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The other day I was looking at Corvettes on Graig List and spotted a 81 vette for 2400. So long story short I bought it. Heres the question the rear suspension has a cast iron leaf spring on a 81. In my vast knowledge of vetts (in my mind only) I thought 81 was the first year of the new rear suspension? Could it be possible that it came from the factory this way?. The car has only 45000 miles on it why would somebody change it. The vin reads 1g1ay8767b5108636 which is a 81 vette. Yes my 70 is still in a state of repair I have to have something to do when its done. Thats the line I keep telling the wife. Response so far not so good
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The "Black Book" says they introduced a fiberglass monospring on '81's equipped with automatics with standard suspensions. Still offered the Gymkhana suspension too.
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Send PMOak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
I wanna see a picture of that vette!!!
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Send PMOak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
VIN also tells me that it was built late in the year at the Bowling Green Plant
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K
Anything is possible but I dont believe the steel unit is correct. I've never seen one on an 81..
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dskopp do you have a leaf spring under the rear of your vett? The vette I bought has the front nose missing and the back carpet is pretty faded from the sun. When I first saw the vette the guy was not sure if it had 45000 or 145000. From first glance it would be 145000. When I drove it it had some get up and go not like a 145000 car. So I started to look harder at the car. The seats do not look like a butte has been in them for 145000 the steering wheel had no worn spots. The last time the car was register was 1998. The car looks like it has set for a long time. He showed me some DMV paper work and the car had 34000 in 1996 so with that info it was enough for me to buy it.
The brakes where a little soft and I bleed the front and back and they are good. No leaks from the calipers. I let the car run for 15 min and then put cardboard beneath the car and no leaks the next day. The only negative is the wife I might have to put it e-bay if she keeps up the butt chewing. She does have a point about the money spent last year on the 70 and the money spent this year on the front end parts for it not counting future labor cost to put it together this year.
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Send PMModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 22716
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Steel rear springs WERE used in '81 on the "HD" suspensions/4-speed cars.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
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Send PMOak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
David,
My 1981 Corvette was made in St Louis in March of 1981. It is a auto 350cu in 190 hp. I have the composit rear leaf spring that was introduced on the automatics of that year. Does this help??
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K
Adam - thats the prob, a 4 speed and HD!
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o
Thanks Adam one mystery solved off to the next one.
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