1970 9 leaf spring question - NCRS Discussion Boards

1970 9 leaf spring question

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  • Stephen B.
    Very Frequent User
    • April 1, 1988
    • 876

    1970 9 leaf spring question

    Attached is a picture of a 1981 9 leaf spring. The ends are rolled; however, the springs has clamps. I wonder if I could take the clamps off this spring and it be correct for my 1970? Are there any other differences in the springs except the clamps?




    Attached Files
  • Stephen B.
    Very Frequent User
    • April 1, 1988
    • 876

    #2
    Another pic *NM*

    Attached Files

    Comment

    • Stephen L.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • May 31, 1984
      • 3156

      #3
      Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

      Here are photos of a 67 spring. Can only assume its the same as a 70.


      Note that top leaves are flat when the spring is at rest, while your '81 has all arched leaves. A far as the clamps go, I believe you can remove them with no ill effects.....

      Comment

      • Joe L.
        Beyond Control Poster
        • February 1, 1988
        • 43203

        #4
        Re: Another pic

        Bunky-----

        No, this spring would not be correct for an 9 leaf 64-77 application even if the spring end bands were removed. Also, what is the width of this spring? Is it 2-1/4" or 2-1/2"?
        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

        Comment

        • Stephen B.
          Very Frequent User
          • April 1, 1988
          • 876

          #5
          Re: Another pic

          I have not measured it Joe. What width should it be?

          Comment

          • Patrick H.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • December 1, 1989
            • 11630

            #6
            Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

            Steve,

            "To me" this 67 spring appears to be a replacement. The ends of the leaves are turned up, but do not taper the way I would expect an original to taper in thickness.

            Also, the center bolt and nut should be black. Once the spring is fully assembled, the extra threads of the bolt are "clipped" off.

            Patrick
            Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
            71 "deer modified" coupe
            72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
            2008 coupe
            Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.

            Comment

            • Stephen L.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • May 31, 1984
              • 3156

              #7
              Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

              Patrick, I hate to disallusion you, but this is the original spring out of my 67, with the original bolt. Granted, I didn't re-blacken the bolt. Some of the shorter leaf inserts are also original, I cut a few of the long ones that were worn on the ends shorter for use in those positions.

              Comment

              • Joe L.
                Beyond Control Poster
                • February 1, 1988
                • 43203

                #8
                Re: Another pic

                Bunky----

                Well, for 63-77, it was 2-1/4".
                In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                Comment

                • Stephen B.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • April 1, 1988
                  • 876

                  #9
                  Re: Another pic

                  I have another 9-leaf spring I bought at Corvette Expo that's 2 1/4". Now I need another one for my other '70.

                  Comment

                  • Patrick H.
                    Beyond Control Poster
                    • December 1, 1989
                    • 11630

                    #10
                    Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

                    Steve,

                    It takes more than a picture to disillusion me. I suspect it's the camera angle on the leaf ends.
                    I went downstairs and pulled out one of mine. It's tough to get a good picture, in focus, of an end.

                    See below.




                    Attached Files
                    Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
                    71 "deer modified" coupe
                    72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
                    2008 coupe
                    Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.

                    Comment

                    • Gary B.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • February 1, 1997
                      • 7009

                      #11
                      '67 spring

                      Steve,

                      The ends on your spring look correct to me. They are clearly different than the ends on the current Eaton-Detroit repro spring, which have a sharp bend in them.

                      Gary

                      Comment

                      • Stephen L.
                        Extremely Frequent Poster
                        • May 31, 1984
                        • 3156

                        #12
                        Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

                        Here are a couple of more photos of my original 67 spring.

                        Comment

                        • Patrick H.
                          Beyond Control Poster
                          • December 1, 1989
                          • 11630

                          #13
                          Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

                          Thanks Steve. Your "left rear" picture shows the end configuration the best. Definitely original, and sorry if you took offense.

                          I went and looked at my spare replacement spring (non-Eaton but also non-original), and the ends are relatively straight but with a slight upturn. From the right (wrong?) angle, the ends could look just like the ones in your first photo.

                          Nice job on that chassis, too!

                          Patrick
                          Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
                          71 "deer modified" coupe
                          72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
                          2008 coupe
                          Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.

                          Comment

                          • Patrick H.
                            Beyond Control Poster
                            • December 1, 1989
                            • 11630

                            #14
                            Re: '67 spring

                            Gary,

                            I have a spring from another supplier with ends that are slightly straighter than original. I thought that Steve's first picture looked more like that. It definitely is not an Eaton spring.

                            Patrick
                            Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
                            71 "deer modified" coupe
                            72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
                            2008 coupe
                            Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.

                            Comment

                            • Tom R.
                              Extremely Frequent Poster
                              • June 30, 1993
                              • 4096

                              #15
                              Re: 1970 9 leaf spring question

                              Hey Stephen:

                              I believe your original question and its responses meandered off point, perhaps even some friendly hijacking that may have helped tease out details in regards to an answer. Having said all that...

                              Your 81 spring is an FE7 heavy duty suspension 9-leaf spring. It also featured a lead liner instead of the black plastic liners that were equipped on the FE7s/F41s prior to 80. The spring width is a 2.5 inch width.

                              Gary Beaupre & Joe Lucia did a nice article on 63-82 heavy-duty rear springs published in the Restorer of 2003. It explains the differences and lists the specs for each year. But than unless your 70 is a heavy-duty option Corvette, this all may be irrelevant.

                              But wait there's more. In the Restorer 26:3 Winter 2000, Beaupre published an article on standard suspension rear leaf springs and lists the specs for 63-77 model years. That may be helpful

                              PS, according to the authors, only 25 Corvettes in 1970 got a heavy-duty suspension...and those were ZR1s.
                              Tom Russo

                              78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
                              78 Pace Car L82 M21
                              00 MY/TR/Conv

                              Comment

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