xkeots

Are all C1's so hard, bouncy and rattling cars?
Is it Just the nature of the beast?

Thanks
Jack
1962 C1

ChattanoogaJSB

Depends on how bad yours is

Is it a frame off restoration or a car with a million miles and neglect you got back up and running for a preliminary road test? What have you done?

SDVette

My 61 has the original springs.. at 130K miles, it's nowhere close to "hard", only slightly "bouncy", and no rattles!

But maybe if it was hard it would rattle??

fyreline

My 1962 62,000-mile car is actually quite nice to drive . . . bearing in mind, of course that it is 53 years old. I wouldn't want to take it on a cross-country trip - both the car and I are too old for that, and I have a C6 convertible for longer-distance touring. For nice evening drives for ice cream, or a ride around the lake, it's perfect. To answer your question, if yours is hard, bouncy and rattling it sounds like it needs some work.

DZAUTO

No, they are not -------------------------- WHEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. And that is not always done by previous owners.
Admittedly, The entire frontend/steering is ancient technology. But, when properly rebuilt and aligned, especially with normal width wheels and radial tires, they do handle and ride quite well. No, they DO NOT have pwr steering and the brakes are std drums. BOTH work quite well if in good condition.
If the frontend is tight, with spec caster/camber (a little extra for radial tires) and the steering box is properly adjusted, they don't rattle, shimmy, or do "funny" things.
Stock rear springs are installed in rubber bushings--------which could be severely worn and need replacement-------------easy enough to do.
So with all of the above given good attention, they are a pretty nice driving car with virtually now rattles or harsh ride.

By the way, the 60-62 models are the best, because they have the latest upgrades and identical chassis/suspension.

Frankie the Fink

The C1s have often been described as "fast tractors". Howver, I've gotten my '61 to the point that the wife prefers riding in it to my equally well maintained '63 coupe....

The ride is actually quite superb; now -- handling...that's another topic. The center link, king-pin, no power steering can be a handful and the car is pretty much a pig in fast turns. Straight ahead though and you float along wonderfully.

Don't forget -- the later C1s have 24 zerk fittings to grease (22 if the U-joints are permanently lubed) and attention to that might eliminate some of the squeaks and groans...

leif.anderson93

And, don't forget, this IS a sports car not a luxury yacht. A good set of gas shocks along with all the other recommendations will help to smooth it out, as well.

abdo

"Fast tractors" That's a pretty good description of C1s, Frank. To the OP, the suspension is basically late 40s Chevrolet. Compared to other cars of the era, the Corvettes handled pretty good. New shocks and tires can make a big difference on these cars.

capevettes

Modern radial tires and good shocks make a big difference. It shouldn't rattle. Mine doesn't and it rides pretty good for what is basically a 54 Chevy, turned "sports car."

1955 copper

Real men drive C1's not those wimpy C2's having power everything that OLD men drive

ragtop00

Is there a schematic of the zerk fittings? I'd like to get my 62 all greased up for a trip across state to Dream Cruise.
Thanks
Mike

Frankie the Fink

You need to get an ST-12 Manual -- from the online version:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...62csg0007.html

Also, make sure your car has been upgraded to the heavier steering box grease too:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...gear-lube.html

ragtop00

Excellent Frankie! Thanks

devildog

Roy, you are a poet.

My stock suspension does bounce a bit, but carrying my 40 lb tool box in the trunk seems to balance it just right.

Joe

stratplus

The tough fitting to get at is the one labeled CL 14 towards the end of the transmission.

The drive shaft has to be turned just perfectly to align fitting so that the grease gun can get up in there. In fact, I ground down the sides of my gun to give me a little more room.

Randy G.

My '62 rides nice. It floats over the speed bumps in my neighborhood.

ragtop00

Well at lunch I went out and got an air powered grease gun, flex hose, std and right angle fittings, oil and filter, and diff fluid. I can't wait to dig in... Steering box, suspension grease fittings, rear end fluid and oil change.Mike

59 navy

I took my 59 to an old school mechanic for an alignment (no electronics that can move out of focus) Lubed and tightened anything that could rattle. This is a great car for cruising. Plenty of power for me (283 Hyd with two Carters) 59 navy

LouieM

My buddy's stock '60 is what I would call hard-riding, hard-steering and poor-braking, compared to my nearly stock '67, which itself is hard-riding compared to anything modern, but brakes and steers well (Borgeson PS, PB).

When we switch cars at an autocross, he can't believe how easy my car is to drive; he routinely brakes well before an apex, then runs over the apex cone with the quick steering. In his car, I shoot past the apex on braking, the almost have to do a three-point turn to get around the corner.

Frankie the Fink

I drive a stock '61 and a stock '63 on the same day MANY days. They each have their idiosyncrasies. The C1s are primitive....straight-line driving is as good as many classics and the suspension is adequate. Its a pig in fast turns even with radials. The '63 is more refined, doesn't really ride all that much better but handles sweetly -- the all drum brakes can get exciting on panic stops....best to have the lane beside you empty when doing so....