Recommendations for what to do with leaf springs during resto...

[7E-Bodies]

As I move along through the restoration on m 70 RT (like a thundering herd of turtles), I am wondering how to determine what will be needed on my original leaf springs (440 auto car). It's a given that I'd be refurbishing them, but how does one determine if they have issues? The car had 64k miles but it's been sitting on them until two years ago. Do they sag? Weaken? Suggestions? (Going back original as possible)

[blown motor]

I've taken mine to a spring shop and had them re-arched back to original. You will likely need to find a shop that's had the same old guy running it for decades and knows these old cars.

[76orangewagon]

I agree with Blown Motor. I took my OEM "044" springs to my local shop (Stuver Spring in Akron, Ohio) they looked up in their book which gave then the measurements for the factory arch and set them to factory specs. Since they have to dismantle the springs to re-arch the main spring I dropped them off at my local powder coater and had them blast and coat them with a satin clear. I've read that they were dipped in a vat of black paint from the original manufacture to keep them for immediately rusting but after inspecting the leafs there was no evidence of paint between the leafs or underneath the inspection marks. I would highly recommend soaking the main eyelet (front) in evaporust for a day or so to see if there's any remains of paint inspection marks before blasting (if you go that route). I ordered a set of zinc liners and clamps and reassembled them.

[blown motor]

Those look really good @76orangewagon

[xx88man]

   nice work

[7E-Bodies]

@76orangewagon  Super beautiful work, Ross! Great advice.