I just replaced my rear leaf spring in my 71 and I am curious as to what came out of there. Not sure if it was original. It was an 8 leaf spring with the top "leaf" the same length as the rear end cover, like a 3/8" spacer, not a leaf at all. Essentially this was a 7 leaf spring since the top one did nothing. Is this the way 7 leaf heavy duties are made or is this something else. Thanks, Jim
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
Jim----
I suspect that the spring that you took out is of the "...something else" variety. I've never seen a 7 leaf spring with an 8th top leaf or spacer. However, the last iteration of the 7 leaf spring, GM # 354130, which GM still sells to service ALL 63-77 Corvette rear spring applications, may have such a leaf.
If your car has a 7 leaf spring, I doubt that it is original. By 1971, the F-41 suspension was supplied only with the ZR-1/ZR-2 performance packages. Only about 20 of these cars were ever built.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 8 leaf rear spring
Jim----
I suspect that the spring that you took out is of the "...something else" variety. I've never seen a 7 leaf spring with an 8th top leaf or spacer. However, the last iteration of the 7 leaf spring, GM # 354130, which GM still sells to service ALL 63-77 Corvette rear spring applications, may have such a leaf.
If your car has a 7 leaf spring, I doubt that it is original. By 1971, the F-41 suspension was supplied only with the ZR-1/ZR-2 performance packages. Only about 20 of these cars were ever built.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
Joe et al,
For 1970 & 1972 the F41 was a with ZR1 only option, but 1971 was different. Take a look at the numbers of F41 for 1971. I don't have them here at work, but my recollection is that 1971 showa 140 or so F41.
In 1971 it was possable to get F41 with any engine transmission combination. I once talked to someone who claimed to have ordered a 1971 base motor M40 with F41. He couldn't tell me why, but insisted he did.
Terry
TerryComment
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
Joe et al,
For 1970 & 1972 the F41 was a with ZR1 only option, but 1971 was different. Take a look at the numbers of F41 for 1971. I don't have them here at work, but my recollection is that 1971 showa 140 or so F41.
In 1971 it was possable to get F41 with any engine transmission combination. I once talked to someone who claimed to have ordered a 1971 base motor M40 with F41. He couldn't tell me why, but insisted he did.
Terry
TerryComment
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
Terry----
For 1971, I cannot find a reference anywhere to F-41 being available as a seperate option.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
Terry----
For 1971, I cannot find a reference anywhere to F-41 being available as a seperate option.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
I agree there are no places where F41 is indicated as available seperately for 1971, but look at the number of them produced. If my memory is right the number of F41 listed for 1971 far exceeds the number of ZR1 and ZR2 produced. In contrast 1970 & 1972 F41 totals, as you mention, equal the totals of ZR1.
Of course that is beside the point of the question. There is something tugging in my memory about some spring needing a spacer in order to fit, but I can not remember the details. In any case, I am confident it is not an OEM spring, as you mentioned.
Terry
TerryComment
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Re: 8 leaf rear spring
I agree there are no places where F41 is indicated as available seperately for 1971, but look at the number of them produced. If my memory is right the number of F41 listed for 1971 far exceeds the number of ZR1 and ZR2 produced. In contrast 1970 & 1972 F41 totals, as you mention, equal the totals of ZR1.
Of course that is beside the point of the question. There is something tugging in my memory about some spring needing a spacer in order to fit, but I can not remember the details. In any case, I am confident it is not an OEM spring, as you mentioned.
Terry
TerryComment
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