J56 Brake judging

[William F.]

What aspects of the '67 J56 brake option are judged other than proportioning valve, black painted 2 pin front calipers, and correct splash shields? That's all I could find in judging manual. Any casting numbers or other details of calipers themselves that will be judged? My car came with J56 but in past was converted to 2 pin calipers due to high cost of genuine J56 pads, I assume. Thinking about going back to J56 which can be easily done by converting 2 pin calipers to 4 pin configuration, I understand. Any suggestions on getting this project correct?
Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

What aspects of the '67 J56 brake option are judged other than proportioning valve, black painted 2 pin front calipers, and correct splash shields? That's all I could find in judging manual. Any casting numbers or other details of calipers themselves that will be judged? My car came with J56 but in past was converted to 2 pin calipers due to high cost of genuine J56 pads, I assume. Thinking about going back to J56 which can be easily done by converting 2 pin calipers to 4 pin configuration, I understand. Any suggestions on getting this project correct?
Thanks

William------


The splash shields, both front and rear, are the same for all 1967 brakes; there is no difference for J-56. J-56 added the proportioning valve, dual pin calipers, special pads, AND caliper SUPPORT BRACKETS for the front calipers.

There were 2 different caliper piston configurations for J-56 for 1967. Early cars used the same GUIDED pistons and thin Pyroceram insulators as all other 1965-E1967 Corvettes. The only difference was the dual pin configuration rather than single pin for the front calipers only. Rear calipers were identical to all other 65-E67 brake systems. For these early cars, all caliper halves carried casting numbers 546xxxx.

Later 1967 with J-56 used unguided pistons with thick Pyroceram insulators. Front were dual pin, rear single pin. Caliper casting numbers were all 545xxxx.

Either early or late front calipers can be converted from single pin to dual pin. All that needs to be done is to have the single pin bosses machined off flush with the adjoining machined surface and drill the holes in either end for the dual, long cotter pins.

When did the change from "early" to "late" occur? I have no idea.

[William F.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

tHANKS FOR ANSWER BUT WHAT WILL BE JUDGED-THE 545 CASTING NUMBER? sORRY BOUT ALL CAPS-STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS SITE.

[Joe L.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

tHANKS FOR ANSWER BUT WHAT WILL BE JUDGED-THE 545 CASTING NUMBER? sORRY BOUT ALL CAPS-STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS SITE.

William------


I don't know if he casting numbers are judged, or not.

[William F.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Anybody know if casting numbers are judged? I don't have judging sheets, but judging manual doesn't mention it.Thanks

[John H.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Anybody know if casting numbers are judged? I don't have judging sheets, but judging manual doesn't mention it.Thanks

William -

Yes, it does - see page 187, where both the standard and J-56 calipers and casting numbers are covered in detail. Do you have the current (new) 5th Edition?

[William F.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Thanks, John. No, I have the 4th edition;plan to get the 5th soon, but also plan on working on brake conversion back to J56 soon;so, can you tell me what I need to specify when I buy new calipers? Will any regular calipers that I can buy from SS Corvette brakes,etc. not originals, that I'm g oing to convert to 2 pin J56 style like came on my car have correct casting #'s? If not, how much deduction?
Thanks in advance

[Wayne M.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

I can understand that the caliper casting numbers are mentioned, but are they really judged ? I thought that you had to be able to read the number in order to keep/lose points. Are the outboard caliper casting #s really visible through the ralley wheel ovals ?

[Steven B.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Anybody know if casting numbers are judged? I don't have judging sheets, but judging manual doesn't mention it.Thanks

William, go to the top of the page, select Member Services and second item from the bottom of the list is Judging Sheets. Select the year and section you desire. Generally, any part that can be viewed with mirror and flashlight (and the judges can contort themselves) may be judged. I saw this technique used on J-56's in the past. This technique is used throughout the car. I have three sets of mirrors and two lights I carry. My experience, either viewing judging or judging, is that cars with such items get scrutiny in these areas. Steve

[William F.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

What would be deduct for correct 2 pin design but incorrect or no casting number on caliper? Remember, this car originally came with J56 but at some time in its life single pin calipers were substituted. Car has correct proportioning valve.
Thanks

[William F.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Steven,
Maybe I'm a slow study, but went to our online judging sheets and nothing about casting numbers for calipers.Has there been a change since these sheets were placed online?

[Steven B.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

William, I am not a mid-year person but reviewing the sheets I see rear calipers under rear suspension but noting about calipers under front suspension. Odd. You may want to contact your national judging chairman. Generally, regardless of year because something is not detailed on the sheets but there is a discrepancy adjustments in the score are made. When items are judged the judges have the manual at hand and refer to it as necessary along with their personal knowledge. Although it would be nice everything about an area can't be included in the manuals. Again, you may want to contact your judging chair. Let us know what your chair says. Steve

[William F.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Don't have 5th edition judging manual yet. Does it spell out about casting #'s?; previous one does not. Regarding judges using own knowledge, thought judging manual was NCRS bible and judges were supposed to go by it without regard to personal opinion or "other knowledge" unless member being judged could prove otherwise to what's in manual. Where am I going wrong?

[Steven B.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

William, as far as the judging manuals being the Bible, their title are referred to as "Guides". Everything cannot be included in them. Judges do exercise their personal knowledge and they must. As an example paint chips cannot be included in the Guides as they would not be accurate. Ink on paper varies too much from the paint. Knowledge comes in to play when an experienced judge knows within limits if a color is too light or dark, if the metallic is too large, if a casting is too smooth, etc. To better understand the judging process judging seminars, time on the field, speaking with member judges, etc. brings everything into light. It cannot all be in the book. If it was then anyone could judge at the National level their first time out. Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: J56 Brake judging

Don't have 5th edition judging manual yet. Does it spell out about casting #'s?; previous one does not. Regarding judges using own knowledge, thought judging manual was NCRS bible and judges were supposed to go by it without regard to personal opinion or "other knowledge" unless member being judged could prove otherwise to what's in manual. Where am I going wrong?

William------


From what I've observed, many more things are judged than what is specifically described in the Judging Guide.

Regarding the casting numbers, I provided them above and they are the same for standard brakes, J-50 brakes or J-56 brakes. For early 1967, ALL of the caliper casting numbers are 546xxxx. For later 1967, ALL of the casting numbers are 545xxxx. Delco-Moraine used the same castings for J-56. They simply machined off the single pin bosses and drilled the hole on either end for the dual pins (front calipers only; no rear calipers were dual pin). Any single pin caliper can be converted to dual pin very easily (but a dual pin cannot be converted to single pin).