Wrecked the 64 :-(
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Wrecked the 64 :-(
So the 64 i just spent 2 months completely rebuilding for a female friend... well she was on a LA freeway, jammed on the drum brakes as a car cut her off, locked up the tires, did 2 360 spins at 80mph and took the right rear corner into the center divide. Talk about a miracle she did not hit any other cars... or cause frame damage or anything else!!! she says the car drives with no vibrations or nay problems.
So the question now... rear quarter panel damage as well as rear valence. I have not seen the damage yet as I'm in Sweden currently. Question is how hard is it to fix the body on these C2 vettes? Anyone know someone in the Los Angeles that can do this work?
So the question now... rear quarter panel damage as well as rear valence. I have not seen the damage yet as I'm in Sweden currently. Question is how hard is it to fix the body on these C2 vettes? Anyone know someone in the Los Angeles that can do this work?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Fontana California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Norwalk ohio
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
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From: Newark DE
sure ALB would prevent that happening but cars didn't have that feature for decades and people avoided locking up the brakes all the time. It's simple, PUMP, don't just SLAM the brakes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,000
Likes: 659
From: Puget Sound
sorry, I disagree, the problem is locking up the brakes at 80mph is stupidity and just asking for an accident.
sure ALB would prevent that happening but cars didn't have that feature for decades and people avoided locking up the brakes all the time. It's simple, PUMP, don't just SLAM the brakes.
sure ALB would prevent that happening but cars didn't have that feature for decades and people avoided locking up the brakes all the time. It's simple, PUMP, don't just SLAM the brakes.
At the risk of sounding like a sexist, remember, we're talking about a woman driver here.
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Location, Location QC,NY
I beg to differ with many of the comments posted in this thread.
First of all, thank God she was not injured, any situation without injury at high speeds in one of these old crocks is a miracle.
Secondly, one of the greatest failings of drum brakes when compared to disks, is the difficulty in modulation or put another way, maintaining threshold braking. Due to the mechanical nature of drums, they are far more prone to lock under maximum or panic braking. Also, unlike disks, they are very sensitive to adjustment.
With a properly balanced braking system, drums or disks, a car should not spin if all tires have equal traction, all wheels lock simultaneously, and you are headed straight. If however the rears lock first (or only), or there is uneven braking from side to side due to road surface variation, or poor brake performance, you will very likely spin.
I would bet that she either swerved while slamming on the brakes, and/or there was a balance problem in the system. Probably less likely on an LA freeway that the wheels were on differing surfaces, we get that here alot in winter.
I only hope that I never have to experience a similar emergency in my '62, probably my greatest fear when driving it in traffic.
Paul
First of all, thank God she was not injured, any situation without injury at high speeds in one of these old crocks is a miracle.
Secondly, one of the greatest failings of drum brakes when compared to disks, is the difficulty in modulation or put another way, maintaining threshold braking. Due to the mechanical nature of drums, they are far more prone to lock under maximum or panic braking. Also, unlike disks, they are very sensitive to adjustment.
With a properly balanced braking system, drums or disks, a car should not spin if all tires have equal traction, all wheels lock simultaneously, and you are headed straight. If however the rears lock first (or only), or there is uneven braking from side to side due to road surface variation, or poor brake performance, you will very likely spin.
I would bet that she either swerved while slamming on the brakes, and/or there was a balance problem in the system. Probably less likely on an LA freeway that the wheels were on differing surfaces, we get that here alot in winter.
I only hope that I never have to experience a similar emergency in my '62, probably my greatest fear when driving it in traffic.
Paul
Last edited by Fawndeuce; Sep 17, 2008 at 11:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimme now from LI,NY
/joe
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
I beg to differ with many of the comments posted in this thread.
First of all, thank God she was not injured, any situation without injury at high speeds in one of these old crocks is a miracle.
Secondly, one of the greatest failings of drum brakes when compared to disks, is the difficulty in modulation or put another way, maintaining threshold braking. Due to the mechanical nature of drums, they are far more prone to lock under maximum or panic braking. Also, unlike disks, they are very sensitive to adjustment.
With a properly balanced braking system, drums or disks, a car should not spin if all tires have equal traction, all wheels lock simultaneously, and you are headed straight. If however the rears lock first (or only), or there is uneven braking from side to side due to road surface variation, or poor brake performance, you will very likely spin.
I would bet that she either swerved while slamming on the brakes, and/or there was a balance problem in the system. Probably less likely on an LA freeway that the wheels were on differing surfaces, we get that here alot in winter.
I only hope that I never have to experience a similar emergency in my '62, probably my greatest fear when driving it in traffic.
Paul
First of all, thank God she was not injured, any situation without injury at high speeds in one of these old crocks is a miracle.
Secondly, one of the greatest failings of drum brakes when compared to disks, is the difficulty in modulation or put another way, maintaining threshold braking. Due to the mechanical nature of drums, they are far more prone to lock under maximum or panic braking. Also, unlike disks, they are very sensitive to adjustment.
With a properly balanced braking system, drums or disks, a car should not spin if all tires have equal traction, all wheels lock simultaneously, and you are headed straight. If however the rears lock first (or only), or there is uneven braking from side to side due to road surface variation, or poor brake performance, you will very likely spin.
I would bet that she either swerved while slamming on the brakes, and/or there was a balance problem in the system. Probably less likely on an LA freeway that the wheels were on differing surfaces, we get that here alot in winter.
I only hope that I never have to experience a similar emergency in my '62, probably my greatest fear when driving it in traffic.
Paul
80 MPH, on an LA freeway (prob bumper-to-bumper) with all drum brake and a panic stop? That's a recipe for trouble no matter who is driving. The body damage shouldn't be too hard to fix if the right shop does it. A fella on here a few weeks back had a right rear knock off wheel come off on his C2 on its maiden voyage from the dealer. His police officer Dad was driving and kept it from being a fatal crash - right rear of car was torn up badly but the dealer fixed it nicely. Somebody may be able to link you to that thread.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 768
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From: Leavenworth Washington
I must be driving on some other freeways here in LA. When it isn't rush hour 75-80 pretty much just keeps you from being run over. Can I imagine someone at 80 on the freeways here getting into a panic stop situation pretty easy? Yup. I agree with those of you who are happy she is fine and the car is fixable.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,278
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From: If I say it's safe to surf this beach ......then it's safe to surf this beach
Very sorry to hear about the prang your friend was involved in, but glad she's OK.
If it was my car and someone else was doing the repairs, I'd make sure they saved any & all salvagable panels/parts, especially if the fiberglass is original. You never know when you might need it again, or when someone else may be wanting it.........
If it was my car and someone else was doing the repairs, I'd make sure they saved any & all salvagable panels/parts, especially if the fiberglass is original. You never know when you might need it again, or when someone else may be wanting it.........
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Merriam Kansas
sorry, I disagree, the problem is locking up the brakes at 80mph is stupidity and just asking for an accident.
sure ALB would prevent that happening but cars didn't have that feature for decades and people avoided locking up the brakes all the time. It's simple, PUMP, don't just SLAM the brakes.
sure ALB would prevent that happening but cars didn't have that feature for decades and people avoided locking up the brakes all the time. It's simple, PUMP, don't just SLAM the brakes.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
From: Detroit MI
I must be driving on some other freeways here in LA. When it isn't rush hour 75-80 pretty much just keeps you from being run over. Can I imagine someone at 80 on the freeways here getting into a panic stop situation pretty easy? Yup. I agree with those of you who are happy she is fine and the car is fixable.
LA is either bumper to bumper or Indy car...I lived there for years...Glad she is OK! 