58 leaf springs

[Brandon T.]

My 58 leaf springs has 5 leafs with no groove or numbers on the short bottom spring. Could this be the correct springs or does all the lower leaf have a groove in it?

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

They should be grooved

[Brandon T.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

Thanks Thomas.

[Steven B.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

If you have 5 leaves that is the HD option--or an added leaf most likely.

[Brandon T.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

do the 5 leave springs suppose to have a groove in the lower leave.

[Gary C.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

Brandon,

All Corvette spring leaves are grooved. If you have a spring leaf that is not grooved, then it's not original to a Corvette.

Most likely the bottom not grooved leaf was added to fix sagging springs, which was a common practice.

Gary
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[John H.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

do the 5 leave springs suppose to have a groove in the lower leave.

Brandon -

My notes from the late Dale Pearman indicate that the P/N 3748143 RPO 684 5-leaf rear spring had four grooved main leaves and a flat (non-grooved) short bottom leaf.

[Gary C.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

PDF with photos or restored 1957 5 leaf RPO 684 springs of bottom (smallest) leaf grooved. These springs use the second design leaf clamps.

Gary
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[John H.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

PDF with photos or restored 1957 5 leaf RPO 684 springs of bottom (smallest) leaf grooved. These springs use the second design leaf clamps.

Gary
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Gary -

Dale's notes refer to '58-up.

[Philip C.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

John and Gary you both are correct, when the spring material was rolled out and cut to length they did not waste anything, so sometimes as it rolled out some of the short pieces did not get grooved and were used for the bottom leaf, also it will have the curved tip. I have seen orig cars with one side flat and one grooved. Phil 8063

[Gary C.]

Re: 58 leaf springs

Phil,

What you've described sounds possible. But FWIW, I do not recall ever seeing a 1956 or 1957 bottom leaf with no groove, nor have I seen a 1957 RPO bottom leaf with no groove on the half dozen plus Air Box cars we've judged over the years. On the other hand I've not seen every 1956 - 1957 rear spring produced either.

Thanks,

Gary
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