'70 leaf springs

[Tom L.]

Can someone tell me what leaf spring configurations were availible in '70. May have found a used spring on a '70 chassis and want to be sure I get the correct 9 leaf for my '72. Thanks!!

[Joe L.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

Can someone tell me what leaf spring configurations were availible in '70. May have found a used spring on a '70 chassis and want to be sure I get the correct 9 leaf for my '72. Thanks!!

Lynn-----


All 1970's were 9 leaf except those few ZR-1's built which used 7 leaf.

[Tom L.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

that's what I thought, thanks. If it has a 7 leaf I'll let you know.

[Gary B.]

'70 leaf springs

Lynn,

For 1975 thru 1979 the HD spring (7-leaf, but 6 in 78-79) used a top, spacer plate (0.306" or 0.225" thick), which some people mistake for an additional leaf. So, be careful how you count if it's an HD spring.

Gary

[Kenneth H.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

So, please help me out since I can't count. How many leaves are in the leaf spring on my '70 LT1? I have a feeling from previous comments that my leaf spring is probably a replacement (it appears to be as Gary described - 7 with a top spacer) but like I said, I can't count.

Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

So, please help me out since I can't count. How many leaves are in the leaf spring on my '70 LT1? I have a feeling from previous comments that my leaf spring is probably a replacement (it appears to be as Gary described - 7 with a top spacer) but like I said, I can't count.

Thanks.

Ken-----


It looks like 7 with a top spacer plate to me. The curious thing is that the spring liners are the GM-type pieces. Until the reproductions came onto the market several years ago, virtually all aftermarket replacement springs did not use this type of liner. Instead, they used a "flat" liner with no edge guides.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

Joe, I've added another shot of the area. These were taken in March 2009, and as you can see the leaf spring had been installed for some time when the pictures were taken. Also, the rear housing (?) was painted (see picture), however the rear is correct (1 CFB 2 2 70). Could someone possibly have gone to the junkyard and grabbed the leaf spring out of a '76 or '77 maybe?

Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

Joe, I've added another shot of the area. These were taken in March 2009, and as you can see the leaf spring had been installed for some time when the pictures were taken. Also, the rear housing (?) was painted (see picture), however the rear is correct (1 CFB 2 2 70). Could someone possibly have gone to the junkyard and grabbed the leaf spring out of a '76 or '77 maybe?

Thanks.

Ken-----


It could very well be a GM SERVICE spring of later vintage. You might check to see if there is any "vestige" of a stenciled part number on the bottom of the lower leaf.

By the way, that rear end cover looks like it was the victim of serious corrosion before someone cleaned it up. The crossmember it's attached to looks corrosion-affected, too. Corrosion damage may well be the reason that the spring was replaced at some point.

The spring bolts look to be original GM, original-GM replacements that were once available, or reproductions. Most likely, they are GM replacements or reproductions since they seem to be relatively free of corrosion damage. What is the headmarking and configuration?

[Kenneth H.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

Joe,

Thanks for the info. As soon as possible, I'll try to get a better look at what's there and maybe get some pictures. As for the corrosion, yes, there is some in that area as well as other areas. It was originally a North Jersey car. It is/was undercoated in the past and the frame and most other major components have been checked thoroughly by a couple of experts who said everything is solid. But there is a lot of surface rust.

Thanks.

[Gary B.]

'70 leaf springs; 7 + top plate; Yup

Ken-----


It looks like 7 with a top spacer plate to me. The curious thing is that the spring liners are the GM-type pieces. Until the reproductions came onto the market several years ago, virtually all aftermarket replacement springs did not use this type of liner. Instead, they used a "flat" liner with no edge guides.

I agree 100% with Joe L. It looks like a HD 7-leaf spring with a top plate to me.

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: '70 leaf springs; 7 + top plate; Yup

I agree 100% with Joe L. It looks like a HD 7-leaf spring with a top plate to me.

Gary

Gary------


...and the 7 leaf spring was the GM SERVICE spring for all 63-77 Corvette applications for many years after the 9 leaf spring was discontinued.

[Ron G.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

It has been my observaton that standard 70-72 leaf springs are 2"5/16 inches in width as opposed to mid years that are 2.5". They share the same flared ends at the end of the spring. FYI - For those interested leaf springs were coated with a 200L Weld Thru Primer. I have some of the origininal paint from the manufacturer in Arkansas.

[Gary B.]

'70 leaf springs

It has been my observaton that standard 70-72 leaf springs are 2"5/16 inches in width as opposed to mid years that are 2.5". They share the same flared ends at the end of the spring. FYI - For those interested leaf springs were coated with a 200L Weld Thru Primer. I have some of the origininal paint from the manufacturer in Arkansas.

Ron,

The standard spring used from 1964 thru 1974 was GM # 3850839, so I don't believe the width could be different for any of those years. The width on the GM engineering drawing is 2.25" +0.03, - 0.00, which was the same from 1963 thru 1977.

I don't know what 200L Weld Thru Primer is. The paint spec on the GM engineering drawing states "APPLY 3783188 PRIMER (IONOKLAD 200 J OR EQUIVALENT)". Is the 200L Weld Thru Primer an equivalent to GM # 3783188 primer?

Gary

[Kenneth H.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

Gary and Joe, thanks for all of the input. You learn something new everyday on this site.

Thanks.

[Paul O.]

Re: '70 leaf springs

Kenneth at the end of each leaf does the leaf turn upwards this would be on both ends. The original springs had this type of feature I can not see that in your photos.

Paul 18046