Thread: One Way To Build A Hot Rod Lincoln

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Those look really nice, Ken. So they now heat treat them to give them the springiness? Do they do that by heating and then cooling in oil? I've heard that is the process. Did they give you any indication how SS will work in that respect compared to the usual steel they use?

Don

I just got back from the heat treater. He wouldn't let me take any pictures, must of thought I was an Industrial Spy or something. Because it has been heated up on the ends to roll the shackle eye it has to be annealed back to it's natural state. They do this by heating it to 1900 degrees then putting into a nitrogen tank to cool it. Then it goes back into the oven again to 900 degrees to get it to 41-44 Rockwell hardness, then it is cooled down naturally. My concern all along with using stainless has been breakage. He assured me it won't break but it could bend, he would know more when he see's what hardness it actually comes in at. Every 10 degrees affects the hardness rating.
Some of there ovens are two story's high, it is a pretty amazing place. I'm supposed to get them back Friday.
Ken

Ken, not meaning to derail your thread, but would this guy be interested in doing me up some front springs for my gasser????

I'm watching with interest regarding them springs Ken, very interesting

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Ken, not meaning to derail your thread, but would this guy be interested in doing me up some front springs for my gasser????

Dave,
His name is Fernando at 626-333-7373, very easy to work with and good prices. I think I drove him nuts and took up a lot of extra time and he was very fair with me. I really like the quality of his work.
Ken

Well, see Ken, if you didn't look like James Bond they wouldn't have been so suspicious of you. That's interesting how they do it. I had always heard they alternated between dunking it in water then oil to quench it, but maybe modern technology has surpassed that way of doing it, or maybe that was just urban myth.

Did they say anything about it affecting your ability to polish them?

Don

I asked them about the different ways of cooling them. He said the nitrogen was more controlable. They found that the cooling was so sensitive to the final hardness and nitrogen gave them more control. I thought they dumped it in oil also.
I got a call from them today and said they were done. They look "PINK", I mean purple
I was curious if they would polish also so I just ran over one leaf and it seemed ok. I will do a more serious effort tomorrow..
Ken

Thanks for the info on the spring shop, Ken! got to get a lot of things put together and the car on the scales before I could have even a semi-intelligent conversation about the spring requirements!!!!

Springs came out looking really first rate, hope the heat treatment didn't have any effect on the quality of the polish!

Looks like they polish up nicely! A good contact(auto parts) is worth their weight in gold!

I worked on the rear spring this week end, got it to 1500 grit paper like the frame. I was really hoping that the heat treating wouldn't make the spring un polish able, but actually it came around easier than the 304 the frame is made of. go figure.
Ken

Good news! Looks like they'll polish up great!

Boy, that is really pretty! If it looks that good with just a little work it should look spectacular when you get done with it. I wish you guys would stop raising the bar............it's so high now I can't even touch it.

Don

Ken those have really come out nice! I hope you never plan on driving in the rain, or a heavy bug storm, it'll take weeks to re-polish everything!

Ken they look wicked, Your a glutton for punishment !!!

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

I worked on the rear spring this week end, got it to 1500 grit paper like the frame. I was really hoping that the heat treating wouldn't make the spring un polish able, but actually it came around easier than the 304 the frame is made of. go figure.
Ken

Ken,that looks amazing..Will have to wear shades to cut the glare on a sunny day..

Thanks you guy's, honestly I was worried that they wouldn't come around. The 17 4 has a high nickel content so that has to of helped. Can't wait to polish one to see just how good it will get.
Ken