Fiberglass Coffin

Can anyone help me with the rear springs on my "54?
I've talked to Mike at Eaton springs.
The ride height is too tall for this car.
Rebound straps won't fit.
I bought new springs from Corvette Central and they are too
strong, should be 110 lb. rate.
These are about 160.
I don't have any info on the set-up.
Every thing looks correct except the height and no movement up and down of the rear end

Thanks
Frank

TroyPyles

Not sure what your question is.

Seems like you are OK with using repro springs rather than seeking out the originals. So if originality is not your thing I suggest you take a leaf out of the ones you have and see if that solves your problems.

csherman

there are OE originals out there
Are you concerned with ride height?
or ride quality
Do you still have your originals? if so you can have those rearched if they sagged....

Fiberglass Coffin

Thanks for the reply. I'm not all original so repos are okay. The ride height is too high, the rebound straps will not fit. I need to know the free arch for the original springs. I have removed 2 leaves from the springs I have and the ride height is still the same, shocks are fully extended. After taking out the 2 leaves I now have some movement.
Thanks
Frank

Chuck Gongloff

Are the rear spring shackles installed correctly?

Chuck

Vette Daddy

Excellent point, Chuck.

MasterDave

Here is a couple pics of mine for comparison.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Chuck Gongloff

See how the shackle faces "up"? That allows the spring to fit into the little recess in the rear crossmember.

Remember, this frame is upside-down.

Many guys put the shackles on facing downward, and the cars will sit 3"-4" high

Chuck

JohnZ

Rear end of the rear spring attaches to the shackles ABOVE the rear crossmember, not below it.

TroyPyles

I bet that's his problem. No way the ride height could be that high with two leaves removed.

BTW John, the seals on the spring banding should be on the top of the spring not the bottom.

JohnZ

Yup - not my car - that's one of my file photos from my story on Paragon's "Rex" '58 project from 2004.

Fiberglass Coffin

Thanks, after all the work and talk and searching for the answer, it turns out the springs I have do not have the correct free arch, or spring rate. The correct free arch is 3.625 inch,
the ones I have are 6.1 inch and the rate is much too high.
Thanks for the info.
Frank