Van springs

[don58van]

I am restoring a van.
The leaf springs I have include a couple of dodgy leaves.
I am wondering whether--apart from the main leaves with the eyes--can leaves from other models be substituted. That is, are there leaves in saloon springs that have the same specification as the van/pickup.
The reason I ask this is that I am in Australia--buying new springs van springs is very expensive. Replacing just the dodgy leaves would be a cost effective solution. Good used van/pickup springs are hard to come by here but saloon springs are easier to find.

Don

[philthehill]

I do not know of any reason that prevents you using 7 leaf traveller springs with the top spring leaf replaced by the van spring top leaf which has the larger front spring eye.

[don58van]

Thanks for your reply Phil.
Unfortunately, Travellers are only in small numbers here as they were never officially sold new. That is, we only have privately imported ones. So finding 2 Traveller sets in good condition would be unlikely.

I don't intend to carry big loads, so maybe I could get by with a six leaf set from a saloon (retaining the van top leaf).

I seem to remember that early saloons had 7 leaf springs -- but I suppose it would be difficult to find such old ones in good condition.

Don

[geoberni]

Thanks for your reply Phil.
Unfortunately, Travellers are only in small numbers here as they were never officially sold new. That is, we only have privately imported ones. So finding 2 Traveller sets in good condition would be unlikely.

I don't intend to carry big loads, so maybe I could get by with a six leaf set from a saloon (retaining the van top leaf).

I seem to remember that early saloons had 7 leaf springs -- but I suppose it would be difficult to find such old ones in good condition.

Don

The spring leaves also changed thickness when they altered the number, from 7x 7/32" to 5x 1/4". That was in 1958.

The Traveller kept it's 7 leaf, which was a different part number to the one used on the Saloon/Tourer.

On the LCVs they started with 7 leaf, went up to 8 leaf, then when the 8cwt vans came in they dropped it back to 7 but thicker leaves....

[don58van]

Thanks for the useful information geoberni.

D

[philthehill]

I would just get and fit what you can get especially if you do not intend to carry heavy loads.
It does not really matter what springs you fit so long as you use the top leaf of the van/pickup.
The spring leaves are all the same width whatever the number of leaves.
Make sure that you use the correct spring leaf clamping bolt as there are various lengths to suit the various springs.
Good luck
Phil