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Hello everyone! I have discovered this rear spring on a 1982 C3 which seems to be not a standard version for me. Does anyone of you have any information about which spring it may be? Many thanks for your help in advance!
Hello everyone! I have discovered this rear spring on a 1982 C3 which seems to be not a standard version for me. Does anyone of you have any information about which spring it may be? Many thanks for your help in advance!
Why do you think the composite spring isn't correct for an 82?
What did you expect to see?
That is likely the stock spring. Hyperco makes a similar replacement, but don't buy one. Get a VanSteel low-arch composite spring instead, if you want to stiffen the rear a bit.
Why do you think the composite spring isn't correct for an 82?
What did you expect to see?
Thank you very much. You have already answered my question Never said that this spring is incorrect! But I'm more familiar with leaf springs and their different layers.
What are the advantages of the composite spring?
I thought the stock spring is more narrow and has visible layers…
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by AT-6
Thank you very much. You have already answered my question Never said that this spring is incorrect! But I'm more familiar with leaf springs and their different layers.
What are the advantages of the composite spring?
I thought the stock spring is more narrow and has visible layers…
Advantages: Better ride, doesn't fatigue or wear out, and 30+ pounds lighter.
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
Advantages: Better ride, doesn't fatigue or wear out, and 30+ pounds lighter.
Well they are lighter, not so sure about the ride and they do wear out after a period of time, they de-laminate. I prefer the steel spring Gymkhana springs that mine came with. Send your VIN number into GM and get the reproduction build sheet (you can order it online) to find out what rear suspension yours came with when new.
82's with the standards suspension came with the composite fiberglass rear spring, cars with the optional Gymkhana Suspension package came with a more tradition multi leaf steel rear spring. 81 was the first year for the composite spring. Automatic trans 81's with standard suspension came with the composite spring, 81 4 speeds and Gymkhana suspension automatics came with the steel spring.
my 81 gymkhana auto has glass spring new.
I didn't know much back then and didn't ask dealer.
big 1 1/8 front bar, no rear bar.
was it a dealer installed item?
my 81 gymkhana auto has glass spring new.
I didn't know much back then and didn't ask dealer.
big 1 1/8 front bar, no rear bar.
was it a dealer installed item?
Not dealer installed. Do you have the invoice showing option FE7?
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by Buccaneer
Well they are lighter, not so sure about the ride and they do wear out after a period of time, they de-laminate. I prefer the steel spring Gymkhana springs that mine came with. Send your VIN number into GM and get the reproduction build sheet (you can order it online) to find out what rear suspension yours came with when new.
Well, I'm sure about the ride improvement. The stock steel spring with all its interleaf friction (particularly the static c/f) made my car ride like a truck. Even the much higher rate fiberglass spring I replaced it with rode better than the lower rate stock spring. And, regarding stuff wearing out/breaking (as nothing is 100% durable), according to Dave McLellan in his book, the fiberglass spring is typically capable of an order of magnitude (10x) more cycles than a steel spring, and the long term "fraying or delamination of the outer fibers" had no measurable effect on the spring rate or load capacity. Those springs are not a periodic maintenance replacement part.
I think I measured a 43 lb weight savings (50 lbs, vs 7 lbs), though the FE7 spring may be a bit lighter, with fewer springs.
@4-vettes has a 33 year old composite spring in his car (VB&P). Is that not good enough?
The steel spring has some (unpredictable) internal damping with the leaves rubbing together, and is "progressive", while the composite spring is linear. But that's what they make better (possibly adjustable) shocks for.
my 81 gymkhana auto has glass spring new.
I didn't know much back then and didn't ask dealer.
big 1 1/8 front bar, no rear bar.
was it a dealer installed item?
Originally Posted by calwldlife
says gymkhana I can't remember code.
I don't know where it says "Gymkhana", but if you have an 81 with fiberglass rear spring and don't have a rear sway bar then you do not have FE7 Gymkhana Suspension. Gymkhana Suspension in 1981 included a larger front bar, a rear bar, the steel multi leaf rear spring and heavy duty shock absorbers. When Gymkhana was ordered with an automatic trans, the fiberglass rear spring was replaced with the steel multi leaf spring.
The 81 sales brochures clearly states Gymkhana includes the rear bar and steel rear spring, as do numerous other 1981 Corvette sales and promotional pieces. I have a set of internal Confidential GM Product Program pages dated 9-15-80 that under rear spring it states: "Composite fiberglass monoleaf to reduce weight. (Auto. trans. and base susp.).....Carryover multiple leaf metal spring for manual trans., and optional FE7 suspension and F51 H. D,. shocks." I tried to post pictures of the Product Program page and the sales brochure, but for some reason when the photos got to 90% the Forum stopped loading them. If I get a chance I'll try later to get them to load later.
I don't know where it says "Gymkhana", but if you have an 81 with fiberglass rear spring and don't have a rear sway bar then you do not have FE7 Gymkhana Suspension. Gymkhana Suspension in 1981 included a larger front bar, a rear bar, the steel multi leaf rear spring and heavy duty shock absorbers. When Gymkhana was ordered with an automatic trans, the fiberglass rear spring was replaced with the steel multi leaf spring.
The 81 sales brochures clearly states Gymkhana includes the rear bar and steel rear spring, as do numerous other 1981 Corvette sales and promotional pieces. I have a set of internal Confidential GM Product Program pages dated 9-15-80 that under rear spring it states: "Composite fiberglass monoleaf to reduce weight. (Auto. trans. and base susp.).....Carryover multiple leaf metal spring for manual trans., and optional FE7 suspension and F51 H. D,. shocks." I tried to post pictures of the Product Program page and the sales brochure, but for some reason when the photos got to 90% the Forum stopped loading them. If I get a chance I'll try later to get them to load later.
Thank you very much. You have already answered my question Never said that this spring is incorrect! But I'm more familiar with leaf springs and their different layers.
What are the advantages of the composite spring?
I thought the stock spring is more narrow and has visible layers…
Of interest in this picture is the C4 style Strut Rods. I have only seen one 82 that has had them. I believe that not many cars came with them, probably late in the production year. Just another oddity that GM liked to do to our Corvettes just before production ends and a new model replaces it.
Of interest in this picture is the C4 style Strut Rods. I have only seen one 82 that has had them. I believe that not many cars came with them, probably late in the production year. Just another oddity that GM liked to do to our Corvettes just before production ends and a new model replaces it.
Why would you think that's a 84 strut rod? 80 to 82 used a different strut rod than earlier C3's.
1982 Leaf Spring design
Never said that this spring is incorrect! But I'm more familiar with leaf springs and their different layers.
