72 Calipers

[Joe R.]

Working on a 72. Looking to replace calipers due to pitting. Replacements look indenticle but casting numbers are different. Any judging issues with this?

Thanks
Joe

[Mike G.]

Re: 72 Calipers

dont think they look at the codes on the calipers.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 Calipers

The calipers have date codes, but this is not an issue in judging.

However...The better approach would be to have your original calipers bored and sleeved with stainless steel. Some restorers prefer re-sleeving with brass. Others may be able to help with the best Corvette vendor for this service these days.

During the rebuilding, also opt for the high-tech O-ring style pistons...they will be a little more expensive than the orignal style seals, but worth it if you're putting this much money into your calipers. The O-ring style seals will minimize "pumping" of air into your system by imperfect rotors. None of these "improvements" will be discernable on the judging field, and your brakes will be far superior.

[Mike G.]

Re: 72 Calipers

dont think its a date code on the caliper. it was a casting code that meant something to the casting company. codes are random not sequential.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 Calipers

I'm not talking about casting marks which, on calipers, never made any sense to me. I remember a small three digit, Julianesque, day-of-the-year stamp on one end of the calipers. I believe my car had two calipers that were typically close to the build date, and two that were many months earlier than a "perfect" date fit. I don't recall seeing a digit for the year, but it's been more than ten years since I laid eyes on these calipers, so it's possible I dreamed all this.

The reason I'm fairly certain they are dated is that I had already relinquished my originals as exchange cores for a set of restored calipers. As I remember, I had to "jump through mine" to get my originals back before they went into the restoration mill. I don't think I would have done that without good reason.

In any event, whether I'm right or wrong, only the purest of purists will worry about caliper date codes. If you have your original calipers, so much the better...but, I would not indiscrimately give them up in a simple exchange. If your calipers are not the originals, then it's not the end of the world. If I am correct in my recollection, and they ARE date stamped, the stamps will be very hard to see on old dirty, rusted calipers.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 Calipers

Chuck-----

There is no year coded into the date code, assuming that it's a date code, at all. So, without a year, half of the calipers of the correct casting number would be "date correct" for any car. However, I question whether what appears to be a julian style date code really is a date code. Why? Well, I've seen numbers higher than "366".

I don't think that what appears as a julian date code represents some other sort of date coding, either. The known-original calipers on my original owner, September, 1969-built car don't have a "9" present on ANY of the 8 caliper halves. So, if it's a date code, even of some other coding system, I don't think it includes a reference to year.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 Calipers

Joe-----

I would expect that original caliper half castings for your car would all begin with "545". The replacements might be "547" which is the most common caliper half casting number prefix.

You're better off with the "545" calipers. So, if that's what you have, I think I have those rebuilt. However, as far as I know, caliper casting numbers are not judged AT THIS TIME.

[Mike G.]

Re: 72 Calipers

i used 3 of my originals. had them rebuilt by lonestar. one was a different casting number so i used it as a core. lonestar had a match to my other 3. look like new calipers.