C-2 brakes

[D S.]

I got a call this morning from a person who owns a '66 coupe with drum brakes. Is that was is called J56 brakes?

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

[Michael G.]

Re: C-2 brakes

I got a call this morning from a person who owns a '66 coupe with drum brakes. Is that was is called J56 brakes?

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

To my knowledge no 1966 Corvette was ever produced with drum brakes. Very early 1965 had drum brakes along with disc however they were discontinued very shortly after '65 production started.

Hey......maybe I've learned something new today.

[Robert K.]

Re: C-2 brakes

Scott,
No, J56 brakes were an option that you could purchase. They were used on Hi-Perfromance vehicles and consisted of special metallic pads bonded to a inconel backing plate. Additionally, the set-up featured a special proportioning valve near the master cylinder, a special heavy duty bracket installed on each the front wheels and special "caps" that we're screwed into each of the pistons.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-2 brakes

Scott,
No, J56 brakes were an option that you could purchase. They were used on Hi-Perfromance vehicles and consisted of special metallic pads bonded to a inconel backing plate. Additionally, the set-up featured a special proportioning valve near the master cylinder, a special heavy duty bracket installed on each the front wheels and special "caps" that we're screwed into each of the pistons.

Robert------

Just one point of clarification: with respect to 1st DESIGN Corvette disc brakes used from 1965 to early 1967, the caliper pistons, including insulators("caps"), were the same for standard brakes and J-56. However, for 2nd DESIGN, used from late 1967 to 1982) the standard and J-50 brakes used pistons with no insulators whereas the J-56 used pistons with insulators (but of a different configuration than 1st design).

[Joe L.]

Re: C-2 brakes

I got a call this morning from a person who owns a '66 coupe with drum brakes. Is that was is called J56 brakes?

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

Scott------


I HIGHLY doubt that a single 1966 Corvette was ever built with drum brakes. In addition, it is HIGHLY unlikely that anyone would ever have converted a 1966 Corvette from disc brakes to drum brakes.

So, what could explain this? Well, the first thing I'd want to check is whether the car is actually a 1966 Corvette regardless of what the VIN and registration certificate says. As I've mentioned previously, the "swapping out" of VIN plates (e.g. from a wrecked car to a stolen car) is always a possibility.

[Alan D.]

Re: C-2 brakes

So the summation is;
65 NO J-56
66 J-56, Special Heavy Duty Brakes, option @ $342.30, added insulators on pistons 1st design?
67 J-56, Special Heavy Duty Brakes, option @ $342.30, added insulators on pistons 2nd design

What is confusing Joe is that the option was available for MY 66 & 67 during the time of the 1st design.
Is this one of those listed options that never really happened like the 63 P-48? But in any case a drum brake setup was not available in 66.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-2 brakes

So the summation is;
65 NO J-56
66 J-56, Special Heavy Duty Brakes, option @ $342.30, added insulators on pistons 1st design?
67 J-56, Special Heavy Duty Brakes, option @ $342.30, added insulators on pistons 2nd design

What is confusing Joe is that the option was available for MY 66 & 67 during the time of the 1st design.
Is this one of those listed options that never really happened like the 63 P-48? But in any case a drum brake setup was not available in 66.

Alan------

1965-----I don't know if any 1965's were ever built with J-56 brakes. GM says none were made but I do not know if any known-original cars have ever been observed with J-56;

1966----All 1966 used 1st design disc brakes. The caliper pistons with insulators were the same for all 1966 regardless of standard, J-50, or J-56. Other parts differed for J-56 as Robert desribed above;

1967-----early 1967 used 1st design brakes. For these, everything was exactly the same as 1966 as I described. Later 1967 used 2nd design brakes. For these, standard and J-50 brakes used pistons without insulators. J-56 used pistons with insulators but of a different configuration than 1st design pistons. The other elements of 2nd design J-56 were essentially the same as 66-E67 except that the proportioning valve was eliminated after 1968.

I would be shocked to find that any 1966 Corvette was ever originally built with drum brakes. Absolutely shocked.

[Paul D.]

Re: C-2 brakes

I couldn't rest until I checked the frame VIN on that car (and I'm afraid in this case not after). Maybe a frame swap? To check it out, you would have to have the frame VIN, if present, checked by authorities to confirm it's not stolen. Scott has a tough phone call to return. Chip.

[Robert K.]

Re: C-2 brakes

Joe,
I agree, I would be amazed to find one however, I never say "never"!!

[D S.]

Re: C-2 brakes

I made the call and relayed most of all the comments made here to the owner.
Further information from the owner: The VIN plate shows to be a '66 Corvette. The car has a roll cage that somehow hid the frame VIN under the rocker panels and left rear frame. The differential is a 1963 Corvette. The car originated from the east coast.
My conclusion is that the original frame was rusted out and a '63 frame was installed. He didn't mention the drive train and I didn't want to ask. I think he was disappointed enough for a Monday.

[Michael G.]

Re: C-2 brakes

I made the call and relayed most of all the comments made here to the owner.
Further information from the owner: The VIN plate shows to be a '66 Corvette. The car has a roll cage that somehow hid the frame VIN under the rocker panels and left rear frame. The differential is a 1963 Corvette. The car originated from the east coast.
My conclusion is that the original frame was rusted out and a '63 frame was installed. He didn't mention the drive train and I didn't want to ask. I think he was disappointed enough for a Monday.

Sounds like a "Heinz 57" Corvette.........

[Steven B.]

Re: C-2 brakes

Sounds right Michael, a put together car. But not the Dave Heinz Corvette. '65 listed drums as a delete selection, no such selection option for '66 or later.

[D S.]

Re: C-2 brakes

I recall in the conversation the owner and I had last Saturday that he once owned a '63 Corvette but it was a basket case. Hmmmm....