around to bagging it in the fall. I cut a substantial amount off of the rears, like 3 coils. It was just as low static as it is now when I air out. I need to cut the bump stops and get different shocks and stuff now. Don't get rid of the hydro-pneumatic compensator if you decide to put a spring in there. They are worth a fortune to somebody trying to restore one of these to oem spec, especially if they work.

yeah i think for now, if the compensator doesn't go back up, I am just going to leave it in, I read they are worth some loot. Pisses me off though, I saw one in a W108 in the junk yard and didn't even think about taking it off to make some quick cash...

What kind of shocks are you thinking of running, OEM replacement or something different?

[OCD-SHELVEY]

This things awesome buddy good work

[lewda]

This things awesome buddy good work

Thanks man!

Ok, soooo...I finally said screw it on the second time the Hydro-Pneumatic compensator pushed the rear back up again and ordered the replacement kit:



Went to a GTG in Maryland last night with the car all nice and low...on the way there, damn rear end popped back up, muscle car stance! This will finally take care of that issue.

[martinm13]

yeah i think for now, if the compensator doesn't go back up, I am just going to leave it in, I read they are worth some loot. Pisses me off though, I saw one in a W108 in the junk yard and didn't even think about taking it off to make some quick cash...

What kind of shocks are you thinking of running, OEM replacement or something different?

Man, I really don't check this often enough. I'm just running OEM shocks for now, but I need something shorter. Ill have to find something with the same mounts that fits.

[lewda]

Man, I really don't check this often enough. I'm just running OEM shocks for now, but I need something shorter. Ill have to find something with the same mounts that fits.

its all good, in the process of putting the compensator spring in, car definitely inst low anymore with the new spring, I went ahead and cut 1.5 coils off the compensator spring. Im not too sure if i feel comfortable cutting too much more off though, i have only cut 1.75 coils off the rear springs, tomorrow Im going to go ahead and cut a little more off the rear springs.

Any thoughts, did you cut your compensating spring at all?