Pilgrim Sumo MKII front spring rate

[skiprat]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone knows the correct spring rating for MKII Pilgrim Sumo's based on Cortina fronts. I bought the car recently and found the front end bottoming out on the wheel arches. I changed the springs which I suspected were 220lb 14" to 300lb 12", but I this has dropped the front end by 1" and is still bottoming out.
I could try 400lb and 13.25" as the next attempt, but wondered if anyone could clarify the right poundage, and open and closed lengths for a RV8, or is it really just guess work?

Thanks in advance
Si

[TINKA]

Have you got coil over shocks and springs? I don't know the poundage that you require but as for the length if they are coil over's this is determined by the open length of the shock absorber. With the shock absorber totally open you should just be able to get the plate back onto the shocker with the spring in place.

[skiprat]

Hi, No I don't have coil overs, I have the standard Coritna front suspension set up, adjustable shocks and standard springs.

[robinj66]

This is a bit of a tricky subject (do a search and you'll see what I mean).

I would try and get info out of Pilgrim but they aren't always that forthcoming. (You could ask them whether the Mk II spring rates are still selotaped to the shelving in the stores - if you get a definitive answer, please let the rest of us know)

My manual (c. 09/1991) says the front springs (Granada based) should be 240 lbs per inch but no length is specified. The rears (Granada based) are 360 lbs per inch



However I have another manual with additional pages for use when fitting a RV8 to a Granada based chassis, which states that the springs (presumably fronts although it isn't specific) should be 180 lbs per inch due to the lighter engine.

[Cortina based cars were to use 100 - 120 lbs per inch springs on the front and 170 lbs per inch on the rear]

In addition to this, I know that Pilgrim changed the specs of the rear springs at some stage (Den Tanner exchanged mine) - there were colour codings on them but I don't have the details.

You will find that changing the rear springs will also affect the ride height at the front.

[skiprat]

Robin,

thanks for the reply.
I've spoken to Pilgrim, and they state they have no springs, and suggested if I find a supplier of springs, to let them know as thei supplier can no longer suply.
My model is Granada rear end, and cortina front. Not sure about the back end, but I was informed that the front end was originally supplied with 220lb springs (not sure of lenght but mine were 14"), and that later in the MKII they chaged to higher rated springs. So really not sure whether mine is an early MKII or later with the heavier springs.

Unless anyone else has any other ideas, I may just go fo 400lb springs on the front at 13.25 inch, but I'm not sure whether I need to specify the closed length as this appears to be the main problem - bottoming out. At £60 a time for the springs, it ain't cheap to keep guessing.

Any more suggestions?

Si

[TONYC]

I think to increase the spring rate further would result in a very firm ride.I fitted polyurathene bump stops to the shock absorbers on my mkII which cured the problem. It was so long ago I can't remember where I bought them but I am sure someone on here can point you in the right direction.

[skiprat]

Tony,

I looked at bump stops on the shockers, but not sure if that would help at the moment as I only have 1.25" clearance between the wheels and arches now the 12" springs are fitted. It looks the right ride height, but scraping rubber off the tyres on minor bumps or heavy braking doesn't look too good.
Si

[TONYC]

Originally Posted by skiprat

Tony,

I looked at bump stops on the shockers, but not sure if that would help at the moment as I only have 1.25" clearance between the wheels and arches now the 12" springs are fitted. It looks the right ride height, but scraping rubber off the tyres on minor bumps or heavy braking doesn't look too good.
Si

I think that is just about right clearance. Too much and it does not look right. I can just get my hand between the wheel and the arch. Give it a try it wont cost much.