Ride Height too High

• Fix the bolts: with the car raised and suspension unloaded, loosen the control-arm through-bolts, set jack stands under the control arms so the car rests on the suspension, then torque to spec. Back on the ground it should return to normal height.
• Check the spring: make sure the bottom coil (pigtail) is in the molded pocket of the lower control arm — if not, it raises the car ~an inch (you’ll have to compress the spring, separate the upper ball joint, and reseat it).

Rear leaf springs (4 vs 5 leaf): Nova/Camaro/Firebird leaf springs all fit but don’t all give the right height — first-gen Firebirds sat lower than Camaros (some sellers pass off 5-leaf Nova springs). ESPO Springs ‘n’ Things and Eaton offer stock/lower/raised heights at better prices than the resto houses. New springs need a couple hundred miles to settle, and old springs sag — so a “stock” replacement may sit higher than your worn one. If the rear ends up too low, add a leaf or re-arch; too high, remove a leaf, re-arch, or use spacers. Front: too high, change to another spring (cutting a coil works but isn’t ideal); too low, replace it — spacers are a poor crutch.