1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

[Harvey K.]

I just picked up this car and the brakes are all leaking. The car actually started right up after a little pre-work.

I rebuilt all the calipers and master cylinder with the stock lip seals. All cylinders except 1 are holding. I do not plan on driving the car, other than around my drive a few times a year to keep it moving. I want it to live. Question: Should I look at having the one caliper sleeved or replace the caliper with a correct casting number and keep the original caliper wrapped up for any future owners?

[Bill M.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

have them all rebuilt change the fluid I would rebuild the master cylinder

[Harvey K.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

Thanks Bill. I did rebuild them all and the master cylinder. One caliper has more pitting so I'm trying to decide to put a stainless steel sleeve in it, or keep it and just get a replacement. Next year I'm looking to get it judged.

[David H.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

What do you intend to do with the car? Bowtie? If so, then leave it unmolested until you can get it assessed as a candidate.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

Harvey
sorry I did not read your complete statement. 1978 Pace Car is one of my favorite corvettes I went nuts with my 67 over the drivers rear caliper it turned out to be the hose. I would replace anything that may make the car unsafe to drive.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

You can send it in for re-sleeving and request that it be the one returned to you.

[Harvey K.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

will it still qualify as BOWTIE if I re-sleeve it and use O-ring seals instead of Lip Seal?

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

Who will know? There is no label on the caliper, and you don't need to tell anyone.

Stu Fox

[Michael J.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

I was under the impression that brakes are "normal maintenance items" for Bowtie judging.

[Harvey K.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

Thanks Michael. I thought safety issues should be addressed. Not that I will drive the car, but I think it should be driveable.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

Harvey please drive the car . don't let it sit around and dry out.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

All 4 of mine were resleeved/replaced, but the car still made Bowtie.
Some places will send you the same one back. You will pay extra, but that's how it goes.
If you say pretty please they might avoid repainting it so it even appears the same when it returns.

Patrick

[Leif A.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

I just picked up this car and the brakes are all leaking. The car actually started right up after a little pre-work.

I rebuilt all the calipers and master cylinder with the stock lip seals. All cylinders except 1 are holding. I do not plan on driving the car, other than around my drive a few times a year to keep it moving. I want it to live. Question: Should I look at having the one caliper sleeved or replace the caliper with a correct casting number and keep the original caliper wrapped up for any future owners?

OK, this car is 37 years old and has only been driven 20 miles. You say you have no plans on driving the car either. Two things. Why fix anything on the car...you're not going to drive it. Secondly, why did you buy the car in the first place?? When will the "preservationists" realize that they are destroying these cars NOT preserving them by not driving them. I'm not talking about daily driving but getting them out on a regular basis and exercise them...keep the seals moist and everything functioning properly. Sitting in a climate controlled garage IMHO is the WORST thing you can do to any car...especially a car that was meant to be driven. It's just sacrilegious. Off my soap box.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

I do not plan on driving the car, other than around my drive a few times a year to keep it moving.

Driving it in this manner does far more harm than good. Either leave it alone unstarted or take it out for good long drives so that everything gets up to normal operating temps and conditions. Of course, driving it destroys the cache of having a no mileage car.

I'd leave it alone and figure out how to set up your garage to keep low humidity and constant temperature.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car L82 Barn find with 20 miles - Caliper build - rebuild - replace?

If you send the calipers in for rebuild and sleeves insist they do not repaint them. Also some rebuilder will stamp the calipers LoneStar will use a "L", I would ask them to please not to do that in this case.

Mike