66 Spring Rebuild Candidate??

[Peter J.]

I think this is one of those times where the picture looks worse than reality. What looks like a hole is really the absense of crusty build-up. Ayway I am thinking of sending my original spring off to Eaton Spring for a re-arch and rebuilding it myself but if somebody with experence has an opinion about the condition I'll save the shipping cost for the evaluation if it is not a good candidate.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 Spring Rebuild Candidate??

Peter,

I think I would knock the rust off with a grinder then clean, prime,paint and put new liners in it and reassemble back together. Install it with new bushing and I think you'll be happy.

If the spring wasn't sagging when you took it out of the car it should be fine, if not then I would go to Eaton.

Mike

[Tracy C.]

Re: 66 Spring Rebuild Candidate??

I think this is one of those times where the picture looks worse than reality. What looks like a hole is really the absense of crusty build-up. Ayway I am thinking of sending my original spring off to Eaton Spring for a re-arch and rebuilding it myself but if somebody with experence has an opinion about the condition I'll save the shipping cost for the evaluation if it is not a good candidate.

Looks like it will clean up OK. Check deflection rates of each leaf as described in this thread and see if it is in the ballpark. I posted values in post #29 using my set-up.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...98473&uid=3445

[Dick W.]

Re: 66 Spring Rebuild Candidate??

Pete, if the car was sitting as it should before your removed the spring, and you have access to a shot blaster, I would have the spring shot peened and refinish it yourself. The shot blaster will relieve any stress build up in the metal.

[Peter J.]

Re: 66 Spring Rebuild Candidate??

I changed out the original spring because the right rear of the car was sagging almost two inches more than the left hand side. I try-ed new bushings without it helping so I replaced the spring with a not even close replacement. I put new, "Grand Touring" coils along with the HD leaf and the car has handled terrible ever since. I found a pair of original small block coils and I am going to send of my original rear spring off to Eaton for re-arching and hope I get the handling back to stock which is much better than what I got now with after market springs.

[Peter J.]

Re: 66 Spring Rebuild Candidate??

I always thought of re-arching springs as a waste of time but after going through the archives and reading the tech posting on Eaton's web site I now think it is a good alternative to spring replacement. Seems like I am spending more time now going back and returning this car to original specs as it left the factory like the engineers planned rather than use the aftermarket updates that if anything made things worse.