If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You must be an NCRS member
before you can post: click the Join NCRS link above to join. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Hello..
I have a 63 Coupe (driver) that I am upgrading the brakes on. What is involved in converting it to power brakes? I didn't see a kit offered anywhere? I already have the info on the front disc brake system.
Thanks
Andrew
Depends on how good you want the brakes! There is no simple way to get 4 wheel disc brakes on a drum brake Corvette. "I" would just convert to 65 up Corvette brakes all around. The front will be easy. Just find a set of complete front spindles with calipers from a 65 up. I would prefer a 69 up as the spindles shafts are larger in diameter. All will work. This will bolt to your upper and lower ball joint.
The rear is a lot more difficult. You could find complete trailing arms from a 65 up and change these out to your car and sell your left over trailing arms. You could also disassemble the trailing arm and replace the drum brake brakets and support with parts from a 65 up. More difficult but posible. The key here is some type of caliper braket for disc brakes and having a parking brake (important). I would find some disc brake trailing arms and swap.
You must now address the master cylinder. I would install a dual resovior master cylinder. The easiest way I have found is to use a 67 system as you plan. Get a 67-68 proportioning valve and braket that mounts to the master cylinder. Use a 67 master cylinder. Easily available at Autozone. You will have to replace the brake line to the rear of the car along with the brass block at the left rear of the car. Use the brake line from the master cyliner/proportioning valve from a 67 to the rear. You will also have to change the front brake line from the master cylinder/proportioning valve to the front brass block. You will also have to change this brass block. This differences in the two brass blocks is that diamter of the fittings of the brake lines entering the brass blocks. Always remember to replace ALL 4 rubber hoses. You will probably need to replace the calipers with rebuilt units as the chances are that any old calipers you buy with your spindle/trailing arm purchase will leak.
You can get the brake lines, rubber hoses, proportioning valve, master cylinder, brass blocks and rebuilt calipers from Kenny at Lonestar Caliper in Texas. He goes to all the BIG Corvette meets and is great to deal with. You will need to find the complete rear trailing arms and complete front spindles from a Corvette dealer, salvage yard, friend, relative or thief.
I have updated several cars this way including a 65 using this master cylinder combination when I wanted a cheaper way to get power brakes. A 65-66 Power brake master cylinder is BIG BUCKS!
There may be some aftermarket ideas you can use for the front, the rear will be the problem. I would NOT install front disc brakes and leave the rear drum brakes. I would leave the 4 wheel drum brakes before I would do that. There are several vendors who offer performance DRUM brake shoes that will significantly help your brakes. One is Porterfield Products in California. Andy Porterfield runs the place. I get my rear drum brake shoes (R4 Carbon Kevlar) for my vintage race GT350 from Andy. There is another supplier who advertises in Car Craft in the back of the book. Car Craft did and article on his products for a street car with SIGNIFICANT improvement.
There is no cheap or easy way to get 4 wheel disc brakes.
There was a recent string on converting to disc brakes which you might want to look at. If your question is to add power brakes to a non power brake car it is not that difficult. You will have to purchase a power brake booster and a new master cylinder for the booster. They should bolt on without mutch difficulty. Then hook up a vacuum hose from the booster to the carb fitting. The booster and Master cylinder you require for a 63 are expensive. I would guess the parts could run about $700.00.
Updated my 64 with a 67 Corvette power brake booster and front disc brakes. Let the drum on the rear alone.
FYI there is an Issue - the through the master cylinder/brake booster mountingfirewall holes are higher than the 65-67. Thus the dual master cylinder will not clear the hood.
And tell them you want to add power boost to your std brakes. This will cost a fraction of disc conversion (manual front db $695). Manual disc brakes will NOT make pedal effort easier, in fact somewhat harder. Unless you are driving the #%*@ out of your driver, what you need is what you originally thought- power boost.
We use cookies to deliver our services, and to analyze site activity. We do not share or sell any personal information about our users. For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
By clicking "I AGREE" below, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our personal data processing and cookie practices as described therein. You also acknowledge that this forum may be hosted outside your country and you consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your data in the country where this forum is hosted.
Tweet
Comment