58 leaf spings

[Brandon T.]

Is the date code visible when installed on the car?

[John H.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Is the date code visible when installed on the car?

Brandon -

Nope - it's covered by the spring retainer plate.

[Brandon T.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Thanks John, the ones on my 58 are 5 leaf and the small bottom leaf is not grooved. I think I seen where you posted that all the small leafs do not have a groove. Is that correct ?

[John H.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Thanks John, the ones on my 58 are 5 leaf and the small bottom leaf is not grooved. I think I seen where you posted that all the small leafs do not have a groove. Is that correct ?

I think so, but a '56-'62 guy should confirm.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Brandon,

To my knowledge (FWIW), the rear springs on a 58 should be 4 leaf. All of the leafs have the groove. My 60 has the original springs and they are this way. I have two other sets, one a 59 and one a 58 (my 58 had aftermarket springs when I got it) and those are also four leaf with grooves. As for the date code, depending on where it is stamped on the bottom leaf, some of it "may" be visible when installed.

Tom

[Brandon T.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Thanks Thomas, I just ordered some off ebay that has date codes for a 60. I plan on putting them on my 58 I sure hope they are stamped where the date don't show when the spring retainer plate is installed. I guess I should have done more research before ordering these that came off a 60.

[Larry C.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

On my 1962 with original springs, the year "2" is stamped about 2.75" fwd of the center bolt that holds the springs together so when the bottom shock plate is installed the "2" will be visible but somewhat difficult to see if you crawl under the car and look up.

Larry

[Brandon T.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Thanks Larry, I will just have to wait until the springs I bought gets here and see if the year shows with the spring retainer plate installed. The same day I bought the ones for a 60 somebody put some on ebay for a 58 that would be correct for my car. That is the way my luck goes.

[Dennis C.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

I think if I was judging a car with a solid bottom leaf I would be looking at everything very closely. I don't recall ever seeing an original car without a grooved bottom leaf.

Most of the time the full date is not visible, however, every once in a while the stamping can be seen. I suspect there was no hard and fast rule about the stamp location, but who knows.

Dennis

[John H.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

I think if I was judging a car with a solid bottom leaf I would be looking at everything very closely. I don't recall ever seeing an original car without a grooved bottom leaf.

Dennis -

Note in post #3 that Brandon indicated he had FIVE-leaf springs, not the standard 4-leaf springs; the short bottom leaf on the factory 5-leaf spring wasn't grooved.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Dennis -

Note in post #3 that Brandon indicated he had FIVE-leaf springs, not the standard 4-leaf springs; the short bottom leaf on the factory 5-leaf spring wasn't grooved.

John,

Mind you, I have only been "playing" with C1's (58-60) for a couple years so this may sound dumb........... What application / years did C1's use a 5 leaf spring? I only have the 58-60 guide and it makes no reference to a 5 leaf spring only a 4 leaf (grooved, of course). Were they used on 61 and up?

Tom

[Gary C.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Brandon,

IMHO a non groved bottom spring indicates it was probably added to compensate for sagging rear springs, which was a common practice.

What type of bands are on the springs? Post a photo of the bands.

All factory Heavy Duty C1 5 leaf springs as far as I know had groves in all of the leaves.

Gary
....

[John H.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Brandon,

IMHO a non groved bottom spring indicates it was probably added to compensate for sagging rear springs, which was a common practice.

What type of bands are on the springs? Post a photo of the bands.

All factory Heavy Duty C1 5 leaf springs as far as I know had groves in all of the leaves.

Gary
....

Gary -

You're closer to it than I am, but I'm going from the late Dale Pearman's notes from his handout book from our 2002 Bloomington Workshop presentation on the '58-'62 Corvette Chassis:

"The RPO 684 option used a five-leaf spring (GM #3748143) with the first four (longest) leaves grooved as with standard springs, but the shortest bottom leaf was flat (not grooved). This spring assembly did not use spring liners and was assembled with six wrap-around 1/4-inch thick metal clamps. A replacement five-leaf spring was sold over the counter from 1960 to about 1972 which differed significantly in appearance from the production spring, but it bore the same part number."

[Gary C.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

John,

Yes, that's what Dale's said. However, the 5 leaf RPO springs were available OTC until 1966 and I've personally seen 1963 dated 5 leaf RPO springs. Know for sure the 1957 RPO springs bottom leaf was groved.

I've not tracked the 58 to 62 RPO springs, so it's up to the 58 up C1 guys to figure that out for sure.

Gary
....

[Loren S.]

Re: 58 leaf spings

Original:




1963 over the counter?: