What are the best replacement leaf springs for a 66 GT350? Seems to be many choices but I want some as close as possible to the stock style. I know 4 leaf but they seem to have too many choices. Trying to keep ride height the same.
Thanks
Matt
www.eatondetroitspring.com/
I know a lot of people have used these FWIW, now whether they are the best choice for a 66 Shelby I don't know. I'm sure somebody more knowledgeable than myself will chime in!
Mike
+1 Eaton Detroit and made in USA
The best springs are the originals. They can be rebuilt and re - arched by a spring shop. My experience with the Eaton Detroit springs has been dreadful.
Mine too. Unjustified arrogance.
Buy the correct Eaton springs from NPD and save the ID leaves from the originals.
If you want to put replace them on the new springs that is probably your best option.
If you dont want to take apart the new springs, let the new owner have the option of using the original numbers off the originals
Quote from: Royce Peterson on March 25, 2023, 10:02:30 AM
The best springs are the originals. They can be rebuilt and re - arched by a spring shop. My experience with the Eaton Detroit springs has been dreadful.
I had them re-arc their New springs I bought at NPD. They got the height I wanted off of measurements I took compared to assy manual heights which my Eatons were at. I dropped them off. Drove around Detroit for about an hour and picked them up.
Virginia Mustang has the springs that look the same. They are built to a 67 spec to be generic for many cars. For a 66, plan to have a spring shop de-arch them 3/4 - 1" https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=7091.15
I bought rear replacement springs from Virginia Mustang and they were way too soft. I ended up putting the originals back in the car.
Dave
So basically there is no easy direct replacement lol.
I've got the originals but a couple are broke. Customer is wanting to get the car on the road asap.
Quote from: mtdubvee on March 25, 2023, 03:40:41 PM
So basically there is no easy direct replacement lol.
I've got the originals but a couple are broke. Customer is wanting to get the car on the road asap.
It gets complicated really fast.
Quote from: GT350DAVE on March 25, 2023, 03:39:15 PM
I bought rear replacement springs from Virginia Mustang and they were way too soft. I ended up putting the originals back in the car.
Dave
I did mine about 8 years ago and at the time VA was sourcing them from John R Spring http://www.johnrspring.com/leafsprings.html
At the time, JR Spring told me they were the 42-437 spec (page 32) intended for a heavier 67/68 http://springresearch.org/pdf/volume_17.pdf
Maybe something changed if you did yours at a different time?
Quote from: mtdubvee on March 25, 2023, 07:17:31 AM
What are the best replacement leaf springs for a 66 GT350? Seems to be many choices but I want some as close as possible to the stock style. I know 4 leaf but they seem to have too many choices. Trying to keep ride height the same.
Thanks
Matt
Could not agree more! It is almost impossible to buy parts today, you do not know what you are getting....now it seems like there are good, better, and best parts to buy and most you cannot even begin to know.
Where is a good place to just buy parts on line for Shelbys, and Mustangs? A place that just sells the bestest quality and correct parts....
Quote from: 67 GT350 on March 26, 2023, 08:28:18 PM
Quote from: mtdubvee on March 25, 2023, 07:17:31 AM
What are the best replacement leaf springs for a 66 GT350? Seems to be many choices but I want some as close as possible to the stock style. I know 4 leaf but they seem to have too many choices. Trying to keep ride height the same.
Thanks
Matt
Could not agree more! It is almost impossible to buy parts today, you do not know what you are getting....now it seems like there are good, better, and best parts to buy and most you cannot even begin to know.
Where is a good place to just buy parts on line for Shelbys, and Mustangs? A place that just sells the bestest quality and correct parts....
There is not one best place to buy IMO. You could narrow it down to mostly 3 IMO. Even then you have to buy informed because of the choice alternatives. That is why a forum like this is invaluable for helping determine the best alternatives so a buyer can make a informed decision for what is best for them.
Bob,
Are you going to share your top 3?
Corey
Yes please do, also would like to be able to "find" the parts easily. Also, to my statement earlier, good, better, best, sometimes the price does not reflect that idea.
Quote from: Corey Bowcutt on March 27, 2023, 07:08:49 AM
Bob,
Are you going to share your top 3?
Corey
There is not a perfect easy button answer . NPD, Virginnia Classic Mustang and Branda Performance are my top 3 picks that have the most variety of new good reproduction parts. However each have go and no go parts alternatives so you have to be informed so to know which place has the best part for a particular Shelby application. These 3 don't have everything and so you have to use other places for some parts that may be better or simply parts the others don't have . That is why a forum like this is invaluable for helping inform so as to determine the best alternatives so a buyer can make a decision that is best for them. I hear complaints constantly about places like CJ that offer lower prices but end up getting wrong or inferior grade parts. My advice is to get informed . That many not be the easiest way but it helps with having a better chance of ending up with the best part for your application.
Quote from: mtdubvee on March 25, 2023, 03:40:41 PM
So basically there is no easy direct replacement lol.
I've got the originals but a couple are broke. Customer is wanting to get the car on the road asap.
My Eatons were spot on but were bought 23 years ago. One day I'll put my original bottom leaf on them.