Would you save this spring?

[Joe S.]

My 63 had a replacement rear spring on it already and the original is long gone, and relatively recently. The current spring was made by Trianle Spring and has part #221-225. It is the correct 9 leafs x 2 1/4" spring with the liners.

Do the liners look correct and given the quality of other repros is this spring worth saving? Replacement springs are about $100 but if this is as good as any other repro I can easily make it look new. Every little bit helps right!

I found I already have to replace the trailing arms (rust hole) and planned to replace the front coils.

Thanks,

Joe..




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[Joe S.]

Re: Would you save this spring?

Part # should have been 21-225 (wit a D09573 on the top right corner on a label that will be removed).

[Gary B.]

It depends on what you're after

Joe,

Based on your not-so-close-up photo, the liners look reasonable, although it doesn't look like there are enough. There should be 7 liners, with no liner between leaves 8 and 9. It looks like you have 5.

The end treatments on the leaves is also not at all like orginal springs. As best I can tell from your photo the ends on your spring do not have the correct taper rolled ends with the little ski-slope shape at the tip. If you are interested in 100% originality, then you need to find a good used 63 spring and, for example, restore that per my article in the Restorer from a few years ago. If you want an entirely new spring that is closer to original, but still not 100% you should contact Eaton Detroit Spring (313-963-3839) and see if they sell a one-stage, 9-leaf spring for 63, which was a one-year only item. Eaton makes a decent two-stage spring for the other mid-year cars, but I don't know what they sell for 63. Their two-stage spring, as I said, does not have the correct end treatment, but it's closer to original than the spring in your photo.

GM still sells the liners under the original part number (3794113) if you want to purchase new GM liners. The GM liners are pricy, but excellent quality.

If none of the above issues matter to you, then just put your spring back in if still has a reasonable arch to it.

Gary

[Joe S.]

Re: It depends on what you're after

Gary,

You are right, only 5 liners.

Your question is a good one. What am I after? I get torn between wanting to make it 100% original (which it is not and never will be after 40 years) and trying to get it as correct as possible while not spending way too much time or money (then again, I already have, but I'm having fun!). I plan to drive and enjoy the car (Sunny day enjoyment) while trying to preserve as much of the history of the car as possible and being able to show it occasionally.

I appreciate the info and will think about it and look into a few things.

Regards,

Joe..




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[Joe S.]

63 Rear Spring - Unique?

"The end treatments on the leaves is also not at all like orginal springs. As best I can tell from your photo the ends on your spring do not have the correct taper rolled ends with the little ski-slope shape at the tip."

Was the 63 rear (9 leaf x2 1/4) spring the only year that had the tapered rolled edge? I've got a lead on an original mid-year spring or two that I'm told has the rolled ends on them. But if 63 was unique, then these may not be the right ones.

Thanks...




Joe and Joanne's 63 FI Convertible

[Gary B.]

63 Rear Spring - Unique?

Joe,

The taped rolled ends were used on all 2.25" wide springs from 63-77, but 63 was the only year that used a 9-leaf, single stage (all leaves arched) spring. From the examples I've seen of 70's vintage springs, the taped rolled ends got pretty crude, so leaves from some later GM springs might still stand out like a sore thumb if installed in a 63 car and to boot I'm not sure that the leaves from 70's era springs would have the correct lengths or arch compared with the 63-only specs.

Gary

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Rear Spring - Unique?

Gary; Re: 63 "only" springs. Bought my 63 in 1967 with about 30K miles on it. Took off the springs...went F41, etc. Stored the springs in my parent's basement till the early 80's. Retrieved them....re-installed them. My leaf spring is a 2 stage design...not the supposed "63 only" one stage model. My 63 is a July, 63 build car...pretty late. I believe my spring is original to my car. Chuck

[Gary B.]

63 two-stage?

Chuck,

Your two-stage '63 spring is an anomaaly that I can't explain. Could be GM ran out of the one-stage springs by July and already had the two-stage ones made up for the 64 model year and your 63 got a two-stage. No way to know.

Gary