Author Topic: Leaf Spring code?  (Read 8880 times)

bergy

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
    • View Profile
Leaf Spring code?
« on: February 09, 2013, 04:28:47 PM »
I decided to freshen up my '69 Pace Car for my winter project.  This car gets driven a lot, so the old resto is starting to show its age.  I was cleaning up the leaf springs and noticed a "GM" stamping with a "U" beside it on the main leaf.  Not sure if it's the original leaf spring or not - has anyone seen this before?  Is the "U" a spring code?  They are 5 leaf springs.


68camaroz28

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2013, 06:47:23 PM »
Its original! I found it on 6 of my 8 leafs on our 68 4ply leaf springs. Normally found on the main leafs and seems to be sporadic on others from when I researched the topic a couple of years ago. U is not a spring code that I have ever read! I thought or read somewhere it was the 'C' turned 90 degrees.. :)
Go here to post 201 (our 68Z build thread) to see some of our GMC embossed leafs.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584&page=14
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

bergy

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2013, 08:34:20 PM »
Thanks for the info.  As I'm cleaning them up, I noticed that 3 of the passemger side individual leafs have the "GMU" (or GMC) mark & 4 of the leafs on the driver's side have it.  The smallest leaf on both sides doesn't have it.  I've taken apart a lot of these cars & never noticed that little stamp before :-)

bertfam

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4492
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2013, 09:02:46 PM »
It's still under research, but not all original springs have the GM casting. Not sure why some do and some don't, but so far there seems to be no rhyme or reason!

Ed
« Last Edit: February 10, 2013, 02:24:51 AM by Ed Bertrand »

bergy

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2013, 01:30:26 AM »
It may just be imbedded in the sizing roller - so every full length of stock gets embossed at equal intervals.  When the full lengths are cut to rough leaf size - some pieces retain the embossing and some don't (depending on where the full length of stock was cut).  Just a thought....

69Z28-RS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5778
  • owner since 4-Apr-1976
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2013, 05:55:40 AM »
that was my thought as well Bergy...  :)
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

JohnZ

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4365
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2013, 04:37:29 PM »
Many midyear Corvette rear leaf springs have "GLS" debossed on the edge of the leaves, and our research with Rockwell and Ontario Steel Products (who manufactured the springs) disclosed that the "GLS" stood for Great Lakes Steel, who supplied the SAE 5140 strip stock the springs were made from. The "GMU" on Camaro leaf springs must identify a different steel supplier to Chevrolet-Livonia Spring & Bumper, who manufactured the Camaro springs.
'69 Z/28
Fathom Green
CRG

bergy

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2013, 06:29:22 PM »
Makes sense - thanks John

lynnbilodeau

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 395
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2013, 03:37:26 PM »
Speaking of codes, page 57 of the AIM (69) indicates color code stripe at the front eye of the leaf spring assy.

I have asked this before on another board.

Anyone know the color codes?

Even if yoiu don't know them all, anyone know the corrct color for the Z/28 rear spring?

bergy

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2013, 07:25:31 PM »
Interesting that 5140 has a fairly high chrome specification and would commonly fall into the stainless steel range.  I'm thinking that they must have hugged the lower allowable range of chrome though based on the way these springs rusted!

camaro cat

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 60
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2013, 10:26:38 PM »
I just reread this post & this time as I looked at the picture of the edge of the spring, it immediately struck me that  the embossed letters are not "GMU" but "GM-U". Not a big deal but if it helps in determining the source for this detail, then hopefully I've made a small contribution.

Loren
Loren
1967 RS L30 10C LOS
1969 SS/RS L78 02D NOR

lynnbilodeau

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 395
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2013, 03:43:00 PM »
So what color is the paint stripe on Z/28 springs.

Mike S

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2664
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2013, 04:12:22 PM »
So what color is the paint stripe on Z/28 springs.

Lynn,

  I believe the spring color coding was a 67 thing prior to using a label to identify rear springs
I raised that question last year. You can review it here:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=9739.0

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

lynnbilodeau

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 395
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Spring code?
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2013, 08:00:54 PM »
Thanks Mike.

There were lots of part had numbers, etc. but still were coded with a swab of paint.  Distributors, spindles, even my original fuel line had dark green paint on it.  I believe it was for easy id on the line.

Anyway, page 57 of the 1969 model AIM shows the location for the "color code stripe".  Seems like they would have figured out is was non existent after two years.

 

anything