Which leaf spring should I use? (pic)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
Which leaf spring should I use? (pic)
The top spring is the original 9 leaf and the bottom one is a 7 leaf that was given to me as a spare. By the looks of them the 7 is a little stiffer but is narrower. If I use the 7 I have to switch to the diff cover that came with the other spring but what about the bottom mounting plate? what do you guys think?
http://wopr.myftp.biz/pics/8%20Corvette/leafsprings.jpg
http://wopr.myftp.biz/pics/8%20Corvette/leafsprings.jpg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Have you measured the spring width ? 2 1/4" are early C3 which
includes 7 leaf springs. The later C3s used a 2 1/2" wide spring.
With performance suspension options, they used the 2 1/4" 7 leaf
spring with two metal spacers. Pic:
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...852067B8963160
They look like the same # of leafs to me. I think the top one looks fine,
but it's hard to tell until the car is riding on it.
includes 7 leaf springs. The later C3s used a 2 1/2" wide spring.
With performance suspension options, they used the 2 1/4" 7 leaf
spring with two metal spacers. Pic:
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...852067B8963160
They look like the same # of leafs to me. I think the top one looks fine,
but it's hard to tell until the car is riding on it.
Last edited by NHvette; Sep 15, 2005 at 10:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
the top one rode fine and it was not sagging but if I can get a stiffer setup I'll be happy. The 7 leaf is 2 1/4 and the 9 leaf is 2 1/2 (original79). And whats up with the smaller leafs on the 7 sticking out and not being curved? Or is it possible that the older 7 has the same tension as the original 9? In that case I'll just stick with the original. Also this vette had a/c, p/w, and p/l and I saw on a site with spring recommendations that there are a couple of stiffer springs to choose from depending if it was a SB or a BB also. So if the 7 leaf is from a lighter vette with none of those options I might not see a difference. But then I read in "corvette by the numbers" that the 2 1/8 7 leaf was the stiffer option for the older C3s And there are no numbers on either of them and that is why I took pics.
here are a few more: http://wopr.myftp.biz/pics/8%20Corve...afsprings2.jpg
http://wopr.myftp.biz/pics/8%20Corve...afsprings3.jpg
here are a few more: http://wopr.myftp.biz/pics/8%20Corve...afsprings2.jpg
http://wopr.myftp.biz/pics/8%20Corve...afsprings3.jpg
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 7
From: Ontario
Ignoring strength for a moment. You can install the 2.25 version, without changing the cover by fabricating or purchase spacers(eckers I think).
I think you may have the suspension upgrade option(Gymkhana) in your vette. If you have a rear sway bar then you did...it also came with the stonger 2.5" spring. Stick with the original and use good shocks.
I think you may have the suspension upgrade option(Gymkhana) in your vette. If you have a rear sway bar then you did...it also came with the stonger 2.5" spring. Stick with the original and use good shocks.
Last edited by Retro78; Sep 16, 2005 at 01:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
Originally Posted by carguy4sure
Ignoring strength for a moment. You can install the 2.25 version, without changing the cover by fabricating or purchase spacers(eckers I think).
I think you may have the suspension upgrade option(Gymkhana) in your vette. If you have a rear sway bar then you did...it also came with the stonger 2.5" spring. Stick with the original and use good shocks.
I think you may have the suspension upgrade option(Gymkhana) in your vette. If you have a rear sway bar then you did...it also came with the stonger 2.5" spring. Stick with the original and use good shocks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by carguy4sure
Ignoring strength for a moment. You can install the 2.25 version, without changing the cover by fabricating or purchase spacers(eckers I think).
I think you may have the suspension upgrade option(Gymkhana) in your vette. If you have a rear sway bar then you did...it also came with the stonger 2.5" spring. Stick with the original and use good shocks.
I think you may have the suspension upgrade option(Gymkhana) in your vette. If you have a rear sway bar then you did...it also came with the stonger 2.5" spring. Stick with the original and use good shocks.
Spacers in my link above.
78-79 FE7 (Gymkhana) used the 2.25" 7 leaf.
80-82 FE7 used a stronger 2.5" 9 leaf.
The 7 leaf spring is definitely stiffer than the 9.
I don't know what's up with those 'straight' leafs, but they are definitely suspicious.
A new 7 leaf steel spring is 'only' about $100. You won't want to tear
it all apart and reinstall once everything is painted and bolted back together.
A spring shop should be able to test the spring and even re-arch
the leafs - if needed. This should be cheaper than a new spring.
A small rear sway bar can help with cornering without sacrificing ride.
Too big a rear bar - and you will tend to slide out on corners.
Of course, this could be added later if wanted.
Last edited by NHvette; Sep 16, 2005 at 12:01 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: SF East Bay CA
Don't know how much you want to spend, but VBP has some great mono springs... Available in 300# - 420# rates. I have been very happy with mine. So happy I converted the front to mono as well about a year later..
Good Luck.. Here is a link to VBP.. FYI, they have GP's from time to time as well.
http://www.vbandp.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=171
Good Luck.. Here is a link to VBP.. FYI, they have GP's from time to time as well.
http://www.vbandp.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=171
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
Originally Posted by NHvette
78-79 FE7 (Gymkhana) used the 2.25" 7 leaf.
80-82 FE7 used a stronger 2.5" 9 leaf.
I don't know what's up with those 'straight' leafs, but they are definitely suspicious.
A small rear sway bar can help with cornering without sacrificing ride.
Too big a rear bar - and you will tend to slide out on corners.
Of course, this could be added later if wanted.
80-82 FE7 used a stronger 2.5" 9 leaf.
I don't know what's up with those 'straight' leafs, but they are definitely suspicious.
A small rear sway bar can help with cornering without sacrificing ride.
Too big a rear bar - and you will tend to slide out on corners.
Of course, this could be added later if wanted.
I've seen replacement springs at Ecklers site that look just like it but don't know the stiffness.
The car did not have a sway bar on it and I will be happy enough with the cornering perfomance the way it is but I want to make it have better performance at the strip so I plan on using the longer bolt kit to lower it.
The main thing is I want to know which one would be better at the strip.