Re: Richter's '53 Caribbean
Posted by Richter12x2 On 2015/3/29 22:26:55
Started work on the leaf springs this weekend - almost finished. I've ordered the replacement rebound clips, so they can get all put back together and back on the frame.
I disassembled the springs from the Clipper, which were in great shape, and the Caribbean, which were in less good shape - after deliberating for a bit, I decided to refurb the Clipper springs and use those instead of trusting the much more pitted and corroded Caribbean ones. The Caribbeans have a SLIGHTLY stiffer spring rate, but I'm willing to bet most of the difference has gone out the door with the metal that was lost due to rust.
The other bit to make my decision is that Kanter doesn't seem to differentiate between the 51-54 leaf springs at all, on their website, so if I were to buy a new replacement I'd likely end up with the same springs from the Clipper anyway, only probably without the isolators and grooved spring steel that Packard actually used back then.
After going over them thoroughly with a wirewheel, I gave them a couple of coats with zinc paint, since zinc helps fight corrosion, and is supposed to have awesome wear characteristics (we'll see how that goes). Now they're reassembled with the isolators, and I'm going to give them a coat of black tomorrow.
Also, I left out the helper spring, which is probably something that the clipper owner added when he added the trailer hitch. I'm hanging onto it for now, but likely if the spring rate doesn't work out, I'll just pull the trigger on some new springs rather than add the helper spring back. I have a feeling it'll be fine though.
Goal is to have a rolling chassis by the end of April!
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I disassembled the springs from the Clipper, which were in great shape, and the Caribbean, which were in less good shape - after deliberating for a bit, I decided to refurb the Clipper springs and use those instead of trusting the much more pitted and corroded Caribbean ones. The Caribbeans have a SLIGHTLY stiffer spring rate, but I'm willing to bet most of the difference has gone out the door with the metal that was lost due to rust.
The other bit to make my decision is that Kanter doesn't seem to differentiate between the 51-54 leaf springs at all, on their website, so if I were to buy a new replacement I'd likely end up with the same springs from the Clipper anyway, only probably without the isolators and grooved spring steel that Packard actually used back then.
After going over them thoroughly with a wirewheel, I gave them a couple of coats with zinc paint, since zinc helps fight corrosion, and is supposed to have awesome wear characteristics (we'll see how that goes). Now they're reassembled with the isolators, and I'm going to give them a coat of black tomorrow.
Also, I left out the helper spring, which is probably something that the clipper owner added when he added the trailer hitch. I'm hanging onto it for now, but likely if the spring rate doesn't work out, I'll just pull the trigger on some new springs rather than add the helper spring back. I have a feeling it'll be fine though.
Goal is to have a rolling chassis by the end of April!
Attach file:
(34.28 KB)
(65.23 KB)
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