Author Topic: Leaf Springs  (Read 12634 times)

sixt9x33rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Leaf Springs
« on: August 15, 2008, 02:03:04 AM »
I had my leaf springs re-arched and went to pick them up and the guy had painted them. Great!!!!

I am considering having the black paint sandblasted off. Has anyone done this before? I am not sure what the sandblasted finish will look like when complete. I am trying to restore my car back to 100% original and want to avoid messing up my springs. The springs did have some rust on them prior to re-arching.

Thanks
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

hotrod68

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 520
  • almost finished
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2008, 04:06:56 AM »
Since it's new paint, I'd remove it with lacquer thinner or some similiar solvent. The paint should just melt off. Sandblasting will get grit in between the leafs and make a royal mess, and it will leave a clean, but rough surface. If they're rust-free under the paint you can use Cosmoline to stop any surface rust from forming on the bare metal. A good alternative is to paint them with cast-iron gray paint. Not 100% original, but the springs look nice and they won't rust. My 2 cents and good luck!
HotRod'68  1968 SS350 coupe undergoing frame-off resto/rod. 386/350/4.11s
Butternut Yellow    black standard interior

sixt9x33rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2008, 11:39:58 AM »
Since it's new paint, I'd remove it with lacquer thinner or some similiar solvent. The paint should just melt off. Sandblasting will get grit in between the leafs and make a royal mess, and it will leave a clean, but rough surface. If they're rust-free under the paint you can use Cosmoline to stop any surface rust from forming on the bare metal. A good alternative is to paint them with cast-iron gray paint. Not 100% original, but the springs look nice and they won't rust. My 2 cents and good luck!

I tried Lacquer Thinner right when I got home. The paint started to come off but it did not come off easily...still alot on them and not coming off easily. The springs are dis-assembled.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

detfox

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 69
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2008, 12:40:32 AM »
A good alternative is to paint them with cast-iron gray paint. Not 100% original, but the springs look nice and they won't rust. My 2 cents and good luck!
Eastwood offers a number of different aerosols, what one would you suggest for the leaf springs?

sixt9x33rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2008, 03:36:16 AM »
I had my springs sandblasted and they came out really good. I coated them with Boe Shield so they would not rust.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

RamAirDave

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 334
    • View Profile
    • TheMuscleCarGuys.com
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2008, 05:52:26 AM »
I coated them with Boe Shield so they would not rust.

Boeshield is not permanent.  They will rust if you don't re-coat them periodically.
"Build them how the designers and engineers envisioned them to be"

www.TheMuscleCarGuys.com

mrdetails

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 164
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2008, 02:58:28 PM »
Sandblasting will lighten the color. They are heat treated steel and have a medium gray color. Try paint stripper. I coated mine with Eastwood Diamond semi-gloss clear with cosmoline over that. Cosmoline is available from Rick's in a spray can. I keep it on all the black oxide bolts.

Good luck

sixt9x33rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2008, 11:54:39 AM »
I coated them with Boe Shield so they would not rust.

Boeshield is not permanent.  They will rust if you don't re-coat them periodically.

ok thanks
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

sixt9x33rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2008, 11:58:50 AM »
Sandblasting will lighten the color. They are heat treated steel and have a medium gray color. Try paint stripper. I coated mine with Eastwood Diamond semi-gloss clear with cosmoline over that. Cosmoline is available from Rick's in a spray can. I keep it on all the black oxide bolts.

Good luck
Unfortunately, I did not have many other alternatives after they painted them. I agree that sandblasting does lighten them up, but they guy did as light of a job as he could.

I have used Eastwood's clear in the past and have liked it too. I guess I will have to remove the Boeshield or wait for it to come off before I paint the springs with clear? Can I put the Cosmoline over the Boeshield?

Thanks
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

Jerry@CHP

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1512
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2008, 01:11:50 PM »
The springs will have to come apart to do the job right.  When going back together, we have had great success with Rem Oil.  Wipe the springs down and then using a clean shop rag, wipe the springs down with Rem Oil.  Rem Oil has teflon in it and this will keep the rust away for quite a while.

Jerry 

sixt9x33rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2008, 06:38:04 PM »
The springs will have to come apart to do the job right.  When going back together, we have had great success with Rem Oil.  Wipe the springs down and then using a clean shop rag, wipe the springs down with Rem Oil.  Rem Oil has teflon in it and this will keep the rust away for quite a while.

Jerry 
Rem oil....the gun oil?
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

1968RSZ28

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6188
    • View Profile

Sauron327

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1357
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2008, 06:58:59 PM »
   There are others in different industries that perform similar tasks. The firearm, machine tool, aviation, or marine industry require proper protective coatings. I used to coat the machines with similar preservatives ( many moons ago). Further investigation led to the link below and there are others.
    http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/11503-corrosion-inhibitor-16oz-from-crc-chemicals.html

mrdetails

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 164
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2008, 05:03:03 PM »
sixt9x33rs: There are many. many different rust preventitive products on the market. I like the cosmoline product, it's heavy wax with a lot of solvent so it will spray. The military used it for long term armament storage. New black oxide bolts usually come coated with it. It is easy to remove with solvent.
I usually just spray it into a cup and coat the parts I want coated with a small brush. I would imagine you could put it over Boeshield, as always try an experment first.
Good Luck

lakeholme

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2497
  • 68-12D L30/M35
    • View Profile
Re: Leaf Springs
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2008, 05:39:39 PM »
Some repo parts are shipped with a cosmoline covering:

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=503.0
Phillip, HNR & NCR-AACA, Senior Master, Team Captain, Admin.,
Spring Southeastern Nationals chair, AACA National Director

 

anything