Replacement Emergency brake cables for my 1963 Corvette

[Richard G.]

I just purchased a set of emergency cables, from Inline Tube "Our customers get the best factory-correct cables on the market, with a spiral housing, rubber dust boots and correct ends, all identical to the factory originals."

I have installed them using their hardware and plan on having the originals plated and reinstalled.
Rick Geier

[Edward J.]

Re: Replacement Emergency brake cables for my 1963 Corvette

Rich, When I restored my 63 I took the cables and worked some grease into the inner cables by moving them back and forth. then I used my bench grinder with a wire wheel attached to one end, and cleaned the cables housing and clips, the results were amazing they looked as new. your pick shows the cables appear to be slightly bigger. I would keep the old cables and just restore them as I did.

[Richard G.]

Re: Replacement Emergency brake cables for my 1963 Corvette

The more of this stuff I work on the more I agree with you.
Keeping it original is almost impossible with reproduction parts.
Frankly the typical reproduction quality just isn't that good. Exceptions of course.
Then the vendor gets it perfect and misses something simple like the finish.
Sometimes one has no choice but to use the reproductions.
Often the re-pops are excellent, like emblems and door handles.
Getting re-pop parts just to function is one thing. Getting parts to fit without modifications is another.
And exact reproductions are typically know as GM parts!

I didn't ruin the original e-cables and just getting them out of the holes in the frame is a PITA.
I made a pipe that I could slide through the hole that would collapse the fingers of the retainer, to remove the cables.

Should have spoken with you first!
Rick

[Timothy B.]

Re: Replacement Emergency brake cables for my 1963 Corvette

Richard, I completely agree with your post about reproduction parts, do as Ed say's and use your original cables. Nothing more frustrating than $$$ only to find the fit and function is a problem.

Sometimes you will see NOS cables for 63 come up on ebay FWIW.