Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 4/4 Suspension Install - is this normal?

From your pictures there is no doubt the previous main springs had both weakened and shortened born out by the gap above unladen rebound spring. The ideal here is with car static the stub axle should be gently resting on the rebound spring but still allowing it to be twisted just. SSL offer their RS kit that includes main springs with provision to adjust pre-load on same such that this ideal state can be acheived and maintained over time, together with rate risers to prevent bottoming out under heavy load (bumps).

With the car jacked up the rebound springs are always compressed to some degree as there's no load on main spring, so this observation is irrelevant. Ref above, what is particularly important though is any compression of rebound springs when car resting on its wheels. Perhaps you could check and report on this. Reason is that the two springs either side of stub axle behave together as if in parallel when they are both in play adding their spring rates. If rebound is compressed to any degree this means you will be driving a car with a massive 305 lb/inch spring rate until an undulation momentarily compresses main spring enough to release pressure on rebound, when spring rate will return temporarily to main only rate of 105 lb/inch. This hard then soft ride is the antipathy of ideal rising rate suspension giving the car a wallowing ride into corners.

Ex factory Morgan tend to chose main springs that provide a little (less than ideal) pre-load of rebound springs such that as mains settle in the rebound pre-load diminishes to ideal of just on zero but this can take some time (if ever) leaving owner with over firm ride in the meantime. Of couse too much play of rebound springs when static is suboptimal as well leading to excessive rebound travel (bounce) over bumps. Collectively this explains the popularity of SSL RS kit mentioned above.

Finally I wouldn't worry about the bow in main springs particularly as you suggest its not present with car resting on wheels. BTW I understood 95 lb/inch was standard rate for Morgan 4/4.