Frame / Springs: Looking for rear leaf springs, front coil springs, and kingpins for 1961 Lark Station wagon

[ajalstude]

Getting the suspension and steering worked on. Currently looking for either new or nos rear leaf springs, front coil springs, and kingpins for my 1961 Lark 4 door station wagon - would prefer parts in the LA area, or California/Southwest. Failing that, who rebuilds rear leaf springs in LA, preferable near the Hawthorne area? Any recommendations on where to get my kingpins rebuilt and hard-chrome plated?

Thanks for your help!

[voxnut]

I also have a '61 Lark VIII wagon. I purchased the Moog front springs, and when the time comes was planning on purchasing rebuilt king pins and new rear leaf springs from Studebaker International. You might want to check with other Studebaker vendors to see what they have in stock, but I'm guessing you'll still have to mail order.

I don't think I'd go with re-arched leaf springs, it has been my experience, it's a fairly short time span before they sag again.

[ajalstude]

Hey! Another wagon owner! Thanks for the advice. I may have found a person capable of rebuilding the king pins via a recommendation from Bud Alenik (SDC member). I may have to go the new spring route via SI, although I will give a reputable spring shop down in Long Beach a call tomorrow morning via a recommendation from the mechanic. However, if you've had the experience of this not being worth while, I'll keep it in mind and will call SI tomorrow as well. I checked the Moog site and they didn't show anything for a 1961 Lark. Which springs did you purchase?

Thanks.

[voxnut]

I purchased one of the last Moog CC655 sets, which had been a common replacement for years and were listed for GM intermediates. If you do a search on the forum for "Lark front springs" there are a ton of threads on the subject. Those are now unavailable through Moog, but the Precision SP08055 are supposed to be the same spring, and are available through your local O'Reileys. In some of those threads here, folks have come up with an alternate Moog spring, although I don't recall the number offhand.

Good luck in your quest!

[jackb]

There are probably several spring shops within and hour of your location (Long Beach/LA). They will have the specs on your springs (front and rear) and can likely get you all 4 within a week....check around. Here in SE Mass, there are a couple shops that can make them up in a few days(Boston/Brockton)...