I realise I am showing my engineering ignorance here ...

Most of the posts advertising restomods on the internet seem to extol the virtues of all kinds of changes, from lovely new 450ps engines to C4/5 chassis and LS engine transplants.

But few if any mention ABS. Is this not the done thing with C1/C2 restomods? Or is it just a 'given' that no one mentions?

I'm more than a little curious and I would be interested to know if anyone has included it in an upgrade.

Cheers

 

The unit for the ABS is large , complex, and computer controlled. I'm sure some have done it , but I don't feel it's worth the trouble. Yes, there are times when it's nice to just stand on the brake pedal for all you are worth. But I personally like the option of locking them up or better almost locking them up.

 

To me, ABS brakes along with a lot of other modern automotive contrivances, go a long way to take the human element out of driving, lowering the skills needed, and I think one reason we are all Corvette fans is to make driving more of a pure experience almost like organic driving, if you will. Hell, I don't even turn the radio on, I'd rather listen to the wind and the motor. Just my opinion, cheers.

 

Sure, that's fine for you guys that are happy to drive the old vettes the way the General made them back then, but there is a growing tide of enthusiasts that crave for modern convenience, economy, and performance whilst maintaining the classic looks.

I'm sure there are those out there that have installed ABS on these Pro-Classics. I've read many articles about these cars, but like the writer of this thread, I've seen no specific reference to ABS being fitted to any of these.

 

I know of no one who has done this on a C1 or C2. I considered it, but the complexity and the space requirements to do this, changed my mind. There is barely room under the hood for the essentials, and trying to cram all the related equipment under the hood would be a daunting project. My C2 with Hrdroboost will stop like no other car I have ever owned, but I have never locked the wheels up yet, so I am not sure that ABS would buy me anything. The stopping power of the chassis/suspension that I used, still astounds me!

Here is a pic of the engine compartment, tell me where I was going to put the hydraulic portion and where I was going to put the body control module and related electronics to make it work?

http://www.villagephotos.com/utils/i...L-P0001887.jpg


Regards, John McGraw

 

One word: TRAILER

 

I'll show my ABS ignorance for the sake of soliciting additional data for the thread.

In addition to the ABS sensors at the wheels, the ABS pump, the computer components, and all the wiring, doesn't the computer also need to be configured for the car it's on? Things such as car weight, tire diameter, etc?

On the Jaguar forum various XK8/R owners experienced ABS module warning lights when they went to a non-stock tire size, for example.

 

I asked this question about a year and a half ago when I was just getting my feet wet with my '64. I believe that the answer back then, was that one person had done it when they swapped in a Street Shop frame (C4 setup, if I remember correctly). I haven't heard of anyone offering it as part of a package, it would likely have to be done on your own.

If I went resto-mod, I would be looking to transplant the ABS as well. It may require some tweaking to the BCM, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

I think it depends on the envionment and conditions you're going to drive the car as to whether it's a worthwhile mod. I drive a '99 Corvette with good tires as a daily driver in a rainy, hilly city, and I have an ABS event almost every time it rains during my commute to work and back.

 

Im not sure you will ever see someone who will offer ABS in kit form. Too much liability. If you ever got in an accident was it your fault or the ABS.

As far as running it. I thought about it when I started my 65 with 94 ZR1 running gear. I finally decided no for a few reasons. First it is a bulky system and all the wiring and extra brake lines would really clutter up the car. Second, it is a complicated system and may not work correctly on a car with different weight, weight bias, tires size etc. Im also not sure how well it would work if you didnt run the CCM. The EBCM, CCM and ECM all talk to one another over a serial data line. If one was missing would the EBCM work?

One of the main reasons I think you dont hear about it is people usually buy an aftermarket engine wiring harness to simplify the project. These harnesses dont have any provisions for the ABS.

If you decide to go with it, good luck!

 

I've done it, and depending on your approach to building vette rod, proclassic, ( or whatever you want to call them ), it is certainly possible.

"Prodigy", my project car is a '03 Z06 with a heavily modified '63 SWC body.
Part of my original build plan was to retain all the attributes of the late cars, but with the classic styling of the old, and we are achieving this with this build. The car will drive like a C5, because it is a C5, everything was able to be used, except the HUD.

Sure, lots of body mods, but that was OK with me. It is 10" wider at the rear, 6" at the doors, and 8" wider at the front, and it is low

I first ran the idea on this forum a few years back, and most said it couldn't be done, but you just need to think outside the square, and no guys, it doesn't look like Frankenstein:- it's wild.

 

Pics!

 

Sorry, not right now.

Happy to walk through the process with anyone interested, escpecially if it helps some one else with their journey, and I will release some pics when it's closer to being finished:- about 18 months away I figure.

Apologise, not trying to be difficult, but have to respect wishes of others involved here.

 

Ross01, got any pics of that 63? Sound like a monster of a job, slicing bodies and all. Thanks, Rob

 

Yes mate, it is proving to be a huge job, got some 3,000 hours into her to this point, but body build is nearly finished.

As stated previously, not comfortable posting pics right now, will do so in about 12 months time, closer to completion.

I would however be happy to discuss methods and approach we have used if it helps anybody with their journey.

The car still looks like a '63, but on steriods, everything is pumped up:- wide and low.
It has a positive displacement twin screw Kenne Bell supercharger fitted, plus unique wheels that resemble the original knock offs.
It is my interpretation of what a '63 would resemble if the General built her today.

To me, it's the ultimate vette.

The restorers on this forum would probably throw darts at me thou.

 

Ross, great to see your post regarding Prodigy. The fun of these projects is in building a car expressing your vision of the ideal Corvette for you. Once you are further along I'm sure everyone will be interested in seeing the approach you've taken.

Rich

 

Thanks Rich,

I'm a bit slow off the mark with these forums, but I'm slowing getting the hang of it.

I'm real excited about my project, and keen to help and share the approach we have used, if it's of interest to anybody else.

You have been a great sounding board over various aspects of this car, and a great source of inspiration:- thanks mate.

Ross

 

this months issue has a 66 vette with a tube chassis that took a 2003 Z06 and moved the drive train, motor, INTERIOR, ABS/Traction Control all into the 66.......not much in the detail area other than just about everything got moved to the 66......interesting....

 

OK, I'll eagerly await my arrival of Corvette fever, takes a while to get down here in Aus.

My approach was completely different, but it also necessitates that you not be precious about maintaining a standard body. I realise that would be a big hurdle for most people.

My past projects has taught me that building a car from bits and pieces, can end up costing way, way more than originally intended.

One of my goals was to use as much of my '03 donor Z06 as possible, both to reduce costs, and keep the project all Corvette.

The original C5 frame is lighter and reputedly 4 times stronger than anything used before:- why throw it away for an expensive replacement tube chassis, if you are happy to modify the body to suit.
Also, everything on the C5 can be incorporated in the build:- everything.

Just food for thought

 

You have my attention...

 

OK, in simplistic terms, what we did was mount a birdcage from the C2 on top of the C5 frame.

I retained the C5 firewall ( we had to modify for RHD ), and fitted the
C2 plenum chamber ontop.
We widened the plenum 3" per side to be able to use the original bonding strips for the front clip.
Removed front C5 door pillars and aluminium cross bar. Also removed rear door posts to make way for C2 cage. Fabricated new pieces from
C5 frame to C2 birdcage, took a while, but worked a treat.
I'm having an engineer look over our work here during the build, firstly to make sure it was safe to do, and secondly, because registration authorities here will only register such a build when an engineer signs off on all the mods.

It was a bit of challenge juggling the birdcage around to get it to work. I was conscious of having an extra large rear dogleg because of the 6" difference in wheelbase.
Where I initially wanted to put it meant the demister vent for the aircon system would exit out in the engine bay. Clearly this couldn't happen so we mounted it in the only place it would work for the dash/ steering and made everything else to suit.
Yes, we have a bigger rear dogleg than I wanted, but I countered that by extending the door at the rear edge 3" and installing a functioning rear brake duct in this area to break it up. Looks fine.

Have retained C5 floors and boot tub, so C5 seats will be used and driving position will be same as C5. Entry/exit to the car is fine.
Boot tub cut down and modified to accept bonding to the underside of the C2 body. This was bit of a daunting challenge to start with, but has worked out great.

We have hand made an new twin pod dash system. At first glance it looks somewhat stock C2, but in fact little is the same.
We started using an original C2 dash skeleton, but the dash pods are smaller.
I really wanted to use the C5 self diagnostic systems, so the instrument cluster had to stay:- but I vehemently did not want a modern dash.

A big "must have" for me was no plastic visible inside the car. Interior must appear timeless:- like it was made 50 years ago, or yesterday.

HUD had to be removed and discarded, DIC switches relocated with new billet momentary switches to the centre console. A new pod was now formed over the C5 instrument cluster, and on the passenger side the original C2 glovebox door was cut down by about 15%.
So, glovebox door is original ( albeit modified ), we have retained the speaker grille, and clock.
C5 climate controls are mounted behind a neat little fold away door in the centre console.
Console handmade, but has a real C2 influence:- fits in with the theme of car just fine.

The only thing on the build that is not geniune Corvette is the wiper assembly.
Because the C5 aircon system occupies nearly all the space under the dash I couldn't use the C2 wiper system, C5 system was out of the question, cos that fitted in the C5 plenum, which of course was not being used.
I ended up using a cable drive system from a Truimph 2000. It has a 2 speed motor, and perhaps whilst not ideal in a perfect world, I couldn't see any other options. I'm not a lover of english stuff, but the windscreen was almost the same physical dimensions of the C2, so that helped.
To make the wipers work concentrically like the original C2, I turned one of the wiper heads upside down so it pulled instead of pushed, and presto, works a treat.

I'm having more fun building this car than any of the 4 vettes I've restored over the years. Am I mad?? :- quite possibly!!, but I love this car, it is consuming me.