Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

[Claus S.]

I am thinking of changing the front to rear brake line that is on top of the frame on the 1963-65 CorvetteAlmost everybody tells me that if i want to put the brake line in the original position on top on the frame i have to lift the body to gain access
There is no way to get access to the brake line from under the car
This evening i took off the left side rocker panel and i can easy put my fingers on both the brake line(all the way)and the 3 clips that holds the brake line
Note that the opening on the clips faces outwards towards the rocker panel and that makes it more easy
I wonder if there is any here that have changed the front to rear brake line from the rocker panel side?

Here is a couple of pictures of the gap between the body and frame
Each of the 3 screwdrivers points towards the 3 clips that holds the brake line in place





The 3 screwdrivers is pointing towards the clips that holds the brake line on top of the frame. I can easy loosen the brake line out of the clips

[Alan D.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

The major problem I had was getting the new line threaded up & around the back area. The long front straight section needed more to swing up more. I understand (& perhaps you do too) that the body only needs to be lifted a little on the drivers side.
Before you remove the present line try to thread the rear section from the rocker side, sounds possible.

[Claus S.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

It is easy to see where the brake line is going
I think the most easy way to thread the brake line is from under the car starting from the rear and threading the line towards the front


It feels like i can get access to the brake line almost all over the frame

[Alan D.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

I do not recall having any problem of access to the line just threading it back. Do not remember trying from back. Give it a try.
Note; I also had the car on the lift, 2 post.

[Claus S.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

This sounds like music to my ears because i have not been looking forward to this job because i was sure i had to lift the body until i took off the left side rocker panel and i could easy access the brake line the whole length of the front to rear brake line

[Claus S.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

Anybody here that know the diameter of the hole in the frame for this original brake line clip on top of the frame?

[Neil L.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

I replaced the front to rear brake line on my 64 in a little less than 3 hours with the body bolted to the frame. This included replacing the clips on top of the frame. I removed the drivers side rocker panel and rear tire. I fed the brake line into the wheel well going between the inside frame rail and the body. I then worked the line into place reaching under the car and going through the space provided by the removed rocker panel. The only tricky part was aligning the line around the frame kick-up. Bending was very minimal.

[Monte M.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

When I did mine, at the end the issue of trying to feed the line through the holes in the back I fought with a bit.

After being a little frustrated I ended up getting a fitting and connected the new brake line (the one that hoops over the frame rail), to the old one. This allowed me to bend the old one to help position the new one to come through the frame the way I wanted.

Using the old piece of tubing as a handle to help fish the new one go where it needed to ended up making it a reasonably simple job at the end.

Hope it helps a bit.

Best of luck.

Monte

[Claus S.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

Thanks Monte. I have already thought of using the old brake line to pull the new brake line

[Joe R.]

Re: Change front to rear brake line 1964 coupe

Claus,

I replaced the brake line on my 66 with no problem at all. A little different than your 64 but all I did after removing the old line was straighten the rear bend some, thread it thru the top of the frame, bend the rear of the line back to original and tighten it to the brake line block. Then snap the line in the clips and you are done.
I replaced my line with the 66 on jack stands and me flat on my back. That was years ago and I would probably find it harder today as we age!

JR