First drive in 62 vette - NCRS Discussion Boards

First drive in 62 vette

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  • Jamie Carey

    First drive in 62 vette

    After almost 6 years of heartache, headaches and a lot of money. I drove my 62 vette for the first time today. I want to thank David Berman and Rob Margolies for the advice and help!

    The vette was my father's, before he passed away in 1996.

    Since this is the first time I have driven a 1962 vette or any car older than 15 years old I have a few questions:

    1) The vette currently has new bias ply tires. How much difference would the vette handle by switching over to radials?

    2) The speedometer jumps from 40 to 90, however the vette is not going from 40 to 90, is this normal?

    3) Its hard to slow the vette down. Are brakes on a 62 vette that bad? Are there any methods to improve without converting to disc? ( I wouldn't convert)

    4) Should the parking brake hold the vette from moving backwards on a steep hill? My drive way is very steep, this makes for some interesting clutch, gas, brake combo, trying to fit the vette threw a door that was designed for a golf cart!

    I am planning on attending some NCRS events, so I can learn more about my vette.

    Last item, I used Thomas Sunday, Inc, to transport the vette from PA to CA. The driver was Fred Williams, and they did an excellent job.
  • Ed Jennings

    #2
    Re: First drive in 62 vette

    1. Buy some radial tires immediately.
    2. Try cleaning and lubricating the speedometer cable. There is a special lube available for this purpose. Your Ceevy dealer or auto parts store will have it.
    3. Unassisted drum brakes don't stop like power discs, period. They will do a decent job of stopping the car but they need to be properly adjusted and in good condition.
    4. Your parking brake needs adjustment. Sounds like your brakes may need attention all around. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, take the car to a REPUTABLE PRO. The brakes on old cars are subject to a lot of problems from sitting in storage with hydroscopic brake fluid in the system. It may take a major overhaul to get them up to snuff. It is imperative that this job be done right.
    Enjoy the 62. They are great cars.

    Comment

    • Jack H.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • April 1, 1990
      • 9906

      #3
      Re: First drive in 62 vette

      Adding on.... If you have optional metallic brakes, they can act a tad 'squirrely' until you get them hot/warm with the car pulling one way or the other.

      Also, you might consider getting a copy of the NCRS Operations Manual & Performance Verificatino Test Guide. This book speaks specifically to what's acceptable and what's not in terms of the car's actual operation/performance. It's one thing to restore it and make it look pretty/correct; it's another thing to actually make it operate as designers intended.

      Last, when all is said and done, you've re-created automotive technology that's 40+ years old! It IS going to behave differently from what you've grown accustomed to.... Remember, a LOT of the parts on these older Corvettes were essentially borrowed from '52-54 sedan/pickup truck technology!

      Comment

      • Mark Malone

        #4
        Re: First drive in 62 vette

        Jamie,

        Up until my 59 which I bought as an unrestored driver (now in the middle of resto)I have allways restored my cars and bikes before ever having driven/ridden them and it is allways a big surprise when you actualy get to use them.

        These old cars and bikes are very different animals to the current high tech vehicles but as long as you have them setup as originally specified, adding what new technology is available (radial tires etc;) and most importantly get your mind into the era of the vehicle, then there's a lot of fun to be had.

        I make sure that if on a high speed limit road, I allow plenty of distance between traffic ahead of me and prepare well before entering intersections and traffic lights.

        Imagine my surprise when after a two year resto, first riding my 1942 sidevalve Harley complete with foot clutch, hand change gears, cable activated drum brakes and manual advance, straight from a late model Jap bike, I was horrified....but after awhile I came to love that bike and had it for some years so give the 62 a chance, get it up to scratch and kick back and enjoy the purity of simplicity.

        Mark.

        Comment

        • John H.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • December 1, 1997
          • 16513

          #5
          Re: First drive in 62 vette

          Jamie -

          For driving pleasure, ditch the bias-ply tires immediately and put a set of radials on it (205/75-15 is the replacement size), then take it to an alignment shop and have them re-set toe-in to zero-to-1/16" total toe-in. You simply will not believe the ride and handling difference with radials - no more lane-changing with every irregularity in the road surface, no more steering corrections every second - makes the car a joy (instead of a chore) to drive. The drum brakes will work fine, but they need to be properly adjusted (they were not self-adjusting until 1963). Depending on how long the car has been sitting, it's probably a good idea to rebuild the master cylinder and wheel cylinders, replace the old rubber flex lines, check and turn the drums if necessary, and flush/re-bleed the system with fresh fluid; once you have the wheel brakes properly bedded-in and adjusted, then adjust the parking brake. I drive my '57 regularly, and have no qualms about the brakes (I've done all of the above); drum brakes will fade with repeated high-speed application, but who road-races these old cars? Nice car - enjoy it!

          Comment

          • Richard T.
            Very Frequent User
            • February 1, 1979
            • 858

            #6
            Re: First drive in 62 vette

            These old straight axles can be a handfull ! But all things being equal if your brakes are fresh and in good shape the car will stop fine. Not as well as four wheel discs but not bad. If you haven't done so yet DO THE BRAKES NOW ! Take everything down and be sure to flush and hone all five cylinders , cut the drums (if scored or wavy) and use fresh hold down hard ware and hoses. Bleed , adjust the shoes and emergancy brake and enjoy. I tend to be paranoid about brakes and believe it's more important that the car stops well than starts ! If the brakes haven't been tended to in a while you won't believe the slimy mung that's sitting in the cylinders ! Good luck Rich #2276

            Comment

            • Jamie Carey

              #7
              Thanks for the info. *NM* *NM*

              Comment

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