Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2013/5/22 10:12:16

LEAF SPRINGS That's a good suggestion, JW. I'll take it back and ask the mechanic to point out the crack, which I couldn't find.

Once in the 70s, a spring or holder broke. It came down on the brake cable as I was going down a steep hill in my neighborhood. There I sat, with the hand brake forced on by the spring, and my foot on the brake, waiting for the tow truck, which had to call for a bigger back-up truck to lift the Duchess from the rear and pull it uphill. It was a little touch and go.

I had the suspension checked and updated with suspension kits 7 years ago as one of the first steps in restoration which included "rear spring eye and shackle bushings.

Does a special shop have to remove the springs? Do you need special equipment? If I could tackle that, I could take the springs to Oregon Auto Spring for refurbishing and re-install them.