Original or older replacement?

[Garry B.]

I recently replaced the rear leaf spring mounting hardware and am wondering if the rubber cushions and large washers that I took off are original factory installed parts or older replacement parts. I am trying to determine if these had been changed before because it's a 49K original mile car and the rubber is old, but not breaking down like I would think they would do.

All four cushions have a molded in ABF as shown. The washers have a stamped in "made in Canada" with another arrowhead type stamp with what appears fo be CMJ on the same side. Are these factory originals? The four cup guides are clearly original to the car based on how rough they are and the AFB from the cushions is embedded into the surface gunk. Opinions?

[Gary B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Garry,

I can only say they definitely are GM parts.

Just curious, what is the build date of your ‘67? And what style of metal retainer cups does it have at the ends of the main leaf and T-arms? The ones with the shallow sloped peripheral lip, as seen in ‘66 and earlier? Or the ones with the steep sloped lip?

Gary

[Garry B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Thanks for the response Gary. What leads you to believe they are definitely GM. It was unrealistic for me to assume that if they are GM that they are original to the car. Could have been replaced with GM parts. After thoroughly going through the car, the prior owner of 47 years didn't seem to care about staying with originality in cases such as fasteners, etc. So with that in mind, I am thinking they have not been replaced. Interestingly though the bolt and castle nut had been replaced with a KS head bolt, gold cadmium plated and just a plain nut on the end. There was no hole for a cotter pin.

I will take some pics of the retainer cups for you and post them on here later, but I will say right now that I believe they are the shallow lip. I put the longer/deeper cups in because that's what the vendors show for '67. Build date on the car is February 1, 1967. VIN is #9568.

[Gary B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

The ABF on the rubber and the markings on the metal washers have been reported as GM by multiple people on the DB. But they could easily be service replacements.

For a Feb car, the cupped retainers are going to be the steep sided ones.

Gary

[Edward J.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

325E4EBF-3EED-4D95-9515-71AF3B419F28.jpg170F98BB-012B-4A6F-BA3D-E05C0D976CED.jpg170F98BB-012B-4A6F-BA3D-E05C0D976CED.jpg4B86C3E8-22F6-4143-9BBB-9C8B6BD86291.jpgGary here’s some pick took of some 90s vintage bushings, and washers one with the arrow head logo is from a 64 and the one with the made in Canada is a serv replacement from GM. the leaf spring cups 2 are reproduced and one is original.the car one is from long island Corvette which appears to spot on ,other than the plating.

[Garry B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Here are three of the four cups that I believe are original to the car and I was wrong, they are the deep lip which is correct for '67. The lip on the fourth one virtually separated itself from the rest.

PS- I don't know why my photos always turn sideways on this site. It doesn't happen anywhere else and I am tired of rotating them and they still not always hold.

[Joe L.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

I recently replaced the rear leaf spring mounting hardware and am wondering if the rubber cushions and large washers that I took off are original factory installed parts or older replacement parts. I am trying to determine if these had been changed before because it's a 49K original mile car and the rubber is old, but not breaking down like I would think they would do.

All four cushions have a molded in ABF as shown. The washers have a stamped in "made in Canada" with another arrowhead type stamp with what appears fo be CMJ on the same side. Are these factory originals? The four cup guides are clearly original to the car based on how rough they are and the AFB from the cushions is embedded into the surface gunk. Opinions?

Gary------


These are later GM replacement parts. Their configuration is identical to the originals, though, except for unseen-upon-installation manufacturer's ID embossments or stampings. Very few, if any, Canadian-manufactured components were originally used on C1, C2, and earlier C3 Corvettes.

The cushions, GM #3831586, remain available from GM to this day (for about 12 bucks each, GM list). The retainers, GM #3831587, are GM discontinued.

[Gary B.]

[Garry B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Yes Gary, You may have beat me to my edit where I accidentally typed '57 instead of '67, but was able to edit it back to correct.

[Gary B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Since your car has a Feb 67 build date, those cups in your photos would be the correct ones for your car, so they probably are original.

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Here are three of the four cups that I believe are original to the car and I was wrong, they are the deep lip which is correct for '67. The lip on the fourth one virtually separated itself from the rest.

PS- I don't know why my photos always turn sideways on this site. It doesn't happen anywhere else and I am tired of rotating them and they still not always hold.

Garry------


These are suffering from severe corrosion. I'd be concerned about a similar fate for other chassis components, especially and in particular the trailing arms.

[Joe L.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Here are photos of a GM #3831586 cushion that I obtained fairly recently from a GM dealer. Note that these have the GM part number on them and the apparently current manufacturer's ID of "MR"


DSCN3818.jpgDSCN3820.jpg

[Alan D.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Purchased a box of 3831586, cushions, they all have "ABF" and no pn. PS, if having the car judged you may get a deduct for having "fat" cushions, we have gotten used to the repo's.
My original washers have NO logo's at all, also have a 5 count package (unopen) purchased early 70's - they have the small round marking "made in Canada"

[Edward J.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Joe and Alan thanks for that info, I have replaced many bushings for the leaf springs over the years and alway thought that the cushion washers were originals with the arrow head marking, and the round made in Canada were serv. Replacements. The Gm cushions were dated 90 on the box flap not sure if that’s what I am looking at is the date.

[Garry B.]

Re: Original or older replacement?

Joe, the tailing arms have been dealt with already. Clearly the prior owner replaced the bushings, washers and bolts, but didn't bother to replace the cushion cups. These are one of the reasons I decided to replace the entire set up.