[ho428]

I just got off the phone with a Vette brake parts "specialist" trying to figure out how to replace a original 4 piston caliper system for my 68 Firebird with C-3 parts since the Firebird hubs and 11" rotors are no longer available.
Plus, since I race it I could really use the 12" rotors.

What an arrogant piece of work this guy was, he's the reason I sold my 59 Vette years ago and never looked back.
He acted like I was asking to use the Hope diamond for an RCA needle. Only after getting him to actually think about what was possible was he even remotely interested, and even though it would be a $1200+ parts order he told me to go elsewhere.

Seems the Pontiac people may rib and joke, but we'll still help each other try to do about anything to anything.

[Mr_GTO]

You can't rebuild your calipers?

If you race it wouldn't it be easier to just spnd the money and upgrade to something better than a C3 kit?

[ho428]

The caliper isn't so much the issue as the rotors do not exist anymore unless someone has a source I can't find.

HSR race rules don't allow aftermarket brakes. Must be OEM and/or period correct, I've run out of options.

I didn't really want to get into all that in the lobby though. I was just venting about the Vette guy.

I posted in the 67 Firebird tech section if anyone can help.

[Cobrabill]

Try the "Drum Garden" in Carson Ca.

[66 LeMans]

Well, it's not only with shebby parts.
I placed an order with Ames, with a few requests.
Before I mailed in my order, I sent a mail to their "helpdesk".
No reply from the "helpdesk" and the requests from my order mails were not met either.
Just dump the stuff in the box, send it and deduct the money from my credit card.
What happened to "Hiring people who like their jobs"??

[ho428]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Try the "Drum Garden" in Carson Ca.

He laughed and said "good luck"
Thanks for the try though.

[66GTO Jim]

Originally Posted by ho428

I just got off the phone with a Vette brake parts "specialist"

What an arrogant piece of work this guy was, he's the reason I sold my 59 Vette years ago and never looked back.

Funniest sign I ever saw at a car show:

"Corvettes are like hemorrhoids, only a$$holes get them."

I find this to be true in MOST cases. There are some exceptiions, but...


Jim

[JC455]

Maybe Scarebird can help you.
Read here: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=615562

Since you could get JL8 brakes on a Camaro, I don't see an issue w/ the rotor from Scarebird. The caliper may be a different story, but a Suburban or GM HD P/U from the 70's had 1 1/4" throat calipers.
Try the link to David Pozzi's site that's listed in the above link- he knows his schitt.

There's always Vette Brakes and Products- they can SS line your caliper bores. I don't know if they can help you w/ the rotors, but couldn't you just substitute a 69 one piece rotor?

[Skip Fix]

Might look at the bearings if they are the same size as any others to use their rotors/hubs. I know the Vette spindle is almost the same as early Impalas.

You would think they would understand some of these parts are getting discontinued and allow an aftermarket replacement. Seems using a replacement hub and rotor if the same size as original even if aftermarket would be OK esp using the same calipers.

Any of the early 4 piston Camaro/Chevelle/GTO stuff work and available?

Stock Car Products have any? Some of the early circle track stuff was close to factory and could be "period correct" like Hurst Airehart calipers.

[webfoot]

You can have drum hubs turned down to 5.95". With an extension bracket (Kore3 industries sells these http://www.kore3.com/proddetail.php?prod=10083-02) and you can use off the shelf c5 rotors and calipers from your local auto parts store.

Their website is helpful. http://www.kore3.com/

Need at least 17" wheels.

[71 T/A]

Originally Posted by ho428

I just got off the phone with a Vette brake parts "specialist" trying to figure out how to replace a original 4 piston caliper system for my 68 Firebird with C-3 parts since the Firebird hubs and 11" rotors are no longer available.
Plus, since I race it I could really use the 12" rotors.

What an arrogant piece of work this guy was, he's the reason I sold my 59 Vette years ago and never looked back.
He acted like I was asking to use the Hope diamond for an RCA needle. Only after getting him to actually think about what was possible was he even remotely interested, and even though it would be a $1200+ parts order he told me to go elsewhere.

Seems the Pontiac people may rib and joke, but we'll still help each other try to do about anything to anything.

Pontiac people are cool and always help each other out. The members on this forum prove it every day. Many Corvette guys have a superiority complex.

[webfoot]

Originally Posted by 71 T/A

Many Corvette guys have a superiority complex.

Oh, the irony.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by webfoot

Oh, the irony.

No sh!t-huh?They finally get the "vette" right(latest generation)and people act like it's been a good car all along.It took them(Chevy)FIFTY + years to get it right.

[ho428]

Here's what I've found out so far.
The rotor is an 11" so the caliper is not the same as the vettes, which used a 12" rotor.
Supposidly some A body stuff "might" work if I could find it.
I can get Coleman to make a two piece hat and rotor to bolt onto my hub, pricey but can be done, but I'm still down to an obsolete hub should something happen to mine.
The rotor is unique to fit the huge caliper on it since these things were originally in 14" rims.
Legally I can run Vette brakes, they are OEM but a whole other list of fitment issues come up. I have a 15" rim size rule as well.

I finally have some guys at HSR thinking about the OEM brake rule because of these type issues. Not just my car but most all of us are tweaking 40 year old parts, driving 130+ mph in somewhat rare 3000+ lb race cars and praying this reworked junk holds up lap after lap.
It's either that or cheat. I'd rather be safe, so which way to go.

Pic is of the clearance issue that makes this rotor unique.
Thanks for the interest guys.

[Overkillphil]

Originally Posted by 71 T/A

Many Corvette guys have a superiority complex.

Hehe yeah, and that superiority complex is a great match up for their gray "comb overs" too!

Ever notice how most open roof Vette sheep wear ball caps?

[ho428]

The "unwritten" rules allow for non standard rotors, but OEM and Period correct Calipers are a must.
Pozzi has a nice write up for c-4 brakes on a first gen, but they're anything but period correct.

Here's the only pic I have of a similar car at the track, correct period caliper but nothing else. I could duplicate this if I knew what he did, if I could afford it

Notice he installed a spacer between the caliper halves to run a wider rotor.

[webfoot]

So does that mean the extension bracket is a no-no or just the calipers?

I've also seen a guy use calipers from a 72 half ton chevy pickup using larger rotors, which I suppose are bigger, but I'm not sure.

Found the link:
http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19576

[Ken K]

I have a few sets of the Corvette rotors, 4 pistons calipers, hubs and brackets if there is a way to make them work. I think they used the Corvette brakes on the Z28 Trans Am cars in the 60s.

[screamingchief]

Originally Posted by ho428

Here's the only pic I have of a similar car at the track, correct period caliper but nothing else. I could duplicate this if I knew what he did, if I could afford it

Notice he installed a spacer between the caliper halves to run a wider rotor.

FYI:that pic shows an aftermarket hat/rotor combination,so if his is legal,yours would be too.

Doing that is just a matter of knowing all the measurements of the rotor you wanna replace and digging thru the catalogs to find the parts to make that work,so it's not all that major a chore to figure that deal out.

The caliper "mod" sounds like the original caliper was for the .810" wide rotors and then it was adapted to use a 1.25" wide rotor.

BTW,the vette 12" brakes actually use a 11.75" x 1.25" rotor.

If they'd let you use something like the Willwood GM III calipers those would work pretty well with a deal like this as they make those to fit either rotor width IIRC.

With a aftermarket hat/rotor that set-up would be pretty dang light.

Then all you would really have to worry about is moving/adapting the caliper mounting bracket for the larger dia. rotor like described in that Pozzi racing link in the other thread.

But yeah,I'm kinda mulling this over as well,just for a bit different application.

Good luck.

Bret P.

[Scarebird]

I always wondered if these would fool the tech guys...



they are from a 2004 Tundra.