'57 300C - rear spring leaves no? & brake fade

["christopher beilby" <thelastbestgenius@xxxx>]

Hi all from Australia where our dollar is still too low.

1. I know 300 C rear springs are supposed to have 7 leaves - but how come my 
3 cars all have six, and all seem fairly unmolested original cars, 2 that 
ceased being used in the early 70s. (build dates Dec '56, and April '57, so 
that maybe shoots outthe window that only early cars had 7, then went 6 
later in prodn for softer ride?)
Add to this the sping u bolts that hold the springs to the diff do not seem 
long enough for 7 leaves. One of the cars seems way firmer in the rear, yet 
it only has 6 leaves.
Please explain why or how all were changed seemingly early on - was there a 
company recall, replacement - or otherwise was 6 original, what is the 
prooof that 7 were mandatory, not say just special order?

2. There are historic races here over Easter - the track is about 4 klms, 
with two straights, where I'd guess my 300 will hit 120mph, and on the other 
110mph, both with 40 mph right angle or hairpin bend at ends. Brakes are 
stock.
Is it a waste of time trying semi cmpetition linings on the front?. The 
event is called regularity, 5-7 laps only, so I can just go slower from the 
start to nurse the brakes, but friends of mine coming over here have some 
pretty hot Healeys, always bug me, have done so for some time, and I'd like 
to show them how good a near stock 300C is. My 57 Tbird cooks its stock 
brakes at about 3 laps, but can run with/faster than stock XK120-140 Jags 
until then. I can use the Bird, but would like to see how the hemi pulls, 
and how it corners with that pretty feelingless power steering.




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