'89 200q WG spring questions

[James Marriott <marriott@micron.net>]

Haudi,

Early '89 200q (7.8:1, K26, single-pass, one knocker). The "factory"
(AFAIK) spring has two yellow stripes and is:  2.11 inches (53.5 mm) tall,
OD of 1.43 inches (36.3 mm), wire dia of 0.113 inches (2.9 mm), and 3.0
active coils. The calculated spring rate (assuming G=11.5e6) is 35.6 lb/in.

I grabbed a cap&spring from an '85 5kt (oil-only K26, Mac07) the other day.
It has three green stripes, but the last coil's color is black instead of
green. The dims are:  3.085 inch (78.4 mm) free length, 1.542 inch (39.2
mm) OD, wire dia of 0.127 inches (3.2 mm), and 3.75 active coils. The
calculated spring rate is 35.2 lb/in.

These springs have virtually the same rate, yet the older car's is (was ;-)
much longer, leading to more "natural" boost--at a given preload
deflection--without the help of the WGFV. Any ideas how this might help or
hurt the 200? I'm making an externally-adjustable cap for the spring perch.
I like to use the cruise while towing the trailer, but don't want to strain
the cooling system.


cu, James
'87 4kq (alias "late-B2 90q")
'89 200q (K26, torsen, aero handles, no bag)
('86 4ks, lives on in memory)
Boise, ID, USA http://netnow.micron.net/~marriott