67 leaf spring

[John F.]

Does anyone know if it is possible to find a "correct" standard rear leaf spring for my 67. It curently has a replacement that did not pass muster in recent flight judging.

[Craig S.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

John - you have to find a used one and rebuild it with the correct liners. I found them at America's Finest Corvettes in San Diego, also Cranes Corvettes in San Diego has them. They are usually in good non-pitted condition from these suppliers since the deal in CA cars. I don't have the phone numbers offhand, but you can probably find them with a google serach....Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

John-----

This is a subject which has been discussed here at great length, There is much in the archives regarding it. In brief, my opinion is that you have 2 options:

1) Find some decent and rebuildable original spring(s) and use the good leaves to make up a "new" spring. Sandblast the leaves, paint with Ikonklad paint available from Quanta, install new original-type liners available from Quanta, GM, or others and you will have an original-appearing spring that should be serviceable;

2) Purchase the reproduction spring sold by Eaton Detroit Spring. Disassemble the spring removing and discarding the end-bands, clean the leaves of the "cosmoline" that they use or, at least, used to use, paint the leaves with the above-referenced paint, and re-assemble. You will have a spring that is close to the original in appearance and it will be new.

That's it.

[John F.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Craig & Joe,
Thanks for the replies. I figured it was the used route and hoped for a good source.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Two addendums:

1. I have found that the repro rear springs may sit higher than an original.

2. You may already have one you can disassemble, paint, and re-line as Joe describes.

Patrick

[William C.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Does the repro have the "Flip" at the end of the leaves?

[Gary B.]

Leaf end treatment

Bill,

The repro springs I've seen do have an angled-up tip at the end of leaves 2-N, but the sharpness of the end on the repro leaves is noticable different from the smoother end treatment on my original 66 spring. A good judge can spot it, but most judges might not.

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Bill-----

Yes, it does. However, the configuration of that feature is slightly different than the originals. The originals had somewhat of a radius at the point of the "upturn". The reproductions have a more-or-less crisp bend. Also, the originals had a slightly reduced width for about 2" at the end of each leaf (except the bottom leaf, of course) and a radiused section where the width reduction began. The reproductions do not have this feature.

[Rainer S.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Since we are on the subject, I have an early 63 SWC, and what appears to be an original spring assy. My question is: Is there a liner between the 2nd and 3rd leaf ? The liner set I bought says there is no liner between 2 and 3, but shows a spring assy, with (2) straight leave on top. Mine has (9) leaves, all curved the same.

[Gary B.]

63 leaf spring

Rainer,

The standard supension leaf spring for 63 is a single-stage, 9-leaf construct and there is no liner between leaves 8 and 9, counting from the main leaf upward, i.e., no liner between the two shortest leaves.

Gary

[Rainer S.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

Thanks, Gary.

[Craig S.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Joe - the F41 spring, newer vintage, through the service parts (like the one you have in your collection and I managed to purchase a NOS(NORS) unit, also have this sharper end treatment. Did GM farm these out to Eaton or somebody? It has the right liners, Ikonoclad, GM P/N painted, and mine also has a sticker Made in Canada. Just curious, I would never use it for judging just driving....Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Craig-----

I don't think that Eaton actually manufactures the spring that they currently sell. I think that it's made for them by others. The end leaf configuration on the last available GM 7 leaf spring was closer to the originals than the current Eaton spring. However, the width reduction on the end of the leaves of the GM spring was not as original.

I don't know who manufactured these last available GM springs. It may have been the original manufacturer of the GM springs, Rockwell International, nee Ontario Steel Products before they closed up shop. GMSPO may have had an inventory of the springs for awhile, but it ran out years ago.

[Craig S.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Thx Joe, all I know is the one I purchased on Ebay the previous owner obtained through GM Service parts in the late 70's to early 80's....it does have the sharper upturn on the ends, and the narrowing of the leaves verus the sweeping scallop of the original....thx!...Craig

[Rainer S.]

Re: 67 leaf spring

Thanks everyone for their advise, just ordered the missing liner from Corvette Central,between leaf 6 and 7, approx 20" long, which was missing.