gleninsandiego

So I am looking at the brake calipers and am trying to figure out what is going on.
Is the blue paint stuff for anti squeal?
It it so thick it came off on the caliper pistons?

Glenn in San Diego

caskiguy

Looks like the prior owners painter was a tad bit careless dressing up the front end. Glad nothing occurred (not sure it would have mattered) on my drive up from Marina Del Rey to Sherman Oaks. I guess one can never really know what has happened to a car over 47 yrs. Always something, but I'm learning a great deal as this is my first ever project like this. Definitely keeps my mind and hands busy which is a good thing. Beats the hell out of plumbing.

caskiguy

By the way, why did you choose the rear leaf spring you installed ? What is the pound rating ?

gleninsandiego

Looking back at another car I had some caliper issues with, it was sprayed with Permatex anti squeal paint like stuff. It was blue like that

As far as the rear leaf spring, I searched this forum high and low to see what people recommended as the best for spirited driving and canyon carving. I was also under a budget so I couldn't get the really good stuff that is out there.
There are some great recent threads about this

I ended up choosing the springs and the shocks that are used in this kit
https://www.vbandp.com/c3-corvette-p...77-detail.html

so 550 lb springs up front
and 360 lb spring in the rear
and Bilstein Sport shocks

I previously had a 73 that had the springs and shocks from this kit
https://www.vbandp.com/c3-corvette-p...77-detail.html

so 460 lb front and 330 lb rear on that one
and I found it was too soft for where I am wanting this car to be like

It did give a great ride, but that isn't what I am looking for on this one
So that is why I went with the
360 lb rear

That said, I haven't driven it yet, so who knows if I will like it

You had better hear from someone driving with it

Glenn

caskiguy

Ordered my new front coil over suspension and a 1 1/8" front sway bar from GlobalWest yesterday. It's a good start.



#500lb coils with Double adjustable shocks



Top control arm



Lower control arm (non extended)

caskiguy

Of course good news can be followed by not so good news. Opened the differential today, saw a few knocked teeth, also discovered it's a 2:73 not a 3:08 ( someone was in there already ) took some pictures and closed her up.But I did find a fella located in the San Fernando Valley who was featured in a Super Chevy write up, RamJet Rear End Repair so I'll give them a call and see what the damage is.

doorgunner

YIKES! Time for 3.08 ring and pinion, and bearing set......DIY approx. $550.

Rebuilt Diff. w/3.08 ..............$900

caskiguy

Many things to consider as I go forward. This article may benefit others as well.http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/whe...-82-corvettes/

caskiguy

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/l...heel-alignment

NAVY08

Took me a few hours to get through the whole thread. Great work and excellent pictures. I will be watching!

caskiguy

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for parts.
I've decided to upgrade my 70' as many of the parts were so worn out/broken/missing sadly, this of course presents challenges. I decided to go with Global West Dbl adj. coil over Suspension using 500lb springs/1 1/8" Stabilizer bar/Wilwood D8-4, Promatrix rotors on the front. Along with Speeddirects Rack and Pinion steering. New gas/brake lines, proportioning valve and all. Rear will receive the much maligned SharkBite Dbl adjustable suspension, new trailing assemblies, Wilwood rotors and calipers & lines.
The differential of course needs to be addressed along with short shafts and driveshaft. Transmission which is currently a TH400 3speed needs attention and motor needs rebuilding. I'm contemplating my move on these, there are a lot of choices Rewiring the entire car, adding a back up camera and a front parking sensor(s), driving lights, audio system, at this point the whole nine yards it seems.
Rims and tires will either be 17" or 18" Ytd.
Then body work and such.
I'll just add, I'm learning as I go both good and bad and that is what this project was all about.
Thanks to all who find some interest in this build.









Snowplow attachment could be a bit tricky installing.

Primoz

Very nice! But do I see corectly that the wilwood caliperrs don't have any pistons in them?

CraigH

Some seriously nice kit there ready to install.

RBrid

Great project! Some of these kits look familiar. Looking forward to seeing how you install the camera and sensor(s). I will be watching. -R

caskiguy

Familiar ? LOL, now how could that be ?
I'd be lying if I said your great thread didn't hold some sway. You do great work, I've learned a great deal from your thread. But I have to say I probably buy a rotisserie to work on the underbody.

caskiguy

It is a different system than the original GM disc caliper (spring/piston/seal). Check out caliper rebuild.

http://www.wilwood.com/Pdf/HowToStories.asp

Grumpy 427

HAHAHAHA. Yeah i jacked up my car as i was just going to take a look and clean it up a bit. Next thing you know i am into a body off rebuild.

gleninsandiego

Glenn in San Diego

caskiguy

Finally all parts arrived and being back in town was able to install the GlobalWest Control Arms and Viking/QA-1Hybrid-Coilover shock(s) & Spindle.
I was miffed as to how I was going to "compress & clock" the spring. by myself with no weight on the frame, slept on it and wha-la !
There is a reason I've kept the 4x4's 15 plus years. Hope this helps someone in the future.
And a special thank you to the Lord above.


Garage headers come in handy !





Success !



I preset the spring and marked it with a black marker so I knew it would be clocked correctly.

doorgunner

That's a heavy duty mouse trap you have there! The suspension looks great.