Need some general Chevy help...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Need some general Chevy help...
I bought a 69 Camaro recently, and it has four wheel drums. I would like to put discs in the front, and am thinking about using C3 brakes. I saw a kit in a brochure, and they want big bucks. I have a potential hook up with C3 calipers and rotors, but need to know what to do about the spindles. Does anyone know if the spindles from a C3 will work with a Camaro? Has anyone done this before? Tonight, I am going to check out the two cars, but I was hoping someone here could also lend some advice.
Thanks
Ken
Thanks
Ken
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
Well, the rear spindles won't work for obvious reasons since the rear diff uses an independent rear suspension (I'm sure you knew that already).
I'd find a 4-wheel disk brake conversion. Have never seen a Corvette disk brake system adapted to the F-body.
I'd find a 4-wheel disk brake conversion. Have never seen a Corvette disk brake system adapted to the F-body.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 7
From: Brazos TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
The spindles won't work because the lower ball joint is reversed on the Corvette. In '69 the JL8 option on the Camaro basically put Corvette calipers on Camaro spindles. You could have barackets made or perhaps reproductions are available. I would think the Corvette rotors would work.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
I too used to dream of canning those crappy drums on my old 69 Maro and replace them with discs. I have never heard of puttin Vette brakes on a 69 Maro. I have seen stories in car mags of swappin in a-body brakes.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
Ken
If you haven't already, try this forum:
www.camaros.net
I hung out there for a while before I got my vette. I want a 67 rs/ss like my dad had but the bastard sold it while I was at college. 67 was the year I was born. :cry
If you haven't already, try this forum:
www.camaros.net
I hung out there for a while before I got my vette. I want a 67 rs/ss like my dad had but the bastard sold it while I was at college. 67 was the year I was born. :cry
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (Fevre)
I think by the second generation of the Camaro (1970-1981) disc brakes had become standard on the front, and I think the spindles and rotors were interchangeable on f-bodies and g-bodies. I don't think the front suspension was changed from the first gen to the second gen on the f-body.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: BOULDER CREEK ca
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
CHECK OUT STAINLESS STEEL BRAKES CO. I USED THEIR DISK BRAKE CONVERSION ON A '64 NOVA AND IT WORKED OUT GREAT. BUDGET FOR RIMS AND TIRES THOUGH. I DIDNT, AND I FOUND OUT AFTER THAT MY STOCK 14" RIMS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE CALIPERS. SO THAT ENDED UP BEING PART OF THE CONVERSION ALSO. I THINK THE WHOLE KIT FOR THE NOVA WAS $800.00, WHICH INCLUDED EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO DO THE JOB(IE. SPINDLES, WHEEL BEARINGS, CALIPERS, PADS, M/C, PROPORTIONING VALVE, ROTORS, AND HOSES). VERY HAPPY WITH IT, AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS GREAT.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (HWY 9 - '69)
Thanks for all the replies. I had previously found a Bear kit for the Camaro for $900 (another good hook up) and was set on that. However, today I saw an ad in a brochure for Power Master that offered a kit for putting the C3 brakes on the Camaro. The key was the bracket they had. It is a reproduction of the JL8 bracket. However, they want almost $1400 for the kit, and $300 for the brackets alone.
Tonight I checked both cars (before reading the replies) and confirmed they aren't interchangeable. However, looking at the C3 calipers, they look at least as impressive as the Bear calipers. I am going to contact Bear to see if they can explain the real differences between the two.
By the way, having both cars really illustrates what a superior car the Vette is in terms of handling, agility, and fun to drive quotient. I have a lot of work to do on the Camaro.
Thanks
Ken
Tonight I checked both cars (before reading the replies) and confirmed they aren't interchangeable. However, looking at the C3 calipers, they look at least as impressive as the Bear calipers. I am going to contact Bear to see if they can explain the real differences between the two.
By the way, having both cars really illustrates what a superior car the Vette is in terms of handling, agility, and fun to drive quotient. I have a lot of work to do on the Camaro.
Thanks
Ken
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
Doug Glad, who used to be an editor with Emap first with Chevy High Performance, and later with Car Craft had a 91 Z28 with a 383, Vortech blower, and Super ram intake. The car put out 500 hp and 598 ft.# torque on Morgan Motorsports chasis dyno! He had a set of Bear brakes installed on it, and a friend of mine went for a drive with him in it. The car was scary fast, but what impressed my friend most was that hitting the brakes felt like running into a brick wall!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 255
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From: bklyn ny
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (bb69)
i had a 68 camaro conv with drums that i wanted to convert to disk and of all the possibilities the best one was the wilwood conversion kit (about $600 from jegs). boL. 
[Modified by kingdavidrules, 2:48 AM 11/5/2002]
[Modified by kingdavidrules, 2:48 AM 11/5/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Re: Need some general Chevy help... (kingdavidrules)
I haven't checked the Wilwood kit yet.
I confirmed that the Bear kit I was looking at is only a 2 piston kit. The Vette brakes are massive four piston units. To step up to the four piston Alcon calipers with Bear, more than doubles the price.
I am looking for a kit that will repeatedly bring the car down from speed. When I get done with this car, it is going to be scary fast, and I want the brakes to be equally strong. I was very impressed with the way the Vette performed on the CanAm Caravan. Basic brake theory would suggest the 4 piston calipers provide a better clamping distribution than the 2 piston. I think this may be one reason Bear doesn't offer a kit for the C3, the brakes are already good. My thoughts right now are to look into getting the JL8 option pieces through a Camaro catalog or swap meet.
Thanks again for the replies, and I will keep you updated.
Ken
I confirmed that the Bear kit I was looking at is only a 2 piston kit. The Vette brakes are massive four piston units. To step up to the four piston Alcon calipers with Bear, more than doubles the price.
I am looking for a kit that will repeatedly bring the car down from speed. When I get done with this car, it is going to be scary fast, and I want the brakes to be equally strong. I was very impressed with the way the Vette performed on the CanAm Caravan. Basic brake theory would suggest the 4 piston calipers provide a better clamping distribution than the 2 piston. I think this may be one reason Bear doesn't offer a kit for the C3, the brakes are already good. My thoughts right now are to look into getting the JL8 option pieces through a Camaro catalog or swap meet.
Thanks again for the replies, and I will keep you updated.
Ken