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The front shock absorbers on my '41 120 Coupe are shot so I'm getting them rebuilt.

Also, it appears the front coil springs may be well and truely cactus as well. So I'm thinking of having some new ones made up, but before doing so are there any dimensions and specifications I need to tell the spring maker?
Like length under no load and under max load?
What is Max load?
I've heard of "spring rates" - is this info required?
Any other info needed?

I've posted a pic of one of the front coils, taken after the '41 was jacked up and with no load on the spring. Under load the springs appear to be almost fully compressed and the only thing giving either of them some room for travel is the spacer you see between the coils, both have one spacer each.

Another question - Is the spacer a cheap way of prolonging spring life? I don't want spacers if that's the case.

More photos of the springs are included in the attached link, Nos 13 to 17 and some more towards the end of the album.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ozstatman/WadesWorkshop

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Just as different chassis and bodies had different shock absorber tuning (valving), if you check the parts book you'll see that they also had different spring numbers (rates) for different body weights and passenger loadings. In earlier years Packard did quote the spring rate in the parts book so perhaps if you have a 41 parts book you could find that data for your specific chassis and body type which your spring maker would certainly need. But though I appreciate the shipping cost issue, I'd recommend buying new springs from someone like Kanter's who has already done all the work to spec them out.

The spacer you see if a cheap way to restore car riding height by compensating for spring fatigue by jacking up the coil. Though a common enough practice years back, it surely detracts from ride properties.

Mal, I looked up the spring rate in my parts book. As best I can determine, for a model 1901 without side mounts it reads:
Part no. 348377..... 1525# x 74 rate. I can't interpret that for you but for comparison my limo with sidemounts it would be Part no. 364609..... 2300# x 120 rate. Quite a difference.

Guys,

Thanks for the advice and info - it is much appreciated.

Mal,

I found this website that helps to explain spring rate and other things "Coil Spring" related.

http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages/spring.shtml

Hopefully it may have some answers you are looking for.

You probably already have this but it's all I could find in my stuff. Hope your model is one listed.

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Thankyou both BigKev and HH56,

My education continues for things automotive with Kev's link, and HH56's document zooms into the nitty gritty technical aspects for the 1901 springs that I will need.

To both a big -