Cutting front coil springs?

I am working on a 1962 ford falcon and I was wanting to know if it was safe to cut the stock front coil springs? I know you can cut the moroso trick springs, but I didn't know if the stock springs were made of a different material. I just wanted to drop the front end a couple inches, and not have to buy new springs.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Justin

Justin,
Cutting coils is a controversial topic. The method is simple. Determine how much you want to trim, and use a chop saw or high speed cut-off wheel to do the job.
Stay conservative. You can always pull them back out and cut more...but it can't be put back!
In the past, I have used a torch....but it is not the way that I will reccomend.
If you only want a slight drop, and have a limited budget, go for it.
I am sure you will be advised to never cut a coil, because it changes the rate of the spring...and so on.
It does change the rate, but...it is your car...chop away man!
I will guess at 3/4 of a coil for 1-1/2" to 2" drop.
The other alternative is to get some 6 cyl. springs.
I hope this helps.
Keith

I was told by the guy I got my truck from (he does a LOT of custom airbags and suspension/chassis work) that I should have the engine and all the body parts on it and cut 1/4 of a coil off at a time. 'm doing the same with my 67 f100, but I'm dropping it about 4".

Yes, cutting a coil spring will increase it's spring rate a small given amount because a coil spring is really a torsion bar bent into a coil. As you shorten/cut the spring more & more, the spring rate will increase more & more.

A chop saw/chop wheel is probably the best way to cut a spring, but I have also used a torch in the past. You just have to be careful when cutting a spring with a torch to keep the heat effected area as small as possible. You just don't want to screw up the spring steel's heat treat by going crazy with the torch and end up with a spring that will either snap or go dead & collapse under load.

As mentioned a lighter 6 cyl spring can sometimes be a good alternative to cutting a V8 spring, especially if you car might find the added stored/released energy of the compressed 6 cyl spring a benefit.

a 62 falcon only has 6 cyl. springs.
my bad forgot the 260

On my ranger I cut one ring off and it drop the front 2" like wheelie58 said cut alittle try in if it need more cut alittle more but make sure you cut both the same amount so you don't get a different rate on 1 side from one spring being cut more than the other.The way I look at it use what you have if you can't make it work then buy what you need.

I will guess at 3/4 of a coil for 1-1/2" to 2" drop.)


Work out well for me before.