1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

[Joe M.]

I started restoring my leaf springs on Thursday and was surprised how bright the yellow paint markings were at the back of the hangar; after 52 years. Used paint thinner and an old toothbrush. I masked over that area before I sprayed new silver paint on the leaf to preserve it.

Found the chipboard to make the spring liners in Fort Smith, AR, had leftover muslin from my failed attempt to reupholster my seats, and WalMart has paraffin by the pound. Not exactly sure how I will melt the paraffin and "cook" the liners; probably use a section of rain gutter and set it on top of my grill. Melts at 123 degrees, don't know what the boiling temp is, but will find out.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

Joe, What is a "chipboard"?

Rich

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

Until a week ago, I did not know either (Google and a lot of phone calls). Chipboard is ground up, pressed paper fibers and a binder; similiar to the hard covers on books (known as binder board). The pressing can create a layered product like the original leaf spring liners or a solid product. It is the same product that was used to make the trunk divider "boards" in C1s and Chevy passenger cars.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

Joe,

What goes in between the springs has always been a mystery to me and you will notice that there are questions and long threads about the most innocent aspects of vettes but nothing on springs and liners. How odd is that?

I had several old springs apart back in the 60s and 70 and saw the carboard liner remnants. Now I see the vendors selling wovern cloth straps with metal ends and some type of fiber board material. One place just sent the cloth straps the other place straps and fiber. I just never saw a cloth strap on a vette spring, just the fiber.

Huge mystery to me but I guess not to anyone else. Keep us posted!

Joe

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

The article I am using as a reference is a Spring 1980 Restorer article by Larry McCarty. I found muslin remnants when I separated the leafs, but did not find any of the metal end "caps" that the article makes reference to and the repros have. I could have saved time, but not money by paying someone to media blast the leafs. I chose to use wire brush attachment on my drill for first pass, then naval jelly a couple of passes, then wire brush attachment on my drill and wire brush on my bench grinder to finish the cleaning. Primed with Sherwin Williams zinc powder primer and top coat of Sherwin Williams rust prevention paint; both out of rattle cans.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

Joe,

When I took my springs apart, I don't recall finding the metal clips, but I did find, what I believe is, evidence of them being there. In this picture, you can clearly see that something was clipped on the end of the liner.

I saved what is left of the originals and I'll take a look to see if I have any with the clips still on them.

If you go to page 3 and 4 of the photobucket link in my signature, you will see a bunch of pics of my springs as removed from the car.

Tom

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

Great photo Thomas. It looks like there is a clip across the end of the liner in your photo.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1960 Leaf Spring Clean Up

Joe,

I just looked at the pieces I was able to save and at least one of them still has the metal clip on the end.

Due to some ordering mixups on my end, I ended up with two reproduction kits, one from CC the other from Paragon. I used the CC one as it arrived first, but the Paragon one may be a bit closer to the original configuration from a liner material perspective. Both are quality reproductions though.

Tom