[Judge273]

Originally Posted by FunctionalShaker

Well I hammered and I squished and I bent and I clamped and I managed to get a half tabbed job done. Here are pics of the almost finished springs (still have to stencil the part numbers on). Phew.

Now I have to find something to keep the clamps from rusting. Maybe cosmolene!

To answer your question on what paints I used to restore -- actually these are new Eaton springs I corrected.

I stripped off the black paint, gave them a mild media blast for paint adhesion, epoxy primed each leaf (black), reassembled the springs with the center bolt, then sprayed them first with Duplicolor's Storm Gray metallic, followed by an uneven coat of Duplicolor's Gun metal Metalic (lighter) and a "spot dusting" coat using Eastwood's zinc Phosphate. Hard to explain in print.

I then installed the correct pads, followed by the clamps (where they were originally, although it doesn't seem they were too particular within about a 3-4 inch range). I reused the smallest leaves from my original springs because Eaton's are not cut the same and, although unseen when installed, these have the date stamps on them. (same curvature) I also reused the original center bolts as the head markings are different. The things we do for the sake of correctness.

I think that covers it.

Just looking at my leaf spring. The bushing side has the two clamps and back of car has one?

[FunctionalShaker]

Your right. I checked my other T/A and they are like yours. I was so frustrated with these things, I forgot I had turned the springs around, and put them on the wrong end. I'll just take them off and put them on the other side. Hopefully the tabs will hold up.

Is that a loose perch bolt in your pic?

[FunctionalShaker]

Okay, clamps have been replaced and installed on the correct end. Many thanks to Craig (Norwood) for sending out replacements. Greatly appreciated and a Happy B-day.