Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

[Eugene B.]

Members,
In Michael Antonick's book "Corvette Restoration - State of the Art", page 59, there is a picture of the restored '65 396 chassis.

There is goo on the coil spring that is described in the caption on page 58 as: "... excess sealant (shock base) which was allowed to drip and remain on the coil springs."

What is meant by shock base sealant? Is there some goo that we are supposed to put in the spring nest before installing the coil springs?

Thanks,
Gene

[Joe R.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Gene,

Who is David Burroughs?

There is no Goo for the springs. I would guess that was some chassis lube that was squirted on the springs and dried along with dirt.

Checking out that "State of the Art Restoration" it might have some trouble getting a top flight under todays judging standards. After all "State of the Art Restoration" is todays monkey-not yesterday's.

Oh yes, I remember him. Didn't he have something to do with Bloomington Gold when there was a Bloomington Gold. Chuckle, Chuckle!

Regards,

JR

[Joe R.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Gene,

Who is David Burroughs?

There is no Goo for the springs. I would guess that was some chassis lube that was squirted on the springs and dried along with dirt.

Checking out that "State of the Art Restoration" it might have some trouble getting a top flight under todays judging standards. After all "State of the Art Restoration" is todays monkey-not yesterday's.

Oh yes, I remember him. Didn't he have something to do with Bloomington Gold when there was a Bloomington Gold. Chuckle, Chuckle!

Regards,

JR

[Chuck S.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Gene, I have the book. It seems to be misplaced, and available for re-examination.

I read the book years ago, and I remember that particular illustration not making any sense to me either. My analysis at the time was that the author was trying to use succint terminology in a caption (shock base; i.e. the bottom of the shock) to help the reader find the attribute he was indicating. The quality of the photograph in that edition, however, was too poor for it to be of much help; I never could find any sealant drip, nor did I know of any sealant that would be applied in that area.

In all my years around cars, I have never heard of anything like sealant for shocks. Therefore, I concluded that "shock base" was a geographical term and not an adjective, as in "shock base sealant". Further, I have never heard of applying a "sealant" to the spring pocket before spring installation. The AIM won't show anything because the control arms, springs, spindles, etc. were supplied to GM as assemblies.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Gene, I have the book. It seems to be misplaced, and available for re-examination.

I read the book years ago, and I remember that particular illustration not making any sense to me either. My analysis at the time was that the author was trying to use succint terminology in a caption (shock base; i.e. the bottom of the shock) to help the reader find the attribute he was indicating. The quality of the photograph in that edition, however, was too poor for it to be of much help; I never could find any sealant drip, nor did I know of any sealant that would be applied in that area.

In all my years around cars, I have never heard of anything like sealant for shocks. Therefore, I concluded that "shock base" was a geographical term and not an adjective, as in "shock base sealant". Further, I have never heard of applying a "sealant" to the spring pocket before spring installation. The AIM won't show anything because the control arms, springs, spindles, etc. were supplied to GM as assemblies.

[George C.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Hi JR, Dave is probably one of the most knowledgeable person in the Corvette World. He started Bloomington Gold. Met Dave back in '85 at Bloomington Gold. Regular guy who loves Corvettes and everything about them.

[George C.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Hi JR, Dave is probably one of the most knowledgeable person in the Corvette World. He started Bloomington Gold. Met Dave back in '85 at Bloomington Gold. Regular guy who loves Corvettes and everything about them.

[Joe L.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Gene-----

No sealant or similar material was used for either the spring base in the lower control arm, the spring seat in the frame, or the front shock absorber mounting areas. All that I can figure is that the "sealant" shown in Dave Burrough's book is actually chassis blackout that may have "puddled" in the spring seat area and ran out through the shock holes.

[Joe L.]

Re: Repost - Dave Burroughs' Spring Goo?

Gene-----

No sealant or similar material was used for either the spring base in the lower control arm, the spring seat in the frame, or the front shock absorber mounting areas. All that I can figure is that the "sealant" shown in Dave Burrough's book is actually chassis blackout that may have "puddled" in the spring seat area and ran out through the shock holes.

[Eugene B.]

Re: Thanks ...

to all who responded. I'll just add the picture, with the goo on the coil spring, to the file that's labeled "things that I don't understand".

Maybe someday I'll meet Dave and ask him what the heck he was trying to say.

Thanks again and best regards,
Gene

[Michael H.]

Re: Gene, You Have Mail *NM*