1963 leaf spring Q

[Sander B.]

i have started with the resto of my 63 swc
and was examine the rear leaf spring and noticed that it has 10 leafs ???

and what should have been a 9 leaf
see picture

what do i have ?

also found a number on the upper leaf see next picture

thank you Sander,




my 63 weblog

[Sander B.]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q *NM*

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

Sander, it does not look like an original spring. You are correct, it should be 9 leaf. Also, on all 9 the ends are turned up. I'll look for a picture.

Also, there was a 10 leaf sold by GM in the 70's as a replacement spring, but I believe the ends were squared-off, not rounded.

Harry

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

Sander, this is not my car. Send to me from another Corvette nut.

Harry

[Sander B.]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

thank you Harry
i see the curled edges on the ends are these correct springs availble new
by some vendors ? the ones Corvette central offers seems not having the curles

Sander

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

Sander, try these folks. It's a repro, but it's real close to the original.

http://www.eatonsprings.com/products.htm

Hopefully, others will add comments.

Harry

[Ray C.]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

I removed the same spring from a late 63 SWC project. I replaced it with an Eaton spring. You may want to ask them (Eaton) if the will leave the spring un-assembled. You will need to disassemble, degrease, paint and assemble the new spring.

They were great people to deal with, but insure the leaves have the turned up ends.

Ray

[John D.]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

Harry, Colors of the parts aren't exactly the way Cranky said they should be. Nice pic though. Yes Sanders spring is not the real deal. Weird looking thing so it is.
I vaguely remember that the main ply of a 63 spring is a tad different dimension wise than the 64 up main ply. Is this correct or not? John

[Rainer S.]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

Sander,
Looking at your pic's brings back memories, when I started my 63 body-off. Restoration is now finally coming to an end.
One thing I would like to suggest to you about your body jig.
It looks very similar to the one I used.
I would add an addn brace in the front, across the forward roller, parallel to your forward brace. the addn brace should support the front section of your body. Mount of the hood support braces. add gussets toward the center bar to keek it from twisting, in other words, box it in. Try to simulate, what your frame does, as it supports your body.
If you check the front now w/o an addn brace, I bet you find, that the front section of the body has drooped 1" or more. The sagg will increase more over time from the weight, if not supported.
Just lift the front up with your hands now, you will see, how much it will flex.
The rear end is OK, since it is very ridgid.
You will have the body on the jig for a while...
It will be tricked to level the front now. I would use the wheel well arches as a starting point.
Just a suggestion...

Rainer
.

[Sander B.]

Re: 1963 leaf spring Q

Rainer

there is a support on my jig for the front
its atached to the radiator support

i noticed the flex of the front part of the boddy
but its now ridgid on my jig this way

but thanks for you concern
Sander