unfortunate spring quetion

[avantey]

I was so ecxited to finally get the new rear leafs for the '16 Hupp that I tore right into finish work on them without doing one basic check. Tonite I counted the leafs and the guy copied a seven leaf set I gave him as an example instead of following the printed sheet with dimensions for a six leaf spring that is correct for the car.

So now I have a question or two. Can I use the seven leaf setup which I think is for a touring (heavier) car? Or will the roadster ride to high or hard or ...?

Since the dimensions on the leaves are similar can I just leave a leaf out of the stack and get it approximately right?

Here are the leaf lengths per the factory parts list (and like to the leaves I gave him for sample):

No. 7 leaf 6 leaf

main 52.5 52.125 about the same

2 52 52.375

3 45 43.5

4 37.5 34

5 30.75 25

6 22.25 15.5

7 15.125

other 2w x 9/32 th 2w x .300th (same as new leaves)

I am thinking I can drop leaf no. 5 from the seven set and be close to the spring rate of the six set. Any thoughts out there?

thanks- Bill

[Friartuck]

What was the situation before you started? Did you have just one spring and the vendor has trying to copy it? Are the two springs differing widths and thicknesses? I think you'll run into problems if you remove the #5 spring as you suggested. I don't see anything wrong with staying with the seven spring version. The amount of deflection maybe slightly less giving a slightly stiffer ride. Keep in mind the roads of today, much smoother, less need for stiffer suspension hence it sort of justifies a six leaf version. If it means having to redo both springs just to make a "sound" spring arrangement in a six spring version (and incurring the expense), then stay with the seven leaf version. Given the dimensions listed, removing just the #5 leaf would leave too much distance between the two adjacent leafs and would fatigue the longer one. The important point here is that both springs give equal deflection (which only a spring vendor can measure under load) and that the overall height is adjusted accordingly.

I recently went through something similar where I had a 13 leaf spring for a 12 leaf spring application and the overall height was higher than desired. This situation was where a bulletproof limo body was original which had extra metal plates thus extra weight to compensate. Without the extra weight of now using a regular non-bullet proof body the chassis rode 3 inches higher than desired. I kept the same 13 springs because they were symterically spaced amongst themselves and removing one would create too much fatigue. The spring vendor simply rearched them downward. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[avantey]

Thank you for the response Friartuck. I got the car in pieces but pics from the early sixties show the car with mismatched and incorrect springs. The long time owner also said both rears were wrong for this car. One rear fender is many inches higher than the other one. As parts I got sets that are incomplete, mismatched and unfinished (no taper, not rounded ends) on some leaves.

I took the measures from an original parts book and had sets made. The mixup came from giving the shop the seven spring set as an example of the finish work for taper and rounds. He apparently copied them rather than use the spec sheet I gave him.

The parts book says the seven leaf is for a touring body which is probably a few hundred pounds heavier. That is why I posted the question here. Could these springs work for the lighter roadster body and if not how can I modify them? It sounds like I can't do this easily or well, but I am not an expert.

I am also concerned about originality as I will be having the car judged hopefully at the national level. Since it is probably the only one around how will leaving it at seven leaves affect the judges? Will they question it or not really know?

thanks- Bill

[Peter J.Heizmann]

avantey...

Below is what I found from the "AACA Library & Research Center": (click on "Library" on the Home Page. Top of header on far right, "Online Catalog". Search "Marque or Author".)

Of note, "...standard equipment and provides specifications for the above-titled models", in your case "1916".

_______________________________________________

Marque or Author Hupmobile 1916

Title: Hupmobile * 1916

Summary: 7.75x9 one-color catalog; 24 pages plus covers; Copyrighted 1915; Printed in Detroit. Illustrates, details features, includes standard equipment, and provides specifications for the above-titled models.

Call number: 97-H1247

__________________________________________________

There is a "Research Request" in the header, too. Hopefully, you will find the answers.

Regards,

Peter J... <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_Joe Kieliszek]

I've been "fine tuning" a couple of replacement springs I had

made for the front of my Buick. While they did an excellent job

of matching the arc and eye centers of the old sample, they left

a couple of the leafs long by 3/8" to 1/2" on each end..

A little patience with a right angle grinder to round back and re-

taper the ends (being careful not to overheat the ends). A flapper

wheel removes any grinding marks.

Joe <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />