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I'm plotting the disc brake swap on my '64 Corvette....planning on using Wilwood D8 calipers at both corners for a number of reasons, but thats not the point of this thread.
For those of you running the D8, what 15" wheels have you found will clear the caliper using the stock discs and caliper mounting brackets....I'm specifically looking for 15x7 at approximately 3.75 inch backspacing. I posted a thread on this a year or so ago, and got some useful info, but figured I'd readdress in the event there are any new users of these calipers. Id like to find either a Torque Thrust style wheel, or a steely that will take a smooth hub cap. I've contacted both PS Vintage Wheel Products (my 1st choice) and Vintage Wheel works. According to them, neither of their 15" Torque Thrust style wheels will clear these calipers based on Wilwood's engineering schematics.
Any input from those with actual experience with these calipers and 15" wheels would be greatly appreciated!
I installed the wilwood disc brake conversion on the stock 63 spindles. I have vintage wheel works wheels. I don’t recall the backspacing though. It’s been a while.
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I installed the wilwood disc brake conversion on the stock 63 spindles. I have vintage wheel works wheels. I don’t recall the backspacing though. It’s been a while.
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Ahhh yes, still one of my favorite cars on the forum! I believe I saw your post about the brake kit you used which retained the factory '63 spindles. For better or for worse, I'm using 65-67' spindles to accommodate the D8 calipers. The calipers that come with the kit you used on the '63 are a different Wilwood caliper.
Have you finished that car yet? Would love to see additional pictures of the finished product!!
Ahhh yes, still one of my favorite cars on the forum! I believe I saw your post about the brake kit you used which retained the factory '63 spindles. For better or for worse, I'm using 65-67' spindles to accommodate the D8 calipers. The calipers that come with the kit you used on the '63 are a different Wilwood caliper.
Have you finished that car yet? Would love to see additional pictures of the finished product!!
its registered and on the road, but not finished. I still need to restore the vent windows, installed the power windows, find some interior trim pieces, mount the bumpers, etc. just a bunch of small items really, but I’ve been swamped with other cars and home renovation projects. Hopefully I can wrap up the build later this month or early July.
Sorry for my confusion on the calipers. I thought you were asking about the 63-64 conversion kit.
No worries at all! Is this going to be your personal car?!?
This one is going to stay and be enjoyed. The only thing I would probably change is a 5 speed instead of the original 4 speed muncie and perhaps vintage AC.
Maybe captain obvious here, but, since the D8 looks just like the Delco and is designed to replace the 65+ Delco I would assume any wheel that will fit a 65-67 should be OK. I know about assuming but Wilwood sells it as a replacement.
Maybe captain obvious here, but, since the D8 looks just like the Delco and is designed to replace the 65+ Delco I would assume any wheel that will fit a 65-67 should be OK. I know about assuming but Wilwood sells it as a replacement.
I would be inclined to agree with you if it weren't for the fact that I used Wilwood's D52 replacement calipers on my 1972 Chevy Suburban, and they just barely didn't clear the stock 16" wheels even though the truck came with factory GM D52 calipers. I ended up having to go to 17" wheels on that truck.
This one is going to stay and be enjoyed. The only thing I would probably change is a 5 speed instead of the original 4 speed muncie and perhaps vintage AC.
Nice...yea I go back and forth on the 4spd vs 5spd
Greg, I bought and installed a front end conversion kit from Vansteel that used the Corvette calipers back in '08 or '09, just before Wilwood came out with the D8-4 calipers. I decided I wanted to try them and contacted Vansteel. They credited me what I paid for the Corvette calipers toward the Wilwoods. Great folks to work with.
I installed them on my '63 chassis with the '67 rally's I installed in '69 and had no clearance issues at all.
A while later I decided to go with reproduction (bolt-on) knock-offs and bought a set from Corvette America at Carlisle. I installed a wheel on the front of the car and discovered that the wheel dragged on the calipers in two places. It was apparent that with some minor 'filing' I could gain the necessary clearance I needed. After clearancing the calipers I contacted Vansteel about the clearance problem and to see if Wilwood would refinish the calipers for me. They refinished them for me at no cost. Again, both companies have been great to deal with.
I have not heard of any recent clearance issues with the D8 calipers, so Wilwood may have modified the calipers. You might want to talk to Wilwood directly to see if they've had any recent issues. There really wasn't much clearance needed and they did clear the original rally wheels.
This picture was taken after Wilwood refinished the calipers (and no they are not the correct lugnuts... they were just used to hold the rotors tight for caliper mounting )
Thanks GUSTO! I will be ordering all of my stuff through Van Steel....great company to work with. I'm going to give Wilwood a call on Monday to see what they say. I absolutely love the PS Vintage Wheel Products T/A-1 wheel, but they tell me it's a two piece, and the weld bead on the inside of the rim could interfere with the caliper based on the schematics from Wilwood. The nice thing about the AR TTD wheel is that I can order a single from Summit for mock up, and if it doesn't fit, just return it. That being said, I've been less than impressed with AR's quality as of late, but thats a different matter entirely.
I have the D8’s on the front, they were on the car when I bought it. I put new bolt on’s on 2 years ago and had to use a spacer to get them to clear. I had to use longer lug bolts as well. I think the spacer was 3/8 inch. I completely went through my brakes two years ago and added Wilwood rotors and pads. The car will stop on a dime. Brake dust is terrible.
I have the D8’s on the front, they were on the car when I bought it. I put new bolt on’s on 2 years ago and had to use a spacer to get them to clear. I had to use longer lug bolts as well. I think the spacer was 3/8 inch. I completely went through my brakes two years ago and added Wilwood rotors and pads. The car will stop on a dime. Brake dust is terrible.
Probably no longer applies but the Torque Thrust - D was introduced in '65 specifically to clear the new Corvette disc brakes. The original Torque Thrust (and almost all other "mag") wheels of the time did not clear. I don't know if vintage wheel copies are true to the drum brake period but the mfg should be able to confirm fit on a disc brake Corvette.
I have P.S. Engineering torque thrust wheels (TA1) that fit perfectly with stock calipers but did not fit the Wilwood D8 calipers. So don’t trust what Wilwood says, they obviously are not exactly the same as stock dimensionally. I have carefully modified the Wilwood calipers in the area of interference. Make sure you measure. Do not assume!
I have P.S. Engineering torque thrust wheels (TA1) that fit perfectly with stock calipers but did not fit the Wilwood D8 calipers. So don’t trust what Wilwood says, they obviously are not exactly the same as stock dimensionally. I have carefully modified the Wilwood calipers in the area of interference. Make sure you measure. Do not assume!
Bill
Much appreciated Bill! I figured that would be the case. I used a set of Wilwood D52 calipers as a replacement for the stock D52 Calipers on my Suburban and the factory 16 inch steelies didn't clear those either, despite having no issue with the stock D52s.
06-01-2018, 10:30 AM
Anyone running Wilwood D8 calipers, please step inside
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