69 L71 rear leaf springs

[Joseph W.]

[Gary B.]

[Joseph W.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

Gary,
it has the L71 427/435hp tri power

[Gary B.]

[Joseph W.]

[Duke W.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

A 15/16" front anti-roll bar is indicative of F-41. Another clue is the front springs. Measure the wire diameter, number of coils and compare to the data in the AMA specs. I'm not sure if '69 has variable rate springs; '64-'67 did so you could tell visually if the front springs were HD. They have a constant rate so coil spacing is even. The base variable rate springs have uneven coil spacing.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

A 15/16" front anti-roll bar is indicative of F-41. Another clue is the front springs. Measure the wire diameter, number of coils and compare to the data in the AMA specs. I'm not sure if '69 has variable rate springs; '64-'67 did so you could tell visually if the front springs were HD. They have a constant rate so coil spacing is even. The base variable rate springs have uneven coil spacing.

Duke

Duke------


Diameter of front stabilizer bar can be tough to accurately measure due to many factors. Standard big block and F-41 differ only by 1/16".

Original F-41 coil springs were GM #3832518 for all 1963-73 Corvettes with F-40/41. These have a wire diameter of right at 0.675".

One good way to check for original F-40/41 is to check the forging numbers on the rear shock mount shafts. These are not usually changed even if F-40/41 suspension is retrofitted to a car. However, in PRODUCTION different shafts were used for standard suspension versus F-40/41. The forging numbers are found on the unmachined section of the shafts. No numbers indicates SERVICE shafts, all of which were the F-40/41 variety after about 1976.

Some photos of an NOS GM #3832518 spring [not for sale]:


DSCN4005.jpgDSCN4006.jpgDSCN4007.jpg

[Joseph W.]

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

Duke and Joe,
appreciate the great info.
I would have liked to restore the car to a F41 suspension, even if it didn’t originally have it. Unfortunately, I chose the 9 leaf spring vs the 7 leaf.
I just didn’t want to go backwards as I have so much to do with this car. I figured I can always start accumulating F41 parts and once the car is completed I can go back and change the suspension.

Joseph------


I absolutely do not recommend F-41 suspension for a street driven Corvette. Standard Corvette suspension is harsh enough, let alone making it significantly harsher with F-41. Plus, there's absolutely no reason to do it for a street driven Corvette. GM intended F-41 primarily for track use.

I have all the NOS F-41 suspension components [none for sale]. Would I ever install them on a car of mine? NEVER. EVER.

[Joseph W.]

[Harry S.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

I'm a C2 guy but I have to ask. Are the shock mounts straight or angled. On a C2 the angled shock mounts typically mean HD suspension.

What are yours?

[Gary B.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

Was the inboard halfshaft attaching hardware different with the HD suspension compared to standard suspension?

Gary

[Joseph W.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

Was the inboard halfshaft attaching hardware different with the HD suspension compared to standard suspension?

Gary

Hi Gary
Not sure, but I thought the BB half shaft u joints had bolted caps vs U bolts for SB.
Maybe the bolted caps were for the HD suspension?

[Tim G.]

Re: 69 L71 rear leaf springs

The inboard mounting to the differential is the same for all big blocks. The shocks look as if they could be originals, if so, they are standard shocks, not F41.

[Joseph W.]