C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

[bob downs]

i had a ncrs member tell me the main leaf on my 62 should be silver. i told him that just because his hair was silver that didn't mean my spring should be. judging manual says they might be black and might be unpainted. whos right?

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

Bob, On my 56, the long main leaf was silver and the other leaves were black. After the suspension was assembled to the frame, the frame black was applied (I believe with the frame inverted), resulting in some silver remaining on the top of the long main leaf. Steve

[Richard E.]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

Bob - Check the archives for a post by Dale Pearman on 5 September @ 2:20 PM. It confirms Steve's post on the existence of a top leaf in silver, later mostly obscured by chassis paint overspray. I'm going through the same process on my 62. Regards, Dick Eaton

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

Dick, Weren't the springs originally made by the Eaton Company? Any relationship? Steve

[Richard E.]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

Steve - DON'T I WISH!! No relation. When Mike emailed me back, he called me "Cuz", but figure it was a play on the name. Yes they did make the OEM springs for us(you'll see an "E" in the Julian date code along side the year, on the bottom leaf only). They continue to make quality replacement springs for us ($199/pr), but they are not grooved and I don't believe that the ends of each leaf are flared like the originals. I have talked to them about redoing my originals, and they said they could, but it came with several caveats. I doubt that there "rebuilding" includes the correct liners or silver/black coloring. Regards..Dick

[bob downs]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

well i guess he was right. thanks for the info guys. i will paint my main leaf.

[Ron Cwiklinski]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

When you talked with Eaton to restore your springs would they re-arch them? My local shop would do them but couldn't insure they would take.

[Richard E.]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

Ron - Eaton-Detroit said they would anneal, arch, and re-heat. But they seemed less-than-positive that the springs would remain in the re-arch status. Others have voiced the same opinion. I noticed in the last Hemmings, that Werner Grossmueller offers a spring restoration service where he "cold" re-arches without heat treating again. You might want to talk to him for his thoughts. You might also want to verify that they really need re-arching, or just cleaning, painting, and banding. Both Eaton and Grossmueller have web sites. Regards...

[Ron Cwiklinski]

Re: C1 LEAF SPRINGS silver?

Thanks Dick
Cold working them I don't see that working, what I'll probably do is clean, repaint and install. Hopefully the extra leaf (5) was installed for racing purposes.Thanks for the input my 62's frame is ready for soda blast and paint.