Are these Brake Calipers Original

[Mark P.]

I am rebuilding the brakes on my 67 small block car. The calipers appear to be leaking. My intent is to go to a local automotive supply outlet and purchase replacements and giving up the ones I have for the core charge. I doubt that the calipers are original, but perhaps someone on the forum could verify for me.

One side of the caliper reads Delco Moraine 5465952. The other half reads 5452270.

As always, thanks for your assistance.

Mark

[Dick W.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Go ahead and get calipers from Lonestar or Corvette Stainless Steel Brakes. They are top quality and you will be satified. I have seen local parts houses sell steel, not stainless steel, sleeved calipers for $30-$40 more than what the two above companies offer.

[Sal C.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Those casting numbers are not even a matched set so they are definately not you're originals.

[Douglas L.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Mark,

This is information that I had collected from the past:

Early 67:

Front: 546952 & 546954

Rear: 546902 & 546905

2nd Design:

Front: 5452270 & 545273

Rear: 5452281 & 5452284

You might also check the archives on the forum.

[Joe L.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

I am rebuilding the brakes on my 67 small block car. The calipers appear to be leaking. My intent is to go to a local automotive supply outlet and purchase replacements and giving up the ones I have for the core charge. I doubt that the calipers are original, but perhaps someone on the forum could verify for me.

One side of the caliper reads Delco Moraine 5465952. The other half reads 5452270.

As always, thanks for your assistance.

Mark

Mark------

This is a very interesting situation. 1967 was the change-over year for caliper castings (and caliper design). Early 1967 used the first design calipers and the 5465952 was among those castings used for the front. Later 1967 used the second design calipers and the 5452270 was among those used.

Could the factory have used both at some point during the year? Well, 1967 would have been the only year that I could see this as a possibility, but a 1967 is what you have. However, for the factory to have used the 5465952 with a 5452270, they would have had to have converted the 5465952 from 1st design to 2nd design by machining out the piston guides. Since the factory I'm talking about here is the Delco brake manufacturing plant in Dayton, OH, I'm sure they would have the capability of doing this. I'd say this was unlikely to have occurred, but it's possible.

More likely, these were replacement calipers and the piston guides were machined out by a commercial rebuilder which is very common for 1st design calipers. However, if that's the case, then it's likely these calipers have already been sleeved. In that case, IF the sleeves are of high quality stainless, you could just get caliper kits and new pistons and rebuild the caliper yourself. It would be very interesting to see whether the calipers have sleeves, or not. If they don't, it's much more likely that the calipers are original to the car and the situation I described in the second paragraph, above, did occur.

By the way, I would not replace or rebuild just one front caliper. Even if only one is leaking NOW, I'd rebuild or replace BOTH of the fronts. It would also be interesting to find out what caliper half casting numbers you find on the other side, whether you rebuild or replace the other side, or not. Also, replace the front brake hoses at the same time.

[Mark P.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Joe and others

I pulled the other caliper and both halves read 5452270. The VIN on the car reads 194377S102603.

Is there any value in retaining these calipers or would you just go with Lonestar or Corvette Brakes as suggested by Dick.

Mark

[David C.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

You can't go wrong with the age old addage - "get rid of nothing"

[Joe L.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Joe and others

I pulled the other caliper and both halves read 5452270. The VIN on the car reads 194377S102603.

Is there any value in retaining these calipers or would you just go with Lonestar or Corvette Brakes as suggested by Dick.

Mark

Mark-------


I think they could very well be original to the car. I'd disassemble these and determine if they're previously sleeved. If they're not, the chances are great that they are original to the car. If they are, you can rebuild them yourself.

If you decide to exchange them, opening them up won't affect anything. All the rebuilders care about are the caliper castings. In fact, you should open them up since most caliper rebuilders will not allow core credit for previously sleeved calipers. Since they didn't install the sleeves, they can't sell them as their own sleeved calipers and they can't replace the sleeves since their product liability insurance usually won't allow it. They will usually replace pistons and seals and return to you, though.

Usually, shipping calipers back for core credit is more-or-less a "losing game". They're heavy, so it costs almost as much to ship them back as you'll get in core credit. And, if they're deemed not acceptable as cores, you might not get anything back, but you'll already have paid for the shipping. Using Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes might be a way to go, though.

ONE MORE THING: All of the caliper halves you have described as to casting number are MALLEABLE IRON castings. If you exchange them, you'll very likely get GRAY IRON castings back, since the gray iron castings are FAR more plentiful than the malleable iron castings. Malleable iron is better than gray iron.

[Kevin G.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Mark------

Well, 1967 would have been the only year that I could see this as a possibility

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was told the same occurred in 72? A change over during the production year with different numbers?

Regards,

Kevin

[Joe L.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was told the same occurred in 72? A change over during the production year with different numbers?

Regards,

Kevin

Kevin-----

I was referring to 1967 being the only year there would be a possibility of a "mixture" of 546xxxx castings and 545xxxx castings.

For 1972-73, there is the possibility of a "mixture" of 545xxxx castings and 547xxxx castings.

[Kevin G.]

Re: Are these Brake Calipers Original

Kevin-----

I was referring to 1967 being the only year there would be a possibility of a "mixture" of 546xxxx castings and 545xxxx castings.

For 1972-73, there is the possibility of a "mixture" of 545xxxx castings and 547xxxx castings.

Thanks Joe!