disk brakes - 63 vette

[Gerry Howley]

Is it possible to convert the brakes in a 1963 corvette to disk brakes and to add power steering? Thanks

[Joe S.]

Re: disk brakes - 63 vette

Yes




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[Chris D.]

[Tracy C.]

I like the way you think Chris.... *NM*

[Dennis C.]

Me 2... *NM*

[Duke W.]

Couldn't o' said it better myself! *NM*

[Gary Chesnut]

Re: disk brakes - 63 vette

The answers you received about the conversion are all correct. Exception is hard driving brake fade. With that said, yes the conversion can be done. Best to replace with later model complete spindles.

However, there is a problem using a dual master cylinder with power brakes. In my experience the hood won't clear the master cylinder if a '67 Corvette master cylinder/power brake booster is used. It sticks up too high due to the mounting angle. It doesn't miss clearing by much, but enough something has to be done. Options are; 1 - to use one of the smaller 55-7 Chevy disk brake master cylinder power brake booster combos, 2 - redrill to lower the mounting holes through the firewall (don't know if this option will still hit metal plate or will have to add an external plate to ensure hard brake pressing doesn't push the master cylinder off of the firewall), 3 - or make a thinner hood.

Hope this helps. Good luck,

Gary #5895
....

[Verle R.]

Re: disk brakes - 63 vette

Gary's reference to hard driving brake fade can be addressed with metallic/ceramic brake shoes and proper finish on the brake drums. In days of old I drove very hard with metallic shoes and had very little trouble with brake fade.

I know you cannot find the old GM metallic shoes but there are modern equivalents that work well and are a lot cheaper than a disk brake conversion.

Verle

[Wayne K.]

You just discouraged me and.....

I don't even own a 63 or 64.

[Duke W.]

Re: disk brakes - 63 vette

My J-65s lasted over 100K miles including several hundred miles of race track hot lapping. They never ceased to haul the car down to enter corners, and the toughest was 140 to 80 to enter Turn Two at Kent. That was back in the sixties.

If anything, when hot J-65s are a bit sensitive - almost like power brakes and require better modulation skills than disks, but I never considered "upgrading" to disk brakes.

New, replacement J-65 linings are rare and, if you can find them, expensive, but there are good aftermarket alteratives that are equally fade resistant, but have a more constant coefficient over the entire operating temperature range, and since the shoes aren't visible during judging no one but you will know your car has upgraded drum brakes.

There are probably a lot of drum systems out there that need a thorough overhaul, which is very inexpensive compared to a similar overhaul for disks. Returning the system to as new with linings matched to your driving conditions and requirements can do wonders.

For normal street driving/cruising/touring conventional linings are all you need. If you need a higher performance package for very aggressive driving or race track hot lapping consider lining from the following vendor.

www.carbotecheng.com

Duke