Correct Coil Spring Finish for 66

[Michael H.]

Re: Correct Coil Spring Finish for 66

This may be helpful in narrowing the "later service" timeframe.

Notice the part # tag attached to one of the coils; typical from the service era -- yellow with a slight greenish tinge (not the dark green with part # and large code letters that would have been on factory original cars).

Wayne,

I think you're right. I'll bet the change to black painted service springs was at some point in the early/mid 80's.

The spring part number tags for all service coil springs were yellow, even those made in the 60's.

The original green tags were supposed to have a slightly smaller black part number character size (1/4") than the print on the yellow service tags (3/16").

Also, the yellow tags for service were to have the part number repeat aprox every 1/2".
The part number on the green tag for production springs was to repeat every 1.0".

The spring code characters on production springs was to be 1/2" high.

The overlapped ends of the yellow service tag, back to back, were to be aprox 1" and pointed toward I.D. of spring.
The overlapped ends of the green tag for production springs were to be aprox 1.25" and pointed toward I.D. of spring.

I don't know if all of these specs carried on into the 70's and 80's though. There may have been some changes for the tag for later service springs.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Correct Coil Spring Finish for 66

I'm sure you all have read the manual, but here is the quote from page 168 concerning the front springs

"Front springs are coated with a rust inhibitor and have a black appearance."

I doubt the deduction will be very much if the person judging the car believes they should be black, so i suppose if the consensus is to go with bare cast iron, then that is what i will do.

Thanks

Chris
With all due respect your springs are made of spring steel not cast iron.
Stephen Barrett
59,66,71,73