In a message dated 1/8/02 8:31:13 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jaboruch@netzero.net writes:
<< The springs are marked with TSCo62. The
are a left wound spring, 9 inches long, and use a shortened aluminum
spacer. The Competition manual that I have note a factory competition
spring that is left wound, but does not use the spacers. >>
Several years ago, I install the front springs from Donna Mae's TR-3 into my
TR-3. These are 8" springs that use the stock spacers, and the front of the
car still sits low. If Mike Cook is correct with the fact that Group 44
originally set up this car, the spring arrangement might be something that
they did. Before installing these springs, I had bought competition springs
from Lee Mueller in the late 60's. These are 9" springs that were used
without the spacers.
After I bought the first set of competition springs, two or three people told
me that I wasted my money, and that all I had to do was turn the stock
springs over to get a stiffer spring. I wont say that they didn't know what
they were talking about, but I certainly can't understand how they could be
right. A spring constant is a spring constant. If you set a spring upright
and try to compress it, and then turn it over and do the same thing, the
smashability should be the same.
During the next month's SCCA meeting, I questioned these people as to how
turning over springs could be make any difference. They said it is due to
the way the spring is wound. I then went home, set a coil spring upright on
the bench, observed how it was wound, turned it over, and then saw that it
was wound the same way.
Oh well, shades of the ancient past.
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