<VV> FC Transverse Spring

[BBRT]

Doc,

There are several web sites by spring makers/winders that give formulas for 
figuring out spring rates. My tech guide has disappeared so I can't 
reference any info there, but the P&A 30 may have information, along with 
your  measured wire diameter and free coil length, you should be able to 
calculate what you have and make a good guesstimate as to what you might 
try. If you look in the VV archives, you will find a May 2008? email that 
gives all parameters of 1960 and 1064 car springs. From these along with 
your measurements and calculations, you may be able to draw your own 
conclusions about what you might want to do with an FC.

Chuck S
BBRT
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RoboMan91324 at aol.com>

> Ken,
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> I am not challenging you but your answer raises another question.  If the
> side to side difference in rear springs on the '64 model cars was to 
> compensate
> for engine offset, why were the springs on pre '64 models the same?  Did 
> they
> change the engine offset in the '64s?
>
> To answer your question, another list member wanted to know how to use a 
> car
> transverse spring on an FC.  I can't answer for him but it may be that he
> already had the '64 car springs and wanted to improve the FC's handling. 
> As for
> myself, I already own an aftermarket transverse spring for an FC and would
> prefer to use it eventually rather than buy new equipment.  Obviously, 
> this would
> be the most attractive alternative if I do not need to modify coil springs
> etc.  Since the subject of using a transverse spring on an FC came up, I 
> had
> hoped that someone on the list would know the aftermarket FC spring well 
> enough to
> advise me on coil springs etc.
>
> Doc
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> In a message dated 12/15/2008 9:01:04 AM Pacific Standard Ti>
>> Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:36:33 -0500
>> From: Ken Hand <vairmech at aol.com>
>>
>> ???? The 64 leaf spring took about 40% of the weight of the car, 
>> therefore
>> the coil springs had less capacity to compensate for the leaf. If you 
>> just add
>> the leaf spring to what you have in the FC, you will more than likely 
>> have a
>> very ill handling FC with the wheels already tucked in. As to how far to
>> modify your existing springs to work with that? It is going to be trial 
>> and
>> error on your part as I don't think there is any info on that situation.
>> ??? As far as the different rear springs side to side on a 64 I think 
>> they
>> were trying to compensate for the offset of the engine and trying to make 
>> the
>> car set level.
>> ????? I have to ask, why are you trying to put the leaf spring under an 
>> FC?
>> The ADDCO sway bar will do more for you that the leaf ever though of.
>>
>>
>> Ken Hand
>> 248-613-8586
>> www.corvairmechanic.com