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Looking to raise the ride height of a 245 by 1"

drj434343

drj434343

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2010
Location
Portland, OR
My 1993 245 has original springs (sagging) and old Konis in the front, and old IPD overload springs and totally blown Bilstein HD's in the rear. This car travels on forest roads often, and I would love another 1" of ride height. I don't necessarily want stiffer suspension.

I plan to purchase new Koni's all around. All bushings, tie rods, and ball joints are new.

I've done some reading in the forum. Most questions pertain to lowering the car and the associated challenges. Coil overs, with their adjustability, seemed like one possibility, though many say they're good for lowering, NOT raising.

For the rear springs, I think I can insert a 1" spacer above the spring perch to get my additional height. For the front springs, though, I'm not so sure.

I've read about people using 240 GT springs, 260 diesel springs, and 760 diesel springs. Of those 3, I can only find new 760 diesel springs still new in stock at places like Tasca. I couldn't find an example of anyone here actually using either 260 or 760 springs, so I don't know about fitment, or how much the ride height actually changes.

I am hoping to get some more information on the fitment of these spring alternatives. Do 760 diesel springs fit in a 240 strut? How much does it raise the ride height of a gas 240? Are there other springs I can use to give a similar height increase?
 
7 series springs are not the same diameter the entire length of the spring like a 240 spring is. The top of the spring reduces in diameter to attach to a rubber mount. IOW, they aren't going to work the way they are. 240 diesel springs will raise the front end about 1" when run on a gas powered 240. They are also stiffer/higher rate springs.
 
Thanks for that. Diesel springs sound like a good first choice.

I've checked all my usual part sources and no one seems to carry 240 diesel springs new anymore. I can try to find some use ones, but the mileage and sag will be unknown quantities.
 
For the front springs, I have found a few coil options I can buy new.

A standard coil, 75-93, 13.3 mm diameter, PN 1229339
A standard coil, 86-93, 13.8 mm diameter, PN 1330842
A standard coil, 75-85, 13.85mm diameter, PN 1229137
A "HD" coil, 75-93, 14.2 mm diameter, PN 1229337

Can anyone tell me what I'm looking at? Is one of these a GT coil, a V6 coil, or a diesel coil?

PS - FCP lists that HD coil as 14.5mm, but the same 1229337 PN.
 
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drj434343 said:
I've done some reading in the forum. Most questions pertain to lowering the car and the associated challenges. Coil overs, with their adjustability, seemed like one possibility, though many say they're good for lowering, NOT raising.

For the rear springs, I think I can insert a 1" spacer above the spring perch to get my additional height. For the front springs, though, I'm not so sure.
Click to expand...

You can use coilovers to raise as well as lower and the same limitations will be present with both approaches. Its important to not use more adjustment than your strut has travel for. Having no droop travel can be just as bad as no compression travel.
 
I am limiting my raise to 1" with the understanding there are handling and shock issues that occur if you go too high.

While I can find differing coil thicknesses, I can't find lbs ratings or lengths, so I'm not sure if a thicker coil really means a taller ride height. It could also just mean stiffer.
 
Coil overs and raised 1" taller shouldn't be bad at all. No spring perch to get in the way makes room for taller tires later if you want.
I'd go with Bilstein HD's over the Koni's also.

I need to take a video of my drive home in my lifted wagon. It's 5" overall (tires and suspension combined) and it still handles very acceptably. Almost sporty even.
 
Tuff240 said:
Coil overs and raised 1" taller shouldn't be bad at all. No spring perch to get in the way makes room for taller tires later if you want.
I'd go with Bilstein HD's over the Koni's also.

I need to take a video of my drive home in my lifted wagon. It's 5" overall (tires and suspension combined) and it still handles very acceptably. Almost sporty even.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in that video too, since a mild lift is somewhere way in the future for my car.
 
If I can get my 1" without the cash needed for coil overs, I will. But it sounds like no one here so far has personal experience with any of those thicker springs or what they do for the ride.

Also, I don't think that I can get Bilsteins for the front on an ABS 240.
 
Couldn't you do something like this in the front? Then you wouldn't need to worry about over extending your struts.
 

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  • 0904or_07_z 2007_chevy_1500_silverado strut_spacers.jpg
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raising 1" without using bigger tyres looks st00pid ! at least you'll need 195/80/15.. so you'll need to get the springperch out of the way..
 
drj434343 said:
If I can get my 1" without the cash needed for coil overs, I will. But it sounds like no one here so far has personal experience with any of those thicker springs or what they do for the ride.

Also, I don't think that I can get Bilsteins for the front on an ABS 240.
Click to expand...

coilovers are cheap if you can DIY, then you get to pick your own rates and lengths and not guess at some "thicker" springs
 
volvo? said:
Couldn't you do something like this in the front? Then you wouldn't need to worry about over extending your struts.
Click to expand...

Does anyone make something like that for a Volvo? I'm not up on non-OEM part sources for these cars; coil overs included.

Also if DIY coil over means welding a standard setup to the 240 hub, that's beyond my capability.
 
drj434343 said:
Does anyone make something like that for a Volvo? I'm not up on non-OEM part sources for these cars; coil overs included.

Also if DIY coil over means welding a standard setup to the 240 hub, that's beyond my capability.
Click to expand...

As far as I know nobody makes these for a 240.
 
drj434343 said:
If I can get my 1" without the cash needed for coil overs, I will. But it sounds like no one here so far has personal experience with any of those thicker springs or what they do for the ride.

Also, I don't think that I can get Bilsteins for the front on an ABS 240.
Click to expand...

I have 79 GT springs, and plates on the front, and old style IPD overloads on the back, and it still rides nice, and is 1/2" higher in the front, and an inch higher in the back.

<a href="http://s255.photobucket.com/user/redwoodchair/media/82%20245%20GLT/82245GLTPaint280.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/redwoodchair/82%20245%20GLT/82245GLTPaint280.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 82245GLTPaint280.jpg"/></a>
 
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