Features Corvette hot rods - picture thread

All stock. C-1 's have extreme u-joint running angles which results in very little clearance between the bottom of the prop shaft and the rear edge of the square reinforcing plate in the middle of the frame "X"-member. The rear axle rebound straps limit rebound movement of the rear axle so the driveshaft won't hit that plate and be damaged. It might be a little more extreme now due to the new rear springs not having settled in yet. I still need to install the rebound straps and will find out then if there is a problem.

 

SHOULD be a 265.

 

So thats what those straps are for...to save the u-joint! I never knew the real reason and just assumed they were there to keep the rear from dropping too low stopping the shackles from hitting the body if the car was jacked up by the frame or something like that.
So why are there differnt lengths available from the repro parts suppliers based on the year? Id have thought they were all the same.

 

Yes, that is correct all stock. " C-1 's have extreme u-joint running angles which results in very little clearance between the bottom of the prop shaft and the rear edge of the square reinforcing plate in the middle of the frame "X"-member."
But there ways to reduce that angle. If the car is going to be built as stock, then no mods are required. If it is to be built as a driver, simple mods to lower the transmission will do. If the car is built to be a performance car, there are mods to gain HP and stop drive train damage. The picture in this discussion has no body on it. The body will bring the frame down from the weight, thus, reducing the angles.

 

Why the rear axle straps?? I have not a clue. When we bought our vettes back in the 60s, the first thing we did was cut the stapes and removed the rear springs and had them re-arched, re-tempered and added 2 or 3 extra leaves. The only way to stop spring wind up. Traction Masters did not work, they only bound up the rear suspension. If you wanted to do forever burnouts, that was the way to go. If you wanted to be fast, that was not it.

 

vetrod62 , can you expand on further mods?

 

which mods are you referring to??

 

Is there further mods to be made other than lowering the transmission?

 

Referencing post 7294

 

What I wrote about the reasons for the straps came from Ex GM Engineer and C1 expert John Hinckley.

I may or may not replace them, depending what I find once body is back on and springs settle. While it is a numbers matching low mileage car that I have owned since 1972, the NCRS crowd will not like it when it is back on the road.

 

"the NCRS crowd will not like it when it is back on the road."

Well... I guess you can't ask for anything more than THAT!

 

That is just the way 53-62 Corvette driveshafts were. Probably not the best
angle for sure, but with the body installed it is less severe.

 

Thanks for the info, and a little more educated now!

 

I also wondered what those axle straps were for. When I came home from Viet Nam in 1970 I bought a 61 Vette which didn't have those straps. I didn't even know at the time it was even supposed to have them! Never had an issue with U joints but went through quite a few broken axles and blown rear end gears! Wide tires and being 23 years old didn't help either on breaking parts. Sure wish I had kept that car!

 

Lowering the trans is mandatory. My black car is raised 4", so my angles are made worse. I lowered my trans by replacing the nuts and bolts with studs. Much easier to remove and install the trans mount. Go as low as you can without x-member interference.

The reverse arm may hit the x-frame. Knoch the frame for clearance.
Other more involved ways are to cut the rear of the x-frame for extra drive shaft clearance, Change your rear housing saddles angles for better drive shaft angles, (be careful here or your DS might to throw itself out of the car.) Cheat on the angles (also be really careful). Jim

 

I thought by 1970 everyone knew that the chevy rear ends were too weak to drive hard. We all put '57 Olds (same width as the chevy housing.) or "57 Pontiac 9.3" gears (1" wider than the Olds) in our cars. Easy to find in junk yards back then.

 

Vetrod I still use them today and have a stock pile of them. There is nothing better.

Pat

 

Classic Showdown

 

Video of pass i made at last race and i also run an olds/pont rear end, with backbrace on it, the corvette is quiet because it runs exhaust and mufflers to rear axle.
jp

 

Jim you never fail to amaze me how much knowledge you have.
jp

 

Hi Pat, Butch and also stock piled those rears. But when I finished the new build on the Black car, I started blowing the 9.3s. I gave up on the posi's and and went with a Strange 35 spline spool and axles. No rear end problems since then. Jim

 

Thanks JP. I have lots more little tricks that add up to a better more reliable run.
Nice video

 

Man it was spinning the tires half way down the track.

 

Nice Dagmars!

 

Anthony what is that? I know it's a Corvette but where.

Pat

 

Someone mentioned New Jersey.
Looks like a stalled project that got pushed out of the shop. Let’s hope it was clean up day
But that weathered cover says otherwise.

here is the response. Another guy mentioned the same town.

 

Prepping someone's future Hot Rod Vettes.

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