C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

[Wayne M.]

What's the significance of the notch (or notches if multiple) at only one of the ends of a GM coil spring. There was a spring thread within the past few weeks, and the list of similar threads (at the bottom) suggested a post by Joe Ciaravino in a thread titled "C2 front coil spring", way back in May 2003. I see it's the last also in this thread. Click on the "similar" link at the bottom of this thread. Joe mentions the notch(es) having a significance in terms of how the spring is to be installed (without saying what, exactly).
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Here's my spring/notch examples: First 2 pics are of my NOS spring in a GM box dated 1983; the (single) notch is at the bottom end (with the widely spaced coils). Other end has nothing.

Third pic is of (what I believe is) an identical part # spring (perhaps not NOS, manufacture date unknown) with two and a half notches, located at the upper end (based on closer spaced coils). Nothing on the bottom end.

So are the notches simply the result of a holding tool during fabrication, or are they added to help as a marker for installation ?

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

What's the significance of the notch (or notches if multiple) at only one of the ends of a GM coil spring. There was a spring thread within the past few weeks, and the list of similar threads (at the bottom) suggested a post by Joe Ciaravino in a thread titled "C2 front coil spring", way back in May 2003. I see it's the last also in this thread. Click on the "similar" link at the bottom of this thread. Joe mentions the notch(es) having a significance in terms of how the spring is to be installed (without saying what, exactly).
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Here's my spring/notch examples: First 2 pics are of my NOS spring in a box dated 1983; the (single) notch is at the bottom end (with the widely spaced coils). Other end has nothing.

Third pic is of (what I believe is) an identical part # spring (perhaps not NOS, manufacture date unknown) with two and a half notches, located at the upper end (based on closer spaced coils). Nothing on the bottom end.

So are the notches simply the result of a holding tool during fabrication, or are they added to help as a marker for installation ?

Wayne------


I don't know the answer to this but the guy that would probably know is Franz Estereicher. I hope he sees this post and responds.

[Bill W.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

Best I remember the notch goes on the top. I will look it up tonight . I have only seen one notch on a spring .

[Bill M.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

The notch is used for manufacturing of the spring. It doesn't affect how the spring is installed.

[James G.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

Hi Wayne,
I sent it off to Franz as he does not belong to the NCRS any more. I will post his answer.

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

Here are the original springs from my 64, both had notch on bottom end. My understanding was that these are tool marks.

[Bill M.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

Here's John Hinckley's detailed response to the same question:

"Tom -

The "notch" is where the spring was grabbed by the jaws of the coiler when it was being wound; has no other significance. On a '63, it makes no difference which end of the spring goes up, as long as it's seated at the top, 3/8" from the stop in the upper frame pocket, as shown in the Assembly Manual. '64-up small-blocks were different - they had variable-rate progressively-wound springs, and the end with the close coil spacing goes up." Reply Reply With Quote

[James G.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

FRANZ SAYS
Hi Jim: The notches are for the grippers to take hold of the hot bars into the Hogan cooler. Hogan, the equipment manufacturer had several designs, ranging from one to four notches. Rockwell typically used three or four. Ford Monroe used two or three. GM Lovinia used one to four spending on the line. Service line used one or two, much less tooling cost. Hope this helps. Franz

[John H.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

FRANZ SAYS
Hi Jim: The notches are for the grippers to take hold of the hot bars into the Hogan cooler.

Jim -

I think that's "coiler", not "cooler".

[James G.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

Jim -

I think that's "coiler", not "cooler".

FRANZ JUST CORRECTED AND ADDED
Hi Jim: Just read Wayne's question. Let's begin: the notches were part of
the manufacturing process. The operator extracted the hot bar, back in the
C2 time frame Chevrolet engineering specified 5160 material, after the
operator had the bar securely positioned, in his tongs, the hot bar was
inserted into the Gogan coiler. The hydraulic or mechanical clamp (depending
on the age of the equipment) would ordinate the bar into the coiler.
Depending on the spring design the coiler would rotate the correct number of
times and provide the correct "pitch" (distance between coils). The notches
had no significance in assembly or spring orientation. Different
manufactures had various "technology secrets" as how to best manufacture hot
wound coil springs. Springs are 80% science and 20% "the blacksmith art".

In 1983 Rockwell Lacolle, Quebec was GMPD's service spring supplier. Lacolle
was located between Montreal and the New Hampshire boarder. I'm sure Wayne
will recognize its location.

Feel free to post on the NCRS discussion board if you determine this
information is helpful in answering someone's question. Please have Wayne
email me the photographs he references below.

Jim: this subject matter would take hours of discussion to understand
springs "101".

Thank you,
Franz

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 Front Coil Springs (again) -- The NOTCH

FRANZ JUST CORRECTED AND ADDED
Hi Jim: Just read Wayne's question. Let's begin ......... In 1983 Rockwell Lacolle, Quebec was GMPD's service spring supplier. Lacolle was located between Montreal and the New Hampshire boarder. I'm sure Wayne will recognize its location.

Ah... yes; Lacolle (the town) was closest to Lacolle (the name of the border crossing from Quebec to New York state [Interstate 87]. Was a quick 1.5 hours from Montreal to the beaches of Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain; no delay at border customs back then (1967-8). My first Corvette (a '65, natch) -- what a life. I find myself reminiscing more about those days than bolt head markings.

. Please have Wayne email me the photographs he references below. ....Franz

Jim -- thanks for contacting Franz and getting his invaluable input to this discussion. Can you PM me his email address so that I can forward the spring pics ? Thanks