This was also a very good day. There is an old song that goes Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days are Stones. Today it was Diamonds. It started after breakfast this morning when Mike S and I headed for our secret old wreckers.
Mike needed an NOS starter drive for his Willys starter (54 Chrysler) and I was looking for a set of those old helper springs that go around the shocks. When we got to the fellows shop (he is also a very good and duly licensed Mechanic) He said to me "We were just talking about you." He asked how the project was coming. I told him I needed to try a set of those helper springs and he said "There is an old set on the stack here along the wall." I found them quickly and pulled out my wallet to pay. "I think I will just give them to you" he said. Fine by me. I got home and tried compressing them they were really a bit too springy. I knew if I shortened them they would be stronger. I had calculated previously that something with a combined spring rate of 100lbs per inch would be right. (300lbs total) I needed 5 inches of at rest spring height to sit the car level. I had figured a free length of about 8 inches would work as a jump off point. So measured them . They were exactly 16 inches long. I found the middle and cut both in half. I used the end WITHOUT the progressive winding as I new it would be stronger. I jacked the car up and removed my fake springs (4X4 X 5 inch tall wooden blocks) and inserted the springs. I lowered the car and it sat perfect about a 1/2inch higher then before but I am not in it yet so that was fine. I was surprised my calculations had been right on. It was just an idea to find a basic starting point. Actual rear end weight is not that high as much of the rear end weight comes from the differential, rear wheels and slicks and is unsprung weight. I already knew what the frame weighed and had a pretty good idea the body was about the same at that end of the car. Other then me a bit of aluminum floor there is nothing else putting weight back there. Since I am in the center of the car relative to fore and aft only a portion of my weight will be there as well. Anyway I am in the ball park.
Then after an afternoon with friends at the local car show my wife and I headed off to town for supper. As we pulled up at a stoplight I spied a chrome 4 inch exhaust stack lying at the curb beside the car. "Grab that dear" I said. Despite her arthritis and age she had it in the car before the light changed green. We pulled around the corner and I put it in the back of her SUV while she cleaned the black soot from her hands with several wet wipes. I now have the pipe for the collectors for this engine.
A final finish to the day some old friends bought our dinner unknown to us for some reason. They were at a table nearby. Some days are diamonds. Really.
Don
