1962 Rebound Straps

[Anthony L.]

Good morning,
Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best source for rebound straps for my late 1962? Many of the parts catalogs list them, but I was wondering if one source is better than another. I know it is a longshot, but what about NOS? Also, where could I get the rivet tool? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Anthony

[Terry D.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Anthony
I doubt you can buy NOS unless you find them at a swap meet or E-Bay but Joe Lucia would know for sure. As for after market they probably all come from one source, think about it, how much demand for that item can there be. As for the rivot tool, check the archieves there are lots of threads about that subject, everything from making your own to renting one from a vendor.
Terry

[Anthony L.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Terry,
Thanks for the information.

Anthony

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

anthony: if you still have the original rebound straps, don't toss them in the dumpster. measure them first so you'll know how long to make the repo's you buy. the length of original rebound straps varied from the first 53 to the last 62, by model years. seem to recall an article in the Restorer discussing the vaious lengths. Mongoose rivet setting tool a must have to properly peen the rivets. good luck,mike

[Jerry G.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

I have a 61 I'm in the process of doing a frame off. My original rebound straps are in place and appear to be in good shape. I'm planning on having the frame lightly sandblasted to get rid of surface rust. What do you think of me leaving the original straps in place and cleaning around them. I don't think I need to replace them. Is there something I'm missing? Jerry

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

I have a 61 I'm in the process of doing a frame off. My original rebound straps are in place and appear to be in good shape. I'm planning on having the frame lightly sandblasted to get rid of surface rust. What do you think of me leaving the original straps in place and cleaning around them. I don't think I need to replace them. Is there something I'm missing? Jerry

i'd guesstimate that better than 80% of all the c-1 rebound straps i've dealt with in working on our c-1's have been torn in two. and the ones that were intact were rather shabby. we're talking about a cotton product that is now over 50 years old. they are much easier to replace before the body is dropped back on the frame. i'd replace them regardless of how good they looked. mike

[John N.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Good morning,
Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best source for rebound straps for my late 1962? Many of the parts catalogs list them, but I was wondering if one source is better than another. I know it is a longshot, but what about NOS? Also, where could I get the rivet tool? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Anthony

Even the NOS straps were different. The ones that were in the boxes were more accurate in material than the ones in the plastic wrap.
Regards

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Even the NOS straps were different. The ones that were in the boxes were more accurate in material than the ones in the plastic wrap.
Regards

john is correct. not only did the service replacements differ among themselves in terms of material composition/webbing/colooration, there were many different length straps in both the GM boxes and plastic sleeves.mike

[Jerry C.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

The reproduction straps sold today are a real crappy brown color. I ask CC about them and they said they learned that that was the original color. I have never seen original brown ones. NOS come up on ebay now and then. The tool you can rent from Paragon.

[Larry C.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Hey, Jerry,

I recently did some work on my '62 with original rebound straps in place and appearing to be in good condition.

However, when I removed the leaf springs to clean and reline them, just the support of the empty differential housing broke both rebound straps, so apparently, looks can be deceiving.

[Dennis C.]

1962 Rebound Straps

I am a big fan of saving the originals if possible. I've been able to do it on a couple of C1's that still retained the originals. If restoring the chassis, it is quite easy to snake the rear end housing out and back in without cutting the straps. If trying to save them goes in the toilet, you can always replace them later. Guess I just feel its worth a try.
When I've had to replace them, I've used my John Deere rivet setting tool (slightly modified) that I used for replacing the cutting teeth on our hay swather.
Good luck, Best, Dennis

[Bert L.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Anthony- I am in the process of lining up supplies and parts in order to resume a limited production-run of my rebound- strap riveting tool, aka "The Mongoose". I will be advertising in the Driveline sometime in early 2009 I hope.

Best regards to all;

Bert '60 #1335

[Larry C.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

After reading all the posts on the discussion of rebound straps, I decided to look at what I had in storage for my restoration. Back in the early 70s, I purchased over-the-counter rebound straps from Chev. The width, length and thickness closely resemble my original straps. Color is not really comparable due to age of the original '62 straps. The NOS service replacement straps are a color between olive drab and brown.

A few years ago, I purchased an NOS pair of straps at a swap meet, still in the boxes. After comparing this latter pair with the ones purchased in the 70s, there is difference in width but not color. The latter pair are a full 1/8" narrower.

The weaves of both pair appear the same but are different from my originals. It's possible that the latter pair purchased at a swap meet are actually reproduction straps that were put into the GM boxes which have the same part numbers as the 70's pair. The boxes were marked by the vendor as for '53 - '58.

Does anyone know what the width of the reproduction straps are? Or, is there a width difference in earlier straps. Actually, I was of the opinion that the "53 - '56 vettes did not come with factory rebound straps. A '56 that I previously owned did not have straps or even the frame brackets to accept straps. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Troy P.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Assembly photos in Noland's book, factory assembly manuals and lots of car examples indicate they did come that way.

[Anthony L.]

Re: 1962 Rebound Straps

Thanks to all that responded regarding the rebound straps. I guess NOS straps would be ridiculously hard to find. Damn Corvettes, don't have to worry about anything #'s matching with my big block Superformance Cobra. Drive it like you stole it, blow it up and then put another crate motor in it! I love them both. Regards to all.

Anthony