Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Just an FYI - The original finish of the spring is "200L Weld Thru Primer.
Just an FYI - The original finish of the spring is "200L Weld Thru Primer.
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"SOLID LIFTERS MATTER" -
Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Ron,
Are you commenting on the color in Bill's photo?
GaryComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
One question and one comment.
is it ok to reuse the 4 spring mounting plate bolts?
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I ordered a stock Eaton spring which has not yet arrived. My 63 roadster was sitting about 1-1/2" low (105K miles) so the first thing i did was to replace the bushings, washers, correct length bolts, etc. That was good for about a +1/2" height improvement. I figured the spring had sagged, which is why the Eaton stk version was ordered. I didn't opt to purchase the spring with the arc adjusted + or - because I thougth, all things being equal, that I should start off with a spring that would match the arc of a new original spring.
If you have any rear height difference on an older car, no frame damage, I'm not sure how you would determine an spring adjustment for ordering purposes. In my case the original spring yields a ride that is still 1" too low. If I ordered a +1" spring from Eaton I might actually end up over compensating.
I'll post results once the stk height Eaton is installed.Last edited by Thomas S.; June 24, 2016, 09:11 PM.67 427/400 Lynndale Blue Corvette https://online.flippingbook.com/view/750924569Comment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Thomas,
I think your logic about which Eaton spring to buy is perfectly sound. You did exactly what I would do.
GaryComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Thank for the vote of confidence. Thoughts on reusing the 4 spring plate attachment bolts?67 427/400 Lynndale Blue Corvette https://online.flippingbook.com/view/750924569Comment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
If they aren't rusty or pitted, I would reuse them.
GaryComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
I received my Eaton Detroit springs today (63 Roadster) and wanted to post some pictures. I thought I had read elsewhere that they did not have the correct curl at the end of each leaf. I ordered the standard 9-leaf spring off of their website Mine arrived it with the curls. Their site
mentions that the springs they stock are typically painted black so I expected these to arrive already painted black which of course would have meant that I would have had to repaint them to be correct. They were out of stock so perhaps they skipped the black painting.
67 427/400 Lynndale Blue Corvette https://online.flippingbook.com/view/750924569Comment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Thomas,
The end treatment on the Eaton Detroit spring that you show in your photos is the same end treatment Eaton has been using for years on their repro springs and it does not look like the original GM end treatment. The difference is very obvious to anyone who has seen real GM springs. The next time you see an unrestored C2 take a look at the rear spring and you will then be in expert in recognizing the correct GM taper rolled end treatment.
GaryComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
63 - Just finished installing a new Eaton spring (stock height, no + or -) and the resulting height is right on the money. The spring I removed turned out not to be the original one as I had thought. The removed spring was riveted together and the car had been 1-1/2" low in the rear so that could have been due an incorrect spring and or old age. Others have reported incorrect height when using the Eatons but that was not the result in my case.67 427/400 Lynndale Blue Corvette https://online.flippingbook.com/view/750924569Comment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Thomas,
Thanks for reporting back on the ride height. It's nice to know that the Eaton spring works out well for some, even if not everyone has reported the same degree of success.
GaryComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Has anyone seen the Keen Parts rear 9 leaf spring part no. 440609? They advertise it to be NCRS correct for $300.
http://keenparts.com/pages/detail.ph...partnum=440609
Thanks,
AllenComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Allen not a very good pic. of the spring, i would call them and find out if they if they produce the replacement spring ? Chances are it may be done by Eaton spring?New England chapter member, 63 Convert. 327/340- Chapter/Regional/national Top Flight, 72 coupe- chapter and regional Top Flight.Comment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Allen,
The picture of the Keen spring shows a single stage design, which is not correct for '64 and newer. I think AFC is the only company that might make a 9-leaf spring that has a chance of looking correct. It costs over $400. But you get what you pay for.
Eaton's spring is detectably different from GM originals, and it's easy to detect the difference once you know what to look for.
GaryComment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
Mr. Beaupre,
I am following in the same "foot steps" as others here - I am debating which rear spring to buy as a replacement on my '63 Coupe.
I had thought I had an original rear spring, since it has rolled ends on the leafs, and the scalloped sides at the ends of the leaves.
However, my top 3 leaves are flat - leaving me to now believe my car received a '64-'74 GM replacement at some point.
From what I have seen, there are essentially 2 springs I have considered up to this point:
1) The Eaton Spring - which has been discussed at length here. In my opinion, it's not even close to being correct given how they try to "roll" their leaves. Nor do they have the side scallops. Zip Corvette sells the Eaton Spring, among others.
2) A spring from John R Spring here in Metro Detroit. I have not heard this spring being mentioned here, but I should note it's MORE accurate than the Eaton, but still not perfect. It has correctly rolled ends, but no side scallops. The top 3 leaves are straight, which wouldn't be correct for my '63. And for some reason the top leaf is oval. Vette Products and Corvette Central sell this (It will say "JRS 21-307 on the bottom).
With all that said, I have been talking with Mike at AFC specifically for a rebuilt '63 spring after being dis-satisfied with the Eaton end JRS versions. He has said he takes an original '63 spring, reuses the top 5 leaves, and reproduces the bottom 4 leaves with rolled ends and side scallops. So it would have curved top leaves, ends with proper rolled ends, and side scallops. He is supposed to send me pictures that I will post. I've heard much being said about the cost of different springs here - some referencing $400-$500 springs. Given how unique my '63 spring is.......AFC would charge $695. While the Judging Manual states the '63 spring is primer gray, Mike is emphatic a '63 spring should be Black based on cars he has owned restored?
I will post comparative pics of each spring separately.Comment
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Re: Looking at New 9 Leaf Rear Leaf SpringAre they both Correct?t?
For comparison:
My take-off spring:
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