They are Forum sponsors but *This is not an advertisement*. I purchased their rear #330 spring during the recent Forum 20% sale.

Replacing the old 9-leaf and basically worn-out OEM steel spring was one of the best mods I have done. My old 1974 is like a new car. The old steel was bang-bang-bang on bumps; the new is a gentle up and down controlled motion. The Wife says thank you! The shocks (new Monroe Gas-Matic) are not fancy as advocated by many, including VBP, but control is fine for cruising. A friend did the job for me and it was pretty straight-forward. I really preferred rubber cushions (not an option) but poly seems OK so far. The rear sits a little high (see pic from yesterday) but I have about 1 1/2" of the 8" spring bolts to work with to fine tune the height. I will do so when things settle down.

Criticism, why not? The instructions (photocopies of photocopies, are hardly readable) and the readable disclaimer says, "Heat shields are recommended in ALL applications. DAMAGE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT WILL VOID WARRANTY". And yes we did install mat heat shields from fire-fighting equipment vests with SS straps. They should be fine and I do have 3" clearance. BUT, given that warning:

-no heat shield is offered by VBP as standard or an option as with TRW
-no suggestions are made as to what a heat shield is?? Or where to get it.

VBP, I really like your product but marketing could use a little up-date. Just trying to be constructive!

 

Nice write up on the leaf spring. I just noticed you dont have the stock wheels, are they centerlines? They look great on your car.

 

I put their 360 in a few yrs. ago and much better than the old 7 leaf spring I previously had. I'm also running Bilstein's all around. With this spring, the Bilsteins and Sharkbar the vette is a lot more fun to drive.

 

I bought my 74 vert 4 years ago and it had the glass spring already on it. The ride tends to be a little soft for my taste. I don't know what # it is, just wondering if maybe it just needs new shocks? But what I'm really writing about is I love the looks of the your 74 convertible (also mine), I just can't understand why everybody is so in love with the chrome bumper cars, I guess to each his own and everybody has their favorite, but the 74 is so clean (and less expensive). Although good when your buying, but bad when your selling. Anyway I just had to compliment you on how sharp your Corvette is.

 

OP, you have a clean classy Vette. What color is it?

 

Code 974, Medium Red Metallic.



Code 425, Dark Red (Oxblood).

 

The wheels are very old school. They are Centerline clones made by a company called Enkei.

 

I just recently installed a VBP composite spring, the 330# IIRC, and Bilsteins. Huge improvement in ride. My trim height is about the same as before w/ 9 leaf. I also find it odd that VBP recommends a heat shield but doesn't offer one. I used header wrap.
Still very pleased with the spring thus far, and it matches well with the front end redo/upgrade I just finished (VBP 460# springs).

 

I got one in my car since for ever! (1990 or so), and it still in great shape

 

VBP 360 Rear, 460 Front, Bilsteins, no heat shield, dropped the pipes maybe 2" off the spring, and near the center ....been that way for some 16 years now....

ride is wonderful with the Bilsteins, a late addition, cured that undulating bridge construction here that drove me krazy driving over it....the KYB's used to bounce bad....

 

I have you beat! My VBP 360 monospring (replaced crap 7 leaf spring-just love folks who advocate the steel spring!) has been on my 78 L-82 4 Speed since I put it on in 1986! Still perfect! Car has the factory heat shield and the exhaust is less than 2 inches from the shield-maximum ground clearance! I have never bottomed the duals. Bilstein Sports in the back with Bilstein HD's in the front.

 

1980-82 Corvettes that were equipped with a composite spring from the factory had a heat shield. Those shields can be modified for use on earlier cars.

 

I suppose but they had rear Y-pipes. Not like a 1974 with true dual exhaust. And different rear carriers. Not the same animal.

*BTW* - About 125 miles since the original post. I love this spring. What a difference from the old steel! One of the best mods I have ever made. Driving is so much more enjoyable.

 

I put the VB composite spring on in the early 80s. Much later the heat shield was mentioned. Mine seems to be fine, but if anyone has some extra wrap I would be interested.
Maybe a topic should be done on what has been used as a shield, esp. something we can get in a small amount.

 

Those springs are not very safe and mine cracked too, I caught it on an inspection. Everyone should look at their composite springs now and then. I had another crack too, these where just small cracks on both springs but who knows when it's gonna give.

My spring is heat shield wrapped with aluminum tape with some kind of 1/16" or so gummy stuff on the inside. I then wrapped it with electrical tape. I figured if it got hot enough the electrical tape would start to deform but never had a problem. Put a heat gun on the spring right under the exhaust pipe after a long drive on a hot day and it read around 100F nothing better than an air gap for insulation.

Paul if you haven't done it yet try the Bilsteins they are more than worth the money. You won't believe the difference

 

Paul great write up, thanks for sharing! It's on my to do list this winter. I think I'll also add the front spring as well. Any plans to do that also?

 

My 360 VBP spring like I said above has been on since 1986 and the car used to run really hot-never had any issues with cracking etc. I have the OEM shield underneath the diff for the steel spring that I just kept on when I put on the 360 spring. Not sure what the issue is with very few springs cracking but I am wondering if it was isolated to a couple of manufacturers who got into the composite market after 1986-there are thousands of the composites out there. This issue reminds me of the coil springs cracking on the W body grand prix, impalas, monte Carlos, etc-there are hundreds of thousands of these cars on the road and a very small percentage experience coil spings that crack. Check your spring periodically and you should be fine. When I bought mine for $199 in 1986, there were only a couple of choices.

 

Thanks Ed. I never had any problems with the spring on the 1967.

With the 1974, SS straps were used. I picked up a couple of packages of them (four straps in each) from a local auto parts supplier. Cost was about $20.00 for both.

 

No plans for that. My front springs seem OK (unlike what the rear was).

 

Paul if you haven't done it yet try the Bilsteins they are more than worth the money. You won't believe the difference.

I have no doubt that Bilstein makes a fine product. But I put on four new Monroe gas shocks just last year. And they seem OK for my type of mild driving.