C-2 Leaf Spring
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,093
Likes: 1,350
From: New York New York
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C-2 Leaf Spring
My son has a stock 64 that needs a rear leaf spring. I just checked Zip's online catalog and they list 7 leaf HD and 9 leaf STD. We don't know which one to order.
Common sense would say the the 9 leaf should be HD.
He wants a good ride and the car to sit properly.
Thanks.
Common sense would say the the 9 leaf should be HD.
He wants a good ride and the car to sit properly.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente Ca.
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (plaidside)
(7) is HD, (9) STD.
This topic is wide open. No right answer.
How does he intend to drive it?
I would go for the 7, others the 9.
Tried a Glass spring on my 65 365 coupe replacing the stock (9 leaf)
and hated it!
Wished I would have gone with the stock 7 on that car.
Again, what I like, and your son likes may be worlds apart.
Putting around? Spirited driving? What is he going to use for shocks and tires?
NCRS orig type goal? Fun canyon car? Get my drift?
"My son has a stock 64 that needs a rear leaf spring. We don't know which one to order. "
Whats on it now? Is he happy with it, but its sagging?
Or does it feel soft? Why the need for the new spring?
:seeya
[Modified by 396 RAT, 8:38 PM 9/2/2003]
This topic is wide open. No right answer.
How does he intend to drive it?
I would go for the 7, others the 9.
Tried a Glass spring on my 65 365 coupe replacing the stock (9 leaf)
and hated it!
Wished I would have gone with the stock 7 on that car.
Again, what I like, and your son likes may be worlds apart.
Putting around? Spirited driving? What is he going to use for shocks and tires?
NCRS orig type goal? Fun canyon car? Get my drift?
"My son has a stock 64 that needs a rear leaf spring. We don't know which one to order. "
Whats on it now? Is he happy with it, but its sagging?
Or does it feel soft? Why the need for the new spring?
:seeya
[Modified by 396 RAT, 8:38 PM 9/2/2003]
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: close to Frankfurt/Main Germany
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (SWCDuke)
Well...if the orignial spring its flat.....and the body comes down too deep...then it´s about time. Seen too many aading washers to adjust ride height :smash: ...bubba technology.
Agree that this is a question of what you want.
Keep an orginal car original. Adjust a driver to your driving needs. :cheers:
Agree that this is a question of what you want.
Keep an orginal car original. Adjust a driver to your driving needs. :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (Mikey1)
A word of caution.....the current "repro" springs look nothing like the originals, and I have heard/read that many have had ride height issues with them. The 7 leaf is the HD spring.....makes your car ride like a buckboard, and will likely make the car sit "lower" than the standard 9 leafer.
You can rebuild your original spring, using new liners. BTW....on the car...the rear spring usually is flat "under weight". :) Chuck
You can rebuild your original spring, using new liners. BTW....on the car...the rear spring usually is flat "under weight". :) Chuck
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 442
From: Southwest MI
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (66427-450)
Well, what's on the car now? 7 or 9?.... Unless someone’s messed with it, it's got one of the factory spring setups, and the front and rear springs are balanced to provide proper handling (the 7-leaf rear requires heavy front springs as well).
if you actually need a new spring (do have a broken leaf of something) i'd replace it with the type that's on there now. If you want it to handle better, get a good set of modern performance shocks and tires, and make sure all the suspension bushings are in good repair.
:seeya
if you actually need a new spring (do have a broken leaf of something) i'd replace it with the type that's on there now. If you want it to handle better, get a good set of modern performance shocks and tires, and make sure all the suspension bushings are in good repair.
:seeya
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: New York, NY 10154
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (plaidside)
My 2 cents. Rebuild the stock spring. I had same problem in my 67 with mine, bought new spring from LIC and was a piece of junk made in mexico. I tried to return but they refused. I installed the new one. I kept my stock one and will put back one day.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,270
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (Mikey1)
Well...if the orignial spring its flat.....and the body comes down too deep...then it´s about time. Seen too many aading washers to adjust ride height :smash: ...bubba technology.
Agree that this is a question of what you want.
Keep an orginal car original. Adjust a driver to your driving needs. :cheers:
Agree that this is a question of what you want.
Keep an orginal car original. Adjust a driver to your driving needs. :cheers:
At curb weight the spring should be nearly flat.
Unless the spring is broken of has severe corrosion, it probably doesn't need to be replaced.
Duke
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,093
Likes: 1,350
From: New York New York
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (SWCDuke)
The reason we are replacing the spring is there are two broken leafs on the left side, which is sagging.
We put all new bushings in the rear already.
The car was laying for almost 20 years and when we redid all the bushings we didn't notice the broken leafs.
My son just loves to drive the car. He doesn't race it or road course it.
He just wants a nice driver.
Thanks for all your replys.
We put all new bushings in the rear already.
The car was laying for almost 20 years and when we redid all the bushings we didn't notice the broken leafs.
My son just loves to drive the car. He doesn't race it or road course it.
He just wants a nice driver.
Thanks for all your replys.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 13
From: ar
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (plaidside)
Take a look good look at the glass spring when you set it up correctly it will out ride and out handle the old metal spring. Did you ever wounder why they have put them on all corvettes since 198.1
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 38
From: Massachusetts , USA,
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (silverslashstreak)
I am with Silverslashstreak...........3 years ago (winter project) installed 330LB TRW design , composite rear spring..........rides nice, no bounce & reduced wieght by approx 40 LBs.....worked for me, :steering: The Dog. :seeya
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 442
From: Southwest MI
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (silverslashstreak)
Take a look good look at the glass spring when you set it up correctly it will out ride and out handle the old metal spring. Did you ever wounder why they have put them on all corvettes since 198.1
no offense :seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 764
Likes: 13
From: Harvard MA
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (66427-450)
I am in the process of bringing back a 66 L79 to sweet driver. when I got it it had tired HD springs front and rear. I didn't know this or like the handling. I replaced shocks with delco gas. Still didn't like the ride or the ride height. Finally bit the bullet and put stand spring all around. The car rides much better, handles better and has the proper ride height too. I guess the springs and shocks are balance now. I'd never use those HD springs for a driver street car. I bought the springs and shocks at LI Corvette.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 442
From: Southwest MI
Re: C-2 Leaf Spring (brucep)
.......... bringing back a 66 L79 to sweet driver. when I got it it had tired HD springs front and rear
