Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

[Brian E.]

I have some new calipers from CSSB (see below) and am thinking about creating the machined surfaces that would have been present on an April 1967 Corvette with standard / power brake calipers. I've looked in some books (Adams and Vette Vues). The only decent photo I can find is this one from Adams book but was from the 1966 section and don't know if 66 calipers were any different than 67 calipers. The judging guide doesn't show any photos. Can anyone share some good photos of what standard 1967 calipers actually looked like in 1967? Exactly which surfaces were machined? Thanks in advance.

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[Kenneth B.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

If you are talking about the ground surface on the end of the casting it is where the foundry ground off the gate pad that fed molten iron to the mold cavity.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

It's not difficult to look at the caliper and see exactly which surfaces are machined. They're flat, with linear marks, not rough cast.
Remove the paint and call it good.

[Joe L.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

It's not difficult to look at the caliper and see exactly which surfaces are machined. They're flat, with linear marks, not rough cast.
Remove the paint and call it good.

Patrick------


It's even simpler. The calipers were coated before any machining was done. So, ANY machined surface is free of black coating. Any non-machined surface which is free of coating constitutes a "holiday" and, if present at all, could vary from one caliper to another.

[Brian E.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Thanks to everyone above. Next question... In the photo below, in each of the areas circled in red, are these reflections or is the ENTIRE surface a machined surface?

To me, it looks like the ENTIRE surface a machined surface. Anybody else see this or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

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[Joe L.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Thanks to everyone above. Next question... In the photo below, in each of the areas circled in red, are these reflections or is the ENTIRE surface a machined surface?

To me, it looks like the ENTIRE surface a machined surface. Anybody else see this or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

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Brian------

The surfaces you have circled are machined surfaces and, thus, free of coating.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Just look at the NOS casting photos I have above. Why try and interpret an old grainy photo?

[Brian E.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Just look at the NOS casting photos I have above. Why try and interpret an old grainy photo?

Patrick, the photo(s) from Adam's book clearly differ from your photos. Compared to the areas circled in red above, your photos show a partially machined surface where as the photo from Adams book shows that surface was completely machined.

Since I'm going to attempt to recreate a typical appearance I am trying to collect as many valid data points as possible. Yours is certainly a valid example but anyone can see the amount of machining differs in the Adams example and your example.

Now, I'm left with the thought that the degree of machining may not matter. It must be up to me how much of a machined surface I want to recreate, and as long as the machined surface isn't painted black then I should be fine, right?

Again, thanks to all above for your input.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

It's the same surface, but the example in the book has much more machined off than typical.

Again, your new castings have several flat machined areas which are visible.
Remove the paint, have a good day. It really is that easy.

[Brian E.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

It's the same surface, but the example in the book has much more machined off than typical.

Again, your new castings have several flat machined areas which are visible.
Remove the paint, have a good day. It really is that easy.

Understood. Thanks.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

IMHO, I would say the entire caliper was NOT painted from the factory, just like wheel cylinders, master cylinders, differentials, transmissions, etc.

[Brian E.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

IMHO, I would say the entire caliper was NOT painted from the factory, just like wheel cylinders, master cylinders, differentials, transmissions, etc.

What? How could you hold that opinion given the assembly line photo above? I look forward to learning something from your response Stephen.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Brian,
If they were painted black, they would be close in color to the surrounding frame components. To me, they are a lighter color as in cast metal gray with a rough cast surface, except where they were machined. Why would GM paint them black and then machine most of the surfaces eliminating the paint.

[Joe L.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Why would GM paint them black and then machine most of the surfaces eliminating the paint.

Stephen-----

They were painted/coated prior to machining for this reason: GM apparently wanted the calipers painted/coated, probably for rust prevention. However, they did not want any paint/coating on some of the machined surfaces because that would have interfered with finished caliper assembly, fitment, or other factors. So, they were painted/coated as raw castings and where any subsequent machining was done, the paint/coating was removed and they were bare metal.

By the way, the original calipers on my 1969 were not painted/coated, at all. However, I believe that was not at all typical for the vast majority of 1965-82 Corvettes.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Can anyone share some good photos of what 1967 calipers looked like in 1967?

Joe,
You say they were coated by GM before machining and then turn around saying that your original 1969 calipers were NOT painted.... were yours "special"? If Gm were worried about rust prevention, then why are the differentials and other cast items NOT painted?