I've just completed a springs transplant on my car. Wow! What an improvement!
With help from a new Pagoda owner (who I am encouraging to join), we installed 20% stiffer linear rate springs in the front and progressive rate to 20% stiffer in the rear. New spring rubber pads (thinest available), Koni Classic shocks and new rubber for the sway bar were also added. I followed Jim Villers procedure from the Blacklick 2005 video.
Keeping in mind that I replaced some tired Bilsteins that are of unkown age, (but were gas charged) and probably original rubber parts, this is what I noticed.
Nose diving is drastically reduced. Likewise body roll. The car still understeers at first, but a gentle increase in power throws the weight just right and the rear loosens up with outside tires digging in really well. My lady noticed the passenger ride felt firmer but thought it was not harsh at all. We went through a right-hand sweeper so sure-footedly, she said, "Wow that's not scary like it used to be." I agree.
I'm running Yokohama Avid 205/60 14s. The Konis are set at 1.5 turns out of 3. Now even in a tire-sqealing hard turn in 2nd, the tires don't rub.
The first try resulted in ride height being up 1-1/2 inch. We removed the one shim we had added from the front and cut two linear inches off the coils of the front springs and cut 4 linear inches off the back springs. The ride height is now 13-3/4 front and back.
Springs $383, Konis $451, Mercedes rubber $425, odds & ends. After just one day of cruising around town, I am tickled $1400 worth
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Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe