Rear Leaf...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,241
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From: Arizona
Rear Leaf...
My 63', 7 leaf spring has metal or tin liners in it. Is this original? I've seen adds saying "OEM replacement plastic liners"! I didn't even think that technology was available then. 
In fact I have a 7-leaf with a spacer block, instead of the more common 9-leaf springs that I see advertised in the catalogs. Has my spring been modified or were there original 7-leafs out there? The original car was an L-76.
Mike
In fact I have a 7-leaf with a spacer block, instead of the more common 9-leaf springs that I see advertised in the catalogs. Has my spring been modified or were there original 7-leafs out there? The original car was an L-76.
Mike
Race Director
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Yes, the spring liners were a graphite impregnated plastic going all the way back to '63, but they compress, wear, and harden to something that looks more like old leather.
Your rear spring is not original as the only way a '63 was built with the seven leaf rear spring is if it was equipped with RPO Z06, which included L-84 and the HD drum brakes that can't be confused with anyting else.
Duke
Your rear spring is not original as the only way a '63 was built with the seven leaf rear spring is if it was equipped with RPO Z06, which included L-84 and the HD drum brakes that can't be confused with anyting else.
Duke
Last edited by SWCDuke; Apr 9, 2005 at 11:03 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
Non-Z06 63's all had nine-leaf springs, with all nine leaves cambered (arched); the '64-up standard spring was a different nine-leaf, with the top three leaves flat. Where is the "spacer block" located, and what hex size are the four spring-to-rear cover bolts? 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 6
From: Arizona
JohnZ
Originally Posted by JohnZ
Non-Z06 63's all had nine-leaf springs, with all nine leaves cambered (arched); the '64-up standard spring was a different nine-leaf, with the top three leaves flat. Where is the "spacer block" located, and what hex size are the four spring-to-rear cover bolts?
Mike
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,241
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From: Arizona
Look @ my Avatar.
Originally Posted by 67L36Driver
Someone tried to raise rear of car? Attempt to fit larger tires way back when? 
The car did have 8" X 15" monte-carlo rims when I got it, but height clearance wasn't an issue in the rear. The spring ends actually dragged inside the wheel. I changed to 6" X 15" rims because of front clearance issues.
Do 7-leaf springs typically NOT have a spacer?
Mike
Race Director
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No spacer. The HD seven leaf spring also lowers the ride height - up to about an inch, from the base suspension 9-leaf spring.
The HD 7-leaf spring was meant strictly for racing. The combination of double the wheel rate and lower ride height don't make it street friendly at all.
Duke
The HD 7-leaf spring was meant strictly for racing. The combination of double the wheel rate and lower ride height don't make it street friendly at all.
Duke
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
Originally Posted by mgsouthard
The spacer is 1" thick and is located between the spring and the carrier. The bolts that secure the entire assembly are grade 5, 9/16" X 4-1/2" long.
Mike
Mike
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 6
From: Arizona
JohnZ
Originally Posted by JohnZ
Is the spacer forward of the spring (between the front side of the spring and the carrier, or is it above or below the spring? Is 9/16" the hex size of the bolts, or is it the thread size (13/16" hex)?
It looked so much like it was original that it never occured to me that it didn't belong there. The bolt in the spacer is even drilled and tapped and the hex is ground off to fit in the carrier. I would have expected just a piece of round stock just stuck in there if it were Bubba'd.
The bolts are 9/16" NC thread size. I don't know if this makes any difference, but the differential is from a 67'. Don't know about the spring. I will post a picture of the previously assembled setup with "my corvette photos".
Not quite sure what to do now other than just put every thing back as it was??? Don't know what to expect if I get a 9-leaf? How thick is a 9-leaf at the mounting? What would you recommend?
Mike S.
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
Mike, that spacer block in the photo was apparently added to increase the rear ride height, with longer bolts added; the stock spring retainer plate bolts are 3-9/16" long with the 9-leaf spring, and 3-5/16" long with the HD 7-leaf spring (there's a 1/4" difference in the stack height of the two springs). Must have been a "fix" for incorrect ride height produced by the (also incorrect) reproduction rear spring. The '67 diff makes no difference - the diffs and rear covers were the same (dimensionally) from '63-'77. If you need a mostly-correct '63-style spring (nine leaves, all cambered), Eaton Detroit Spring (www.eatonsprings.com) has them.