Original Leaf Spring Manufacturer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 109
Likes: 12
From: Fountain Hills, AZ
Original Leaf Spring Manufacturer
Can one of you cheeky chaps tell me who the original GM manufacturer of C3 leaf springs was?
Was it STANLEY SPRING?
Love hearing from all you peeps
Was it STANLEY SPRING?
Love hearing from all you peeps
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,140
Likes: 4,249
From: US-PNW
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,685
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
Back in the 70's I had a job with a cold drawn steel bar mill and one of our customers was a Rockwell plant in western PA (New Castle I think). I know they were making springs for Chevrolet, but I have no ideal what kind or for which model(s). We hated doing business with most companies suppling parts to the automakers, because the car companies would beat you up un-mercilessly over a half cent on a $10,000 order. Hurst in Warminster PA was one of the few other auto suppliers we'd deal with but we were willing to put up with the hassles over steel for shifter parts because we made out well selling them steel for their "Jaws of Life" tools. The one real exceptions was Mack Truck who were wonderful to work with and one of our best customers, but then I guess the HD truck market isn't as competitive or cut throat as the auto industry.
Besides Rockweel, I know Eaton, Detroit Spring (Eaton & Detroit are now the same company I believe) and Elgin Industries were all suppliers of springs to the auto makers, but who made which springs and for which models, I have no idea. It's also quite possible that the springs were sourced from more than one supplier. The automakers often changed suppliers in their constant effort to save money.
Besides Rockweel, I know Eaton, Detroit Spring (Eaton & Detroit are now the same company I believe) and Elgin Industries were all suppliers of springs to the auto makers, but who made which springs and for which models, I have no idea. It's also quite possible that the springs were sourced from more than one supplier. The automakers often changed suppliers in their constant effort to save money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 2,470
From: Indiana
When researching my spring..this google podcast told everything but no longer available? It would be great to follow find it. It was from gm guys..
great insight..i used for how to paint spring and only captured this from podcast in this thread
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...estions-2.html
I ran across this podcast..very interesting and insightful from how rear leaf springs were made shipped and even painted on the corvette.
fascinating..like only the tension side was painted anddone by wallpaper brush or sponge depending on who made it.
it was water based zinc containing paint borrowed from heavy truck industry. Then all assembled were dipped in corrosion resistant dried in place coating..
other things like why are the ends tapered etc..
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR...EegQIAhAF&ep=6
great insight..i used for how to paint spring and only captured this from podcast in this thread
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...estions-2.html
I ran across this podcast..very interesting and insightful from how rear leaf springs were made shipped and even painted on the corvette.
fascinating..like only the tension side was painted anddone by wallpaper brush or sponge depending on who made it.
it was water based zinc containing paint borrowed from heavy truck industry. Then all assembled were dipped in corrosion resistant dried in place coating..
other things like why are the ends tapered etc..
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR...EegQIAhAF&ep=6
