What did the F-40 suspension consist of on a 1965 Corvette...??was it available on small and big block cars..any way to tell if a car was originally ordered with this option....thanks...Rick
-
-
Re: F-40 SUSPENSION
F-40 was available as a standalone option on small block Corvettes in '64 and '65 only. It consists of the unbundled HD suspension components from the '63 Z-06 package. (The '65 396 had a unique suspension setup, and was not available with F-40.) Beginning in '66 F-40 disappeared, but F-41 became available for big blocks. It used the F-40 springs and added a rear anti-roll bar. F-41 was not available on small blocks.
The F-40 components consist of a 15/16" front anti-roll bar (base SB suspension was 3/4"), 550 pound/inch front springs and 305 pound/inch rear springs. These rates are about double the '63 base rates. No rear anti-roll bar was included with either base SB or F-40 suspensions, but all BB base and F-41 suspensions include a rear bar.
The base '64 through '67 SB suspension has variable rate springs which are identified by unequal coil spacing in front and unequal arch in the rear leaves. The '63 base and Z-06/F-40 front coils are constant rate and have equal coil spacing.
The rear F-40 leaf spring has seven rather than nine leaves and the seven leaves are constant arch because it is a constant rate spring.
In addition to the larger anti-roll bar and higher rate springs, F-40 included specifically calibrated shocks.
Duke -
Re: F-40 SUSPENSION
Duke-----
The rear sway bar was not part of the F-40 or F-41 package. It was actually part of the big block package. If you got a big block, you got the rear bar regardless of suspension option. If you got a small block, you didn't get the rear bar regardless of suspension option.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
Comment