C2 Rear Spring Free Arch (Gary Beaupre ?)

[Wayne M.]

Gary, you posted a few months ago on this, and gave a dimension of 10 inches +/- 1/8" from a centerline drawn through the hanger bolt holes at the end of the main (bottom) leaf, to the underside of that leaf, next to the center bolt holding the 9-leaf standard suspension "pack".

I just want to confirm that this dimension is not with the bottom spring all by it's lonesome, but assembled in the pack (leaves and liners) torqued to a sandwich. I would imagine the arch of the bottom spring would be less without the upper arched springs (#s 2 to 6, counting from the road-side up) assisting.

I have a low-mile '64 rear spring assembly that I plan to use (temporarily, which in my case means a few years ), and it measures 10_1/8" using the method you've described, so can I assume it should provide factory ride height, barring any other factors ?

[Gary B.]

C2 Rear Spring Free Arch

Wayne,

You are correct that the free arch is measured on a fully assembled spring.

If your original spring doesn't have wear or serious rust or corrosion problems and if the free arch measures 10.125" then you should be OK when installed with new bushings.

Gary

[Wayne M.]

Thanks, Gary *NM*

[Larry L.]

Re: Thanks, Gary

Check the ride heigh at the rear frame and measure it. Before you ever insatall a new spring even an NOS spring get it re-arched. If necessary raise the rear end of your car for correct frame to pavement height and measure the center - bottom of the spring from the ground. The end at the bolt height of the spring from the ground.
The small block has 52% of the weight on the rear. Have the new spring re-arched so that at 720 lb it has the demensions you just measured.
I went through this years ago when I put on a new Chevrolet NOS spring purchased from dealer and the back end was too high by 2". I just watched a friend do the same to his 68 with an NOS spring he bought off EBay. He didn't want to spend the money - now he has too and do all the work over again.
If you can find a scales have them weigh you car with a 1/2 tank of gas and you in it. Then you will know the correct weight. Remeber to divide the weight by 2 because the spring shop will mount it in the center and adjust it.

[Wayne M.]

Spring installed -- looks good so far

Larry -- as this was an orignal factory 1964 standard rear spring, with about 4 years of use before being removed from the car and stored, I took the chance of installing as is. Car seems to sit OK, if not a tad high, but that may settle after setting camber and putting a few miles on it.

If still seems high, will try some of your suggestions.

Thanks, Wayne