C1-Protect your rectum with Kevlar.

[studiog]

C1-Protect your butt with Kevlar.

Any of you who sat between two adults in a C1 as a kid will sympathize with this rational. I traveled many a mile straddling the driveshaft tunnel as a kid, as a Corvette was a 2 seated, 3 passenger vehicle back then. Little did I know how close my butt was to the spinning drive shaft below, well now I know. Today you would probably get a ticket before you got very far doing this but just in case I felt compelled to beef up this area. I know there is a scattershield of sorts that provides some protection none the less I decided to add a few layers of Kevlar to the tunnel. Can't hurt.

 

[BarryK]

cool idea

extra safety is always nice plus the driveshaft is protected also incase anyone decides to fire a bullet at the tunnel

 

[studiog]

cool idea

extra safety is always nice plus the driveshaft is protected also incase anyone decides to fire a bullet at the tunnel

That is a good selling point if and when I sell the 61... "Includes bulletproof driveshaft tunnel"

 

[67HEAVEN]

If any of us really thought about how unprotected we are in these old cars, roaring down the Interstate alongside 18-wheelers, SUVs and assorted fruits and nuts, we'd never climb into them. :crazy

You might want to layer some Kevlar inside the entire body. :gap

 

[IH2LOSE]

I need that.

I am going to drive and enjoy the 62 till a show in our area in October. then I will start tweaking things on my car.One of them will be some type of plating for the front yoke and a front detatchable drive shaft loop. I do have to lower the rear transmition mount a tad as i only have about 3/8th of an inch clearence around the trans output yoke to the trans tunnel.

Where did you get the kevlar and how much did that cost. it seams like an excellent solution.

Yup Bob nothing makes our cars 100% safe

Yesterday I was at a gas station gassing up. there were sirens,whistles,horns Blowing all over the place. Cop cars,ambulances,paramedics,voulenteer fire men and fire engings just swarming thru the intersection I was near. Everybody just stayed where they were and all of the emergency vechicle just weaved around them. Well the light was RED and the fire engines were heading east.One of the enginges went thru the red light slow. and another engine traveling at a higher rate of speed could not of been 10 car lengths behind blowing the loud horn like a freight train and as this engine was going aproaching the light some one went thru the intercetion heading west and the engine hit the car just behind the rear pasenger door and that car just bounced off the fire engine and spun like a childs pin wheel. The fire engine did NOT stop it was like he didnt even know he plowed the car. I ran (Well as quick as I could walk) and before I got to the guy he just drove off in the direction the car was facing. allthough it was selfish at the moment of impact all I was thinking was " holy cow if that was me in one of the vettes I probably would not of bounced off the fire engine he would have drove right over me" That was a scary thought.

the day I was dropping the body back onto the frame ,I had the rolling frame half way out of the garage working on it with the rear sticking out toward to road. The wife pulled in to the drive way and parked about a foot away from the rear of the frame with her S.U.V. and as I am looking at her truck and the frame I realised even with the bumpers in place,if i was ever rear ended by SUV that it would drive right over me as the bumpers are lower then her bumper and rear of the frame on the sr111 is like a ramp.So yes Iam nervous thinking of how my cars would hold up in an auto axceddent.But I do have to say that the car that was plowed by the fire engine held up good and I think it was because the roads were wet from a slight drizzle of rain and the car just bounced off of it.

 

[Tom Bryant]

The fact is that old cars aren't any safer now than they were when they were new. We can add seat belts and better tires, ect. but the major safety issues remain, especially in restored cars. Anyone driving a C1 should always be aware of the fact that these cars did not have a collapsable steering column. Draw a line up the column shaft and extend it to the driver's seat. It's like holding a spear to your chest. One of the most common causes of death in auto accidents of the '40s, '50s and '60s was being skewered by the steering column shaft in a frontal impact. BTW left front impacts are the most common heavy collision.

You just have to be more aware of the fools around you and be defensive all the time.

Tom

 

[Duntov-097]

The fact is that old cars aren't any safer now than they were when they were new. We can add seat belts and better tires, ect. but the major safety issues remain, especially in restored cars. Anyone driving a C1 should always be aware of the fact that these cars did not have a collapsable steering column. Draw a line up the column shaft and extend it to the driver's seat. It's like holding a spear to your chest. One of the most common causes of death in auto accidents of the '40s, '50s and '60s was being skewered by the steering column shaft in a frontal impact. BTW left front impacts are the most common heavy collision.

You just have to be more aware of the fools around you and be defensive all the time.

Tom

I've been through that scenario. Got some broken ribs and punctured lung to show for it. The tube frame car has a collapsable joint in it and I'm seriously thinking about modifying the column in the original car too.

 

[67HEAVEN]

One of several new safety features ushered in with the '67s was a collapsible steering column.

 

[studiog]

I remember seeing somewhere a 62 fitted with a smaller Buick tilt wheel with an air bag. Sounding more interesting all the time

 

[studiog]

I need that.


Where did you get the kevlar and how much did that cost. it seams like an excellent solution.

Larry, It was $11.00 for a yard. 36" X 36"
Polyester compatible, treated for composite construction and will wet out with polyester resins. Adds strength and impact resistance. Also wear resistant. You just need a pair of (new) sharp scissors to cut it

I still have more than half of it left and would be glad to send it to you if you want. I don't have enough to wrap a whole car like Heaven suggests but that would be nice.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Thank you for the offer Gary.

Also thank you for the excellent idea. I just spoke with one of my customers who builds limos,and cars with security protetion in them.

He has some material he will give me but it has to be registered with the manufacturer for its use ?

He said its perfect for what you did and what I want to do. he explained that criss crossing the fabric gives it strength.

Another winter project for me.

 

[Gerry]

Dragvette sells a driveshaft loop that would help this situation. I am going to use it in my car along with the halfshaft loops. See it at www.dragvette.com

Gerry

 

[Tom Bryant]

Looks like some nice pieces.

Tom