VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1940 Rear Spring Covers

Does anyone know how to remove the rear leaf spring covers without damaging them. I would like to get mine replated (or replaced) I have found a man that says he has several rolls of turn (the term - tern plating I've seen it spelled both ways) plated sheet metal & he can reproduce mine if I can send him the originals. I can not see a simple way to get the covers off without bending them. Any help would be greatly appricated.

Thank You

Removing the old rear spring covers and having someone put on new ones seems like a tough thing to do. How does one crimp on the new spring covers in order to look like the originals? That is just beyond me.
Can you just repaint the existing covers?

David,

This is exactly why I have asked this question on this chat site. I'm trying my best to put this car back to its original state when it was originally delivered to its first buyer, as is the main goal of what the VCCA is all about. My current springs show their age with a little light rust & 69 years of age. They look out of place next to the 69 day old paint on the rear end & I would like all things to blend together and look like belong to the time of production. This is why I asked because I could not see a good way to remove them or reinstall them so I asked for help hoping someone would know if it was possible or not. I would really rather go to the trouble to have new covers made than to paint seeing that they were not originally painted. Thank you for your reply for I did not feel that there was a easy way to remove them.

Thank You!

Sparky,

Tern plating is tin plating. Same as with fuel tanks: tin plating will not spark.

Wally

Terne Plate is steel coated with an alloy of 20% Tin and 80% lead.

Jack & Wally

Thanks for replying. I have learned that Tern plateing was a mixture of tin & lead & that no one does it any more that is why I was interested in having new covers made but as I originally said I do not see a way to remove the covers without destroying them let alone trying to get them back on.
I really did not want to paint the covers but I may have no other choice.

Thank You

I would ecomend using your old springd "as is" for now and look for a pair of NOS springs. The 1940 coupe rear springs fit various body styles from 1940-1952 with seven leaves. The new genuine spring will bring up the rear end to where it was when new and make for a better ride. Just note though only genuine Chevrolet springs came with covers and springs made after 1951 had shorter covers.

Gene,

Thanks for the information. I will start looking for a NOS set. How much shorter are the 51 & up springs?

Thank You

The spring covers are shorter, not the springs. In mid 1951 the length of the cover was reduced to save material due to the Korean war. Instead of the cover running from the U bolt to the eyes at the end of the spring they extended only about a foot from the outter end.

Why not post an ad in the G&D and see if there are any NOS rear springs out there for sale. I purchased a set 10 years ago and they are great.

dtm

Toolman,

Good idea on the add in G&D I will do that.

Thank You!