Wollfen's 1971 Sport Fury GT !

[Wollfen]

Damn nice work you do! I like following other progress threads

Maybe this can help you:
I saw this video a while ago about how to treat your leaf springs, and the pro said do not paint or grease your spring leafs because it weakens them.

That's curious, paint weakens the steel? Hmm, I would want to look into that more since plenty of spring steel in cars was painted originally. I am sure I have seen painted coil springs as an example. Torsion bars are spring steel that is always painted from the factory too.

 

[Wollfen]

Alright, having watched the video now I can see what he is saying. The steel itself is okay to be painted, but the paint will wear between the leafs of the spring making it become loose which in turn allows movement that can break the center bolt that holds the pack together. He also said that "Springs rust" and you can't do anything about it. Well I got to thinking and since Mopars use a zinc plate for corrosion resistance what I will do is take the paint off only in the areas where the zinc plate comes into contact with each spring. So not only will I have the protection of the paint but I also have no issues with the springs becoming loose later and still also have the protection of the zinc plates too. I know there are kits out there that replace the zinc with tinplate steel, this is a no-no. That zinc plate is there to stop rust between the leafs and stop the pack from expanding and then eventually exploding the Ubolts.

 

[vdk2010]

I watched it again and he says that petrolium based stuff weakens the steel. You're right!

But you shouldn't paint them according to him because the paint will brittle away and the created space will then loosen the leafs.

 

[vdk2010]

Your solution sounds good.

 

[Fury440]

Ok so no paint between the leaves, no oil or grease and the leaves should be tapered and rolled the ends. Ma Mopar did some tapering, but softened the ends with cloth or in some cases zinc sheet stock. The goal could also have been noise reduction. This all means interior rust will be a fact of life which will over time loosen the center bolt and the pack clamps. Maybe every few years these should be tightened or replaced.

That was a darn good video, I learned a lot from it.

 

[65sporty]

I like the detail on the rear diff, looks good instead of all black

 

[Wollfen]

More parts have arrived, I can do some more work next week!

 

[GT dave]

I didn't know that either!!

You really learn a new thing every day...

I've been dealing with Mopars for 40 years and have never saw one before either. Learned something new today.

 

[sauterd]

More parts have arrived, I can do some more work next week!
View attachment 72895

Lookin' great, Gary, keep up the good work !! Great car !!

 

[Wollfen]

Ok guys, I have been workin away as usual, nice warm day today so finished the rear axle assy and put the painted drums back on. It is now pushed aside for later. As for the truk floor, I began working on that today, pics are self explanatory.

 

[commando1]

Where did you get the section that butts up against the left wheel well?

 

[Wollfen]

Where did you get the section that butts up against the left wheel well?

That is a section out of a front passengers side 68 Chrysler Newport fender. The wheel arch area to be exact.

 

[commando1]

No way......
Nice improvising.

 

[Wollfen]

They don't look nice but they are solid, only need some clean up and a bit of minor repair before sealing and fitting.

 

[Wollfen]

I got the passenger side chassis rail out, I put the replacement next to it for a comparison of what it should look like. Surprising considering the trunk floor only needed two small patches.

 

[Wollfen]

So here is the other side out today, it looks worse than the other, if thats possible. The trunk floor held together though, always a good sign.

 

[CanCritter]

if a fella had a metal brake and couple other tools those wouldn't be hard to make up by the looks of them....

 

[1978 NYB]

Wow! That rear axle is stunning!

 

[Wollfen]

if a fella had a metal brake and couple other tools those wouldn't be hard to make up by the looks of them....

I used to have access to them at Amberley airbase years ago, would be nice to have tools like that yup.

 

[Wollfen]

Wow! That rear axle is stunning!

Thanks! I do enjoy making something look like new again.