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Restoring a 58. Where can one get the tool to crimp the leaf spring bands? Is this available for rental somewhere? Also need to do the rivets on the rear axel straps and the rivets to replace some seat frame floor nut plates. I think I can do the strap rivets with a C-clamp but the floor nut plates are stumping me. Thanks in advance, Ken
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Re: C1 Special tools
Ken,
C Central used to rent the banding strap tool, but I a not sure if they still do. They can be bought from a place that sells shipping supplies as all it is is a crimping tool for cargo banding. I used to know the brand and model that you use, but it will be included in the instructions the come with the bands.
There is a special tool that is used to install the rivets in the rebound straps that makes it a breeze. I have one and you are welcome to borrow it whenever you need it, just let me know.
All of the body rivets in C1 cars are a standard AN aircraft rivet and are easy to find in small packages from most of the Corvette supply houses.
There are 2 basic rivets used on all body assembly of the C1 and both are 3/16" in diameter. The first is a universal head rivet which has a rounded head and the other is a countersunk head rivet which is flush with the surface. Both rivets are set by driving against the factory head of the rivet with a pneumatic rivet gun while a helper presses a bucking bar firmly against the tail of the rivet. This will cause the exposed tial of the rivet to swell and shorten in length. When the formed tail is approx 1.5 X it's original diameter than the rivet is properly set.
You can use a cheap air hammer from Home Depot in leiu of a real rivet gun as the rivet sets use the same size shank, but you will need to throttle the gun down to make it not hit so hard. The sets can be bought for a couple of bucks each and should be in the toolbox of any serious C1 restorer. There is a used aricraft Tool store called "The Yard", that sells surplus tools form the aircraft plants at pennies on the dollar, and that is where I have always bought mine from. They have a website. The countersunk rivet is driven by a flush set that is just a flat polished face about 1" in diameter, while the universal head rivet is driven by a set that is concaved on the end to fit the rivet head. The set is different for each rivet size, so be sure to buy a 3/16" universal head set. The also sell bucking bars which are nothing but polished bars of metal in different shapes to fit in all types of areas. Most of the underbody rivets are very accesible but a few rivets like the trunk hinge towers, will need a real odd shaped bar to buck them.
You will notice that the front seat attach plates are hidden inside the reinforcing ribs that run under the floor pan, and if they need repalcement, you will need to remove the ribs to change the plates. The ribs are bonded on and have several rivets in them, but they can be removed and the bonding adhesive can be split apart with a putty knife driven between the pan and ribs.
Riveting has a learning curve but it is real short and you will be driving rivets like a pro in only a few minutes. I just went through replacing almost every rivet and plate on a 59 that I am doing just a week or two ago.
Regards, John McGraw -
Re: C1 Special tools
This is an EXCELLENT time to reap the benefits of your NCRS National & NCRS Chapter membership dues! Those in your local chapter will know shops in your area who have the band tool and will do the job for you if you hand walk the spring(s) to them. Also, I'll bet dollars to donuts you'll find more than one local chapter member who has the tool himself and will be more than happy to help you out if you raise your hand and ask for assistance at a local chapter meeting....Comment
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Re: C1 Special tools
I finally remembered the brand name of the banding crimper. It is Signode, but I can not remember what model it is. They make a lot of different banding tools.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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Re: C1 Special tools
Ken -
I had my spring bands crimped on (with one of those Signode tools) at a spring shop (looked in the Yellow Pages and picked the one that had been in business for the loongest time - started in the 40s as I recall). The guy didn't even want to charge me!
... Al '58 245hp "back on the road again"Comment
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Re: C1 Special tools
Ken i have a banding tool that will work did mine turned out pretty good if your in the jersey area and want to bring them over be glad to help you with them if not i could send you the bander to borrow
bobComment
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Thanks Guys - Gotta love this group! *NM*
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