1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

[Mike E.]

Is there any demand for these? Anyone enough of a purist to want to use them? Have access to a set if someone is interested.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

Is there any demand for these? Anyone enough of a purist to want to use them? Have access to a set if someone is interested.

Mike-----


The vast majority of the 1st design 1965-E1967 calipers have been converted by now to 2nd design when the calipers were sleeved. 1st design pistons cannot be used once the caliper is converted. However, for someone with intact 1st design calipers and wanting to keep them that way, these could be very valuable.

Are these new pistons and insulators, used pistons and insulators, or just the insulators? In the case of used pistons, the pistons often have wear rendering them unfit for re-use. However, the insulators can still be re-used. Lonestar offers (or, at least, used to offer) reproduction 1st design pistons.

By the way, the insulators were not Bakelite. They were a high temperature material called Pyroceram.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

Mike: I had some of those pistons. I gave them away and the recipient probably still has them. He runs Vette Products of MI.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

They are complete used calipers.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

They are complete used calipers.

Mike------


It would be nice to see them preserved as 1st design. These can be sleeved and maintained as 1st design. In my opinion, the 1st design calipers were the best that GM ever made for 1965-82 Corvettes. I expect that their demise and replacement by the 2nd design was mostly related to cost. As I mentioned, the vast majority of 1st design calipers once extant have already been converted to 2nd design and there's no "going back" once the conversion is done.

By the way, 1st design calipers are the same for both J-56 HD brakes and non J-56 brake systems EXCEPT that the front calipers have the pad pin boss removed and holes drilled on either end for retaining pins. Non J-56 calipers can be easily converted to J-56. The 1st design pistons and insulators are the same for J-56 and non J-56.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

They are not too rare, not too valueable, and certainly not too desirable. My opinion 10 % above later units

[Joe R.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

These pistons came from calipers on a Big Tank car. I tried to give the originals to the new owner and he would not take them. He has passed and his kids sold his collection of Big Tank Corvettes! Guess Who?

JR

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[James G.]

Re: 1965 calipers with original bakelite material pads on pistons

There are enough NOS ones (complete piston with insulator) on Ebay right now to do at least 2 calipers (8pcs) on ebay for $11.00 each