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So, before anyone reminds me of how affordable new plates are ($20?), please know that over here where I am in Europe (Amsterdam), Corvette parts prices are more than double what they are in the U.S...
And second-hand parts are as rare as the 1969 ZL1 option...
That said, I just want to ask the collective brain trust if the pictured spring-to-diff attaching plate of mine is TOO bent to repair/straighten (i.e. forge by vice or BFH)?
Now let's see if I can figure out how to attach my pix... This is just to show what the other pix are about.
Thank you!
The car needs to have it's weight on it's wheels before you torque these tight. Loose until then. Or the diff mounts may crack.
Or maybe that is how it got bent in the first place?
So, before anyone reminds me of how affordable new plates are ($20?), please know that over here where I am in Europe (Amsterdam), Corvette parts prices are more than double what they are in the U.S...
And second-hand parts are as rare as the 1969 ZL1 option...
That said, I just want to ask the collective brain trust if the pictured spring-to-diff attaching plate of mine is TOO bent to repair/straighten (i.e. forge by vice or BFH)?
Now let's see if I can figure out how to attach my pix... This is just to show what the other pix are about.
Thank you!
Best to use a press if you can, this way you are not smashing it and chance to damage it. If you have no press
Cut a 1 foot 2x4 1 foot length and get a friend to hold the 2x4 on the curved end and smash down on the end of 2x4 with a ""heavy"" sledge hammer. Just don't hit your friend
He can use a pair of Tongs to get out of the way
Also tighten bolts snug and when full weight is on the ground then tighten more.
Ok. Thanks for the advice.
Two questions then:
1) Would it help to heat the plate before beating the bejeezuz out of it, and
2) What IS the correct torque figure? This seems to be debated a lot. The AIM says +/- 70 ft-lbs, but that is apparently enough to cause problems. Thus, I recall some knowledgeable folks suggesting 35 ft-lbs. And, yeah, I've read many times about not giving full torque until the car is resting completely on its wheels.
Thanks, again.
Bent rear spring plate?
