Another '77 Project
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Second side is done! I found an article on Corvette Magazine's site that I was following. For the most part it was perfect, but their idea of using needle nose pliers for the shoe retaining springs is just idiotic.
I used two flat blade screwdrivers on the second side and was totally done putting it together in 40 minutes. 3 1/2 hours of messing around on the first side yesterday....
See step #17 on this link - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. Replace them with two flat blade screwdrivers. Push the spring and cup down onto the "nail" and twist. Done deal.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/brak...e-rebuild.html
I used two flat blade screwdrivers on the second side and was totally done putting it together in 40 minutes. 3 1/2 hours of messing around on the first side yesterday....
See step #17 on this link - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. Replace them with two flat blade screwdrivers. Push the spring and cup down onto the "nail" and twist. Done deal.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/brak...e-rebuild.html
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Oh yeah, and the passenger side had NO retaining springs at all. One had no pin ("nail") and the other - some bubba had bent the nail over to hold the shoe in place. Of course, this did not work and the first time you pull the ebrake handle there was no getting them to release.
Now onto replacing the ebrake cable and pulley with beautiful, shiny working pieces.
Now onto replacing the ebrake cable and pulley with beautiful, shiny working pieces.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Second side is done! I found an article on Corvette Magazine's site that I was following. For the most part it was perfect, but their idea of using needle nose pliers for the shoe retaining springs is just idiotic.
I used two flat blade screwdrivers on the second side and was totally done putting it together in 40 minutes. 3 1/2 hours of messing around on the first side yesterday....
See step #17 on this link - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. Replace them with two flat blade screwdrivers. Push the spring and cup down onto the "nail" and twist. Done deal.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/brak...e-rebuild.html
I used two flat blade screwdrivers on the second side and was totally done putting it together in 40 minutes. 3 1/2 hours of messing around on the first side yesterday....
See step #17 on this link - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. Replace them with two flat blade screwdrivers. Push the spring and cup down onto the "nail" and twist. Done deal.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/brak...e-rebuild.html
What's next???
Rogman
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
A shot of the rear suspension - keep in mind, this isn't a restoration. Just me doing the best I can with what I have to work with. Trying to clean this area up without disassembly. We will be replacing ujoints etc. as time goes on, so things like that will allow me to detail more and keep it from looking all one color etc. Oh yeah, and I have a composite spring which was given to me by DrRC so that will be added in at some point as well. Thanks again for that Doc!
A bunch of wire brushing, scraping, sanding, scotch bright, wiping down etc. Elbow grease is free
A bunch of wire brushing, scraping, sanding, scotch bright, wiping down etc. Elbow grease is free
Last edited by AdamMeh; Feb 18, 2012 at 07:02 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
A shot of the rear suspension - keep in mind, this isn't a restoration. Just me doing the best I can with what I have to work with. Trying to clean this area up without disassembly. We will be replacing ujoints etc. as time goes on, so things like that will allow me to detail more and keep it from looking all one color etc. Oh yeah, and I have a composite spring which was given to me by DrRC so that will be added in at some point as well. Thanks again for that Doc!
A bunch of wire brushing, scraping, sanding, scotch bright, wiping down etc. Elbow grease is free
A bunch of wire brushing, scraping, sanding, scotch bright, wiping down etc. Elbow grease is free
What a vast improvement!! Know this was not very much fun... Stand back and admire... Sometimes elbow grease costs a little bit of blood!!! At least my elbow grease asks for that payment almost everyday!!!
Rogman
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Well, the rear brakes are on and the fronts will be assembled in the next day or so. Then it's just a matter of bench bleeding the MC, installing it and power bleeding the entire system. Feels like I have the parking brakes a little to tight so I'll adjust again when we bleed the rears. Back off the adjusters slightly and add a little more tension to the cable - not quite enough at the ebrake handle.
SS sleeved calipers, fresh pads, new brake lines, ebrake system and machined rotors.
SS sleeved calipers, fresh pads, new brake lines, ebrake system and machined rotors.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 547
Likes: 13
From: Carlstadt NJ
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Started sanding on the body. Since it was in primer when we got it, I've been very curious to see what hidden treasures I'll find. Won't be painting it until next winter, but I want to get the major stuff fixed and shoot the car in some good quality sealer before the weather gets hot. Plus, I just HAVE to get this rattle can primer off the car.
So far, nothing unexptected which is good. Good news is, only 1 repaint on it
Found the date on those old Road Huggers also - 2002. Good tread on them so they'll work for the initial short test drives. Then I'll have to save up and get the BFG's I want before we take it on any longer drives.
So far, nothing unexptected which is good. Good news is, only 1 repaint on it
Found the date on those old Road Huggers also - 2002. Good tread on them so they'll work for the initial short test drives. Then I'll have to save up and get the BFG's I want before we take it on any longer drives.
Last edited by AdamMeh; Feb 29, 2012 at 03:07 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
A shot of the rear suspension - keep in mind, this isn't a restoration. Just me doing the best I can with what I have to work with. Trying to clean this area up without disassembly. We will be replacing ujoints etc. as time goes on, so things like that will allow me to detail more and keep it from looking all one color etc. Oh yeah, and I have a composite spring which was given to me by DrRC so that will be added in at some point as well. Thanks again for that Doc!
A bunch of wire brushing, scraping, sanding, scotch bright, wiping down etc. Elbow grease is free
A bunch of wire brushing, scraping, sanding, scotch bright, wiping down etc. Elbow grease is free
Let me know when we will go out cruising! I don't have any real projects lined up for mine, but I will drive it to work and I am sure something will surface!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
I have all of the calipers on except one - the brake line is fighting me and won't come off 
Still hoping for a short test drive on Saturday, but we'll see if that's in the cards or not.
Adam
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 844
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Second side is done! I found an article on Corvette Magazine's site that I was following. For the most part it was perfect, but their idea of using needle nose pliers for the shoe retaining springs is just idiotic.
I used two flat blade screwdrivers on the second side and was totally done putting it together in 40 minutes. 3 1/2 hours of messing around on the first side yesterday....
See step #17 on this link - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. Replace them with two flat blade screwdrivers. Push the spring and cup down onto the "nail" and twist. Done deal.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/brak...e-rebuild.html
I used two flat blade screwdrivers on the second side and was totally done putting it together in 40 minutes. 3 1/2 hours of messing around on the first side yesterday....
See step #17 on this link - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. Replace them with two flat blade screwdrivers. Push the spring and cup down onto the "nail" and twist. Done deal.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/brak...e-rebuild.html
I used that site when i was doing my parking brakes not too long ago, but I found a tip on another site about the springs. When you are changing out the pads with the spindle still on the car, use dental floss to put tension on the springs, then either burn it off with a lighter or cut them using an x-acto knife to get the tension back when you are done. I did use one pair of needle nose pliers to grab a hold of the "nail" and put just a little more tension on the spring while turning the disc.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
I used that site when i was doing my parking brakes not too long ago, but I found a tip on another site about the springs. When you are changing out the pads with the spindle still on the car, use dental floss to put tension on the springs, then either burn it off with a lighter or cut them using an x-acto knife to get the tension back when you are done. I did use one pair of needle nose pliers to grab a hold of the "nail" and put just a little more tension on the spring while turning the disc.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Maybe.... Just maybe we will have brakes today. After so many delays and setbacks on this project I'm trying not to get excited about it.
Buddy of mine is suppost to come over and is bringing all of his handy dandy magic brake stuff with him. As long as all goes well, we should have a brand new, fully functional brake system on the car.
And.... possibly get to test drive it down the block and back. Maybe. Possibly. Could happen. Never know.
Been a lot of setbacks so I'm not counting on anything
Adam
Buddy of mine is suppost to come over and is bringing all of his handy dandy magic brake stuff with him. As long as all goes well, we should have a brand new, fully functional brake system on the car.
And.... possibly get to test drive it down the block and back. Maybe. Possibly. Could happen. Never know.
Been a lot of setbacks so I'm not counting on anything
Adam
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Maybe.... Just maybe we will have brakes today. After so many delays and setbacks on this project I'm trying not to get excited about it.
Buddy of mine is suppost to come over and is bringing all of his handy dandy magic brake stuff with him. As long as all goes well, we should have a brand new, fully functional brake system on the car.
And.... possibly get to test drive it down the block and back. Maybe. Possibly. Could happen. Never know.
Been a lot of setbacks so I'm not counting on anything
Adam
Buddy of mine is suppost to come over and is bringing all of his handy dandy magic brake stuff with him. As long as all goes well, we should have a brand new, fully functional brake system on the car.
And.... possibly get to test drive it down the block and back. Maybe. Possibly. Could happen. Never know.
Been a lot of setbacks so I'm not counting on anything
Adam
Is the plan to just drive it awhile after the brakes and front bumper install??
Rogman
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Hey Rogman,
Well, we'll at least get to test drive and work the bugs out. Once I get the bodywork done and the sealer shot on it, then we'll just enjoy it for a few months and finish up the bodywork and paint next fall/winter. The next couple of months will be working the bugs out and figuring out what else it needs.
I could certainly talk to him about your brakes, but it might be expensive to pay for his trip to Vegas
Well, we'll at least get to test drive and work the bugs out. Once I get the bodywork done and the sealer shot on it, then we'll just enjoy it for a few months and finish up the bodywork and paint next fall/winter. The next couple of months will be working the bugs out and figuring out what else it needs.
I could certainly talk to him about your brakes, but it might be expensive to pay for his trip to Vegas
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
We now have brakes! Did a short test drive around the block a couple of times and they feel fantastic. That was a much longer test drive than I would have done given the fact that I had not driven this thing since I did all this work. Seems my buddy has more faith in my work than I do
It's really ugly at this point, but it's running under it's own power and is at least ready for test drives to get the bugs worked out.
Now to continue on with the bodywork and get this pig shot in some sealer - at least it will all be one color and not covered in rattle can primer.
It's really ugly at this point, but it's running under it's own power and is at least ready for test drives to get the bugs worked out.
Now to continue on with the bodywork and get this pig shot in some sealer - at least it will all be one color and not covered in rattle can primer.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Bravo Adam! So exciting to see it all coming together! Hats off to you and all your hard work!!
Even with the "unfinished" color it still has those gorgeous curves and it is still a corvette---even more because it has your blood, sweat and tears in it.
Even with the "unfinished" color it still has those gorgeous curves and it is still a corvette---even more because it has your blood, sweat and tears in it.