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Topic: rear leaf spring

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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Re: rear leaf spring (7/17)
 11/17/23 7:00pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 896

Gary has a point. Maybe someone replaced the stock spring bolts with longer ones. I know I did that to lower mine to even it up with the front end. The front end dropped a little when I put on the American Racing Vector wheels because they had another half inch of negative offset which caused the front end to drop somewhat.

 

Not positive but I believe the stock rear spring bolts were 6" long.



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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: rear leaf spring (8/17)
 11/18/23 2:53pm
NorskyLifetime Member
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Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
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F4Gary said:

Maybe you can raise the rear with the spring bolts.  Shorter?

If memory serves I believe longer bolts are needed to lower the rear ride height.  Shorter bolts, or cranking them tighter, will raise the ride height.  It seems counter-intuitive but it works. 




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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Re: rear leaf spring (9/17)
 11/18/23 5:51pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 896

Norsky said:
F4Gary said:

Maybe you can raise the rear with the spring bolts.  Shorter?

If memory serves I believe longer bolts are needed to lower the rear ride height.  Shorter bolts, or cranking them tighter, will raise the ride height.  It seems counter-intuitive but it works. 


You are correct but the OP wants to raise his ride height in the rear to match the front.




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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: rear leaf spring (10/17)
 11/19/23 9:32am
F4Gary
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air. 2017 Black Rose Grand Sport convertible.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1466

Which ever way.  My point was that maybe his spring bolts are the problem. 🤷‍♂️



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Re: rear leaf spring (11/17)
 11/19/23 11:58am
Dblancha79Gold Member
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Weatogue, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1979 C3 L82 383 cu in


Joined: 6/29/2015
Posts: 90

Thanks Guys, I measured my spring end bolts and they are 8 inch's long with the nut screwed up to max thread run out.  I ordered a threading die to cut some additional threads to get me closer to the 6-1/4 original equipment bolts. Will cut of the excess.  Thanks again for the help.



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"Made to be run hard"
Simsbury, Ct.

Re: rear leaf spring (12/17)
 11/19/23 6:22pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 896

You might check the head of the bolt to see if it's a Grade 8 bolt or not. I believe the 6" OEM bolts were Grade 8 for their strength. I mentioned this only because it might be hard to cut threads on it if it is a Grade 8.  



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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: rear leaf spring (13/17)
 11/20/23 6:13am
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2459

Just my honest opinion,  it may be easier to just buy a grade 8 bolt in the hardware store. They are not that hard to find. Chances are the one in the car may be the same quality, not O.E.M. 



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Re: rear leaf spring (14/17)
 11/21/23 6:06am
Dblancha79Gold Member
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Weatogue, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1979 C3 L82 383 cu in


Joined: 6/29/2015
Posts: 90

With a little work I was able to extend the threads on the 9/16 diameter grade 8 spring bolts.  Car is all set, was able to get the correct ride height back. Thanks everyone for your help.



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"Made to be run hard"
Simsbury, Ct.

Re: rear leaf spring (15/17)
 11/21/23 7:39am
NorskyLifetime Member
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Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am


Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7247

👍  👏



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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Re: rear leaf spring (16/17)
 11/21/23 10:51pm
73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 896

Just curious, was your 8" a Grade 8 bolt?

Edit: Oops, didn't read your last post.  😟



|UPDATED|11/21/2023 11:51:57 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: rear leaf spring (17/17)
 12/4/23 10:21am
MackLS5
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Vette(s):
1970 Bridgehampton Blue ext, Lt.Blue interior 454 M21 Cumberland, VA


Joined: 10/29/2021
Posts: 6

In 2021 I rebuilt my 70 LS5 coupe using a TRW mono leaf 340 lb. rear spring from Muskegon brake co. They were very helpful with the purchase.  The responsiveness in the rear has improved a lot. It’s a daily driver with typical curve roads medium speeds in my area of Va.  I noticed the best ride  improvement on the Blue Ridge pkwy last fall.  It did raise my rear height about 1.5 inches, which has put it just above the front height. You can lower the ride height by using longer bolts.  Good luck 



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