I tried the 57 to 58 spring swap on my 57 Windsor. They fit, after a
fashion, but imagine my dismay (and blue air around my car) when I put the
car back down and there was NO way to jounce the car, and the back end
looked like a hotrod on steroids. The back of the car is at least 5" - 8"
too high, with no way to compensate. Never, ever assume just because the
cars are the same model, one year apart with the same body shell, that parts
will interchange. I learned the hard way, after I threw away my 57 springs.
As far a stiffer springs. I ended up with a 57 DeSoto wagon for parts, and
I noticed that the springs were the correct length (YAY), and there appeared
to be an extra leaf (YAY), but when it was ready to install them, I noticed
that the front spring bushing had a smaller bolt hole. Didn't want to mess
with the whole wrong bolt thing. Still couldn't win.
Bought a 57 Saratoga 4 drhdtp and a 57 Windsor 4 dr sedan for parts just
for the springs. Hope they are good. If not, time for brand new ones from
ESSO springs.
Mark
MoPar Man on the Oregon Coast
57 Windsor 2 dr hardtop (among other MoPArs)
Hope I get to show it this weekend.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wayne Graefen [SMTP:wrgraefen@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 6:02 AM
> To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [FWDLK] '57-58 Spring Swap - NO
>
> Ron,
>
> As Joe Savard has correctly pointed out, '58 springs are 4"
> longer than '57 springs. I'm virtually certain this is true in
> every make: Plym, Ddg, DeS, Chrys. - not sure about Imperial,
> but probably so. You must use same-year springs for your '57.
> The trouble with any '57 spring swap is that all used '57
> springs have been over stressed in use so you may not gain
> anything or may have cracked leaves. If you get any spring pair
> from another car, ALWAYS disassemble and clean them to look for
> cracked leaves. They can crack across the spring (side to side)
> but the main leaf is most prone to cracking end to end in the
> middle of the spring!
> Convertible springs are not necessarily one leaf heavier. The
> extra weight can be carried by thicker gauge leaves. Count
> whatever you are looking at.
>
> Wayne Graefen
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ron Waters <Ronbo97@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 7:34 AM
> Subject: Re: Springy Things, Revisited
>
>
> > Can you mount a pair of 58 springs onto a 57 frame ?
> Alternatively, can you
> > mount 57 convertible springs (one extra leaf, I think) to a
> regular frame ?
> >
> > Ron
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Joe Savard <JLSAVARD@xxxxxxx>
> > To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 1:09 AM
> > Subject: [FWDLK] Springy Things, Revisited
> >
> >
> > > Hi, List...
> > >
> > > I cured my spring problem all those years ago by swapping
> the rear springs
> > > from my car with another car that was being traded in. I
> THOUGHT that it
> > was
> > > a 1958, but I've since heard that the 1958 springs were
> longer by 4".
> > > Perhaps it was a late 1957.
> > > I think the ones I put on had an extra leaf in them.
> Perhaps modern air
> > > shocks would help you.
> > >
> > > I will never forget the day I changed the springs. I put on
> every bit of
> > > clothing I could find and laid out in the snow removing my
> springs. Then
> > I
> > > drove 20 miles to where the donor car was located. I again
> laid out in
> > snow
> > > and swapped the springs on that car with mine. Then I drove
> back home and
> > > refit the springs on my car. I think that was the coldest
> day I ever
> > spent!
> > >
> > > Obviously, I was MUCH younger, poorer, and more foolish,
> then!!!
> > >
> > > Joe Savard
> > > Lake Orion, Mi.
> >
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