Replacing rebound straps on 1961
I am restoring a 61 corvette and have the body off the frame and want to replace the rebound straps located on the rear axle. Is there a tool to secure the rivets back in place or do you have to use a hammer and peen them? I am concerned I won't get them tight enough to hold the straps in place. Any help would be appreciated.
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
I have a 61 with original straps. When I removed the weight of the body and the drive line, the straps were under so much tension that they broke. Never did figure out how to solve this accept to wait until i put body and drive train back in car and load the springs. -
Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
David,
The old standby rivet tool was the Mongoose. It's no longer manufactured. Corvette Corvette sells a rivet tool. Make sure your straps are the correct length. There were 4 or 5 different lengths for C1's.
You'll need to cinch down/compress the rear springs with tie straps. Make sure you install the rivet heads per the 61-62 Judging Reference Manual.
Gary
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NCRS Texas Chapter
https://www.ncrstexas.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631Comment
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
Here's a picture of my 1960 frame with how I rigged it with ratchet straps so that I could install the rebound straps. If you need the tool, PM me, I have the Corvette Central tool that worked fine. I found a couple of tricks to get the assembly compressed enough to use the tool.
Rebound straps.jpgDon Harris
Current: 67 convertible Marina Blue L79
Former: 60 Red/Red, 2x4, 245hp (Regional and National Top Flight 2013), 66 coupe Nassau Blue, L79 (Chapter and Regional Top Flight 2017)Comment
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
Donald thanks for the tip and picture on holding the leaf spring under tension. I found a friend who has the Corvette Central tool for installing the rivets, I should have asked him in the beginning, it seem like he has every tool man has ever made.Comment
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
Gary thanks for the tip on placement of rivet heads, I probably would have put them in the eases way I could to get the tool to work.Comment
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
David.... what part of the country are you located in??? I also have a tool in California.... jerryComment
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
If this is a body off restoration I assume you are rebuilding/refinishing the suspension pieces. If that's the case, install the straps to the frame and simply slide the rear housing in place. It's a hell of a lot easier to do the job without the banjo to get in the way.Comment
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Re: Replacing rebound straps on 1961
I'd never do it this way myself, but I must admit I've considered it after getting so &%$!#@ frustrated getting those rivets peened, even with that tool......
....I have a friend that has been working on/restoring 1953 to 1962 Corvettes for over over 40 years and he always does this.....
On a bare frame build, he ratchet straps the axle up to the upper crossmember to free the spring tension, saw cuts the inside bracket ends off of the frame right near the welds, rivets the looped straps on the bench by hand in about a minute, reinstalls the straps, and welds the brackets back together on the frame, then a little black touch up paint......Done!
Rich
ps No I'm not telling who it is!
But he really thinks that's how they did it originally on new frame builds, i.e. they left one end of each of the brackets free and welded later after the straps were installed. I have to say it makes sense to save time and money when they made them.
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