Caliper Halves for a C2

[Robert K.]

Would anyone know if all of the front caliper halves (I believe the casting number was 5465952 or 5465954) "carried"/had cast into them the Armasteel embossment or were there caliper halves with this casting number that were cast w/o this embossment, i.e. perhaps by a different manufacturer?

Thanks,

Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: Caliper Halves for a C2

Would anyone know if all of the front caliper halves (I believe the casting number was 5465952 or 5465954) "carried"/had cast into them the Armasteel embossment or were there caliper halves with this casting number that were cast w/o this embossment, i.e. perhaps by a different manufacturer?

Thanks,

Bob

Bob------

I have never seen the "Armasteel" embossment on 1st design calipers used for 1965-E1967. I believe the 1st design calipers were cast at one of the nodular iron foundries GM once had in Saginaw, MI. The 2nd design calipers (casting #545xxxx) usually have the "Armasteel" embossment but only on the front, outside caliper halves. I believe these calipers were cast of malleable or ductile iron at the old GM Danville, IL foundry.

[Robert K.]

Re: Caliper Halves for a C2

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the quick reply! I believe that you are correct that the 1st design calipers material was nodular cast iron as I have seen that documented elsewhere. I was not aware tho' that there were probably no 1st design calipers cast with the Armasteel embossment. You note that the 2nd design calipers were cast of malleable or ductile iron which is really what Armasteel is, i.e. a ductile iron. Armasteel was used extensively during WW II for a number of wartime products and had been around for a good many years when 1965, 66 and 67 rolled on by..... Do you think that the reason Armasteel was not used in the 1st design had something to do with the fact that the 1st design calipers had the guides cast into the caliper half and the 2nd design eliminated them which made the use of a ductile iron "applicable" to that (2nd design) process?

I've looked in Noland Adams book (Restoration & Technical Guide -Volume 2 1963 through 1967) and there is no discussion (unless I missed it) there.

Thanks Joe for your insights.....

Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: Caliper Halves for a C2

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the quick reply! I believe that you are correct that the 1st design calipers material was nodular cast iron as I have seen that documented elsewhere. I was not aware tho' that there were probably no 1st design calipers cast with the Armasteel embossment. You note that the 2nd design calipers were cast of malleable or ductile iron which is really what Armasteel is, i.e. a ductile iron. Armasteel was used extensively during WW II for a number of wartime products and had been around for a good many years when 1965, 66 and 67 rolled on by..... Do you think that the reason Armasteel was not used in the 1st design had something to do with the fact that the 1st design calipers had the guides cast into the caliper half and the 2nd design eliminated them which made the use of a ductile iron "applicable" to that (2nd design) process?

I've looked in Noland Adams book (Restoration & Technical Guide -Volume 2 1963 through 1967) and there is no discussion (unless I missed it) there.

Thanks Joe for your insights.....

Bob

Robert------

I kind of doubt that the difference in the internal guides was the reason for the change in material. I more suspect that the casting of the 1st design calipers was assigned to a GM foundry that was set-up for nodular iron and GM considered this adequate for the calipers. For the 2nd design, the calipers were transferred to the Danville, IL foundry which was primarily a ductile/malleable iron foundry. Danville was also the "foundry of choice" for most Delco-Moraine castings of the period.

The "3rd design" (actually just a version of 2nd design) were of gray cast iron material. I believe these were cast by an outside (i.e.non-GM) foundry.