Paint spot on leaf leaf springs (yellow Yenko)

[T Billigen]

I talked to Dave Tinnell and according to him the blue paint code was to denote the "front" of the leaf spring so that the workers on the line which way spring went on.

[Rat_Pack]

Tom, not sure why this was questioned on the other post (by the way I cannot find that post again /ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif ) but Dave is correct. Not all Camaros got the spring tags in the rear or the paint dot. Some had complete paint stripe bands around them just like Mustangs for identification. It all depended upon which plant the car was built at and at which time...............RatPack................

[bkhpah]

How could you possibly put one on backwards?..BKH

[Maxx]

Brian, Remember being at the 97 Camaro Nationals in P.Forge w/Island teal Yenko. A owner of a green (4X4) 68 Z28 had there leaf springs on the wrong foot. They were inside out and wrong side up leaf mounting buckets. Maybe they should of used these blue paint dab to indicate "this end toward floor". That was funny!

[shor]

. http://www.yenko.net/attachments/31128-banghead.gif

[Rat_Pack]

Maxx, I saw that car! What is bad, he is not the only one that has done that. /ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif Bkh, not sure how anyone could put them in wrong nowadays. However, the springs were mounted to the rear axle before being mounted in the car and it was probably a "quick reference" guide to make sure they were not going the wrong direction. It would be very easy to install them backwards when mounting them to the axle first...................RatPack................... .

Was the original post on this car deleted? I cannot find it as those were some beautiful pictures of that car...................

[bkhpah]

I would love to see a few legit paint marks like the ones discussed. I have looked at many leafs and have never seen this on an original. I have seen tags only. If someone can post a real unrestored car with a tag and some kind of paint mark I would like to see it. I photograph all types of inspection marks, writing etc. I have not seen this one. I think the Z/28 had the wrong spring perches didn't it?...BKH

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I would also like to see an original car (Nova) with these types of markings, I have only seen Fords with these 'location' markings. I have seen many unrestored Novas, some with as low as 5k and 6k miles on them, and never seen any paint markings on them - only the spring tags which were installed in front of the axle. The springs would have had the front bushing already pressed in when they were installed into the rear housing. So, wouldn't that be enough of an indication of which end went where? I'm just speculating, but why spend the extra time placing a paint mark where there is already a noticeable difference?

Personally, I have seen the blue (torqued) and white (inspected) markings on the front suspension, and cylinder heads (under the orange paint, white 'X's on each end, blue on the bolts). Has anyone seen these colors used elsewhere?

[RonNova396L34]

Marlin,
I think I sent you a PM on this already, but I will repeat it for others. I had blue inspection marks on the inside of my axle shafts. There was a picture of it in NNN. I also had a blue inspection mark on the rear end where the drive shaft connects to it. There also was a reddish orange inspection mark on my driveshaft, probably was orange originally. I also had a blue inspection mark on the Front Bearing Retainer on my 4 speed transmission. There also was a picture of that in NNN. It didn't show too well in those black & white pictures but the color pictures I have clearly show the inspection marks on the axles and transmission.
Ron /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif

[Rat_Pack]

BKH, you asked and you shall receive. The next three posts are of a blue mark, pink paint duab, and a yellow paint stripe. These are all unrestored 67 - 69 Camaros. My memory failed me on as to how the yellow was marked as I thought it was done like a Mustang but I was wrong. It did not have a spring tag on it and it was a LOS built 67 car. The assembly manuals in 67-68 show the paint stripe to the front of the car. My 69 manual is missing the spring installation pages so I could not check them right now. Also the 69 P&A manual lists what these colors are for on the 67's but not on the 68-69's. Each plant used its own way of identifying a spring and it changed throughout the year. Everyone restoring a car needs to research their car before starting the restoration for these reasons. Nothing is etched in stone, like the black tailpanels (remember) /ubbthreads/images/icons/tongue.gif ....................RatPack.............

[Rat_Pack]

Continued..............RatPack................

[Rat_Pack]

The last one............RatPack.............

[bkhpah]

I am gald to see some real pictures, but let's see some of a unrestored 69 Yenko or COPO that the post was about. I have yet to see a tail panel on a Camaro that was not gloss. The reason I am questioning this is that so many times a restoration is follow the leader. Guys add all kinds of marks that were never there. I always take pictures of the odd stuff like you. If the restoration is done the way it was found I love it. I have see some crazy made up marks and I will bet you have too...BKH

[T Billigen]

Thanks Rat Pack, When I talked to Tinnell he said that those paint dobs were correct! I personally did not know, but it looks like he was right. I was referring to Dave Belk's post on the 1969 Yenko that he posted for his friend.

[Rat_Pack]

BKH, you are right, if the restoration is done properly it would done the way the car was found. There are a lot of cars that have been restored as "follow the leader" and they are wrong. Now as to pictures of COPOs or Yenkos with these spring markings, I do not have any. In your original post, which has been deleted, you stated "all Camaros" not the COPOs or Yenkos did not have them. However, I believe I have some of an SS396 that has them and those springs were no different than a COPO or Yenko: either BK or BM coded. Like I said earlier not all cars were marked this way and it depended upon which plant and what time of year the car was built. Research the car before restoration and document it.

To me the yellow car was done as "correct" as possible at the time of restoration. It is a nicely done over-restored car that most people like to see. Once the vinyl top is installed it should be correct. The paint daubs on the fronts of the springs can always be removed if the owner so decides. Not knocking the yellow car as to what was correct or not, I did notice that the spring tags were wrong and you did not mention that.

The tailpanels we have discussed before as to why there are varing shades of gloss but that is another day and time for discussion /ubbthreads/images/icons/smirk.gif ..............RatPack..............

[Nova Research Project]

Just a FYI, while researching springs on the Nova board, I saw paint stripe identification references in the 69 parts books for 68 and earlier leaf springs. Not all had them but many did. G.

[Steve Shauger]

I have seen the paint stripe on LA built cars only. I also noticed the LA built cars did not have spring tags.