C2 Rear Spring Restoration DIY

[Alan Drake]

Starting to clean up my original C2 rear spring and need some help with cleaning. Have liners, paint, orig cups,

Most have rusted areas that could be sand blasted, however that takes me a long time and is a pain -- .

Tryed to sand, use a light grinding wheel, wipe with a little acid (do not like that method).

Yes, I wire brush first and then try to clean so the new gray coating can go on.
Have treated the remaining surface with rust converter.

Notice that the leaf above has worn a depression on the lower leaf, not bad but one can see it. Also all tops are covered in gray while most bottoms also seem to have been covered, however it is the bottom outer 1/3 which has the most rust, perhaps the covering was light.

Don't want to damage the spring so have stayed away from any course grinding.

Suggestions please and Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Rear Spring Restoration DIY

Alan-----

Bead blasting is best. However, you can do an adequate job with a wire wheel or 3M "paint stripper" wheel on a drill. You don't need to remove every speck of rust, especially if you have used a "rust converter" as you described you have.

The indentions which you described do slightly compromise the spring. However, they will be found in virtually all long-used springs. They are caused by the spring leaf ends which wear through the liner at that point and wears on the leaf below. There's no way to repair this other than replace the spring leaf.

I would not do ANY course grinding or, even, sand blasting which would remove metal. That's the last thing you want to do.

If any of the leaves have serious PITTING type corrosion damage, that will seriously compromise the integrity of the spring. If so, you might want to consider a new spring.

[Bryan L.]

Re: C2 Rear Spring Restoration DIY

I've done 2 sets of 67 springs using blasting with fine sand. They came out very nice. I cleaned them up good with Os-pho (phosphoric acid solution) and sprayed them with the spring paint from Quanta. New liners and new bushings made 'em look new.

BL

[Alan Drake]

Lucia/Beaupre C2 Spring Embossed "GLS"

Thanks for the cleaning info!

Now a report on spring #4, up from street. Yes I found an embossed lettering on one side, upside down when installed. It is "GLS" - yes a new one. Yes,yes I know its not stock (or found yet), however I keep finding things on the car that others say are not possible yet there they are.

Want picture, send me an email and I'll send it (no idea how to post them)

Extra Info;
Owned since Aug 67, just talked to 2nd owner since early 66 who did almost nothing. Now trying to talk to Dealer where original owner traded the 64FI for a 66 vet, hope he was one of those who purchased new vets on a constant basis. Found one unique feature, it has a chrome roll bar that is directly connected to frame as opposed to attachement by bracket. Hope he raced the car since I know many people from that time frame who are still around.

[Joe L.]

Re: Lucia/Beaupre C2 Spring Embossed "GLS"

Alan------

Are you sure the first character is a "G" and not a "C"? If it were "CLS" that might represent "Chevrolet Livonia Spring". I believe that Chevrolet's Livonia, MI spring plant was once an alternate source of these springs. Even if it is a "G", the "LS" might still represent "Livonia Spring" with the "G" having an unknown meaning.