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Awesome build, I have C6 Z51 brakes on a 85 car. I didn't install the e-brake and was going to do that this winter. Looking at the pictures, looks like the rear brake calipers/ebrake C6 shoes on the rear just bolts up? My 85 rear brakes are different, I had to weld new brackets onto the rear end just so the C6 calipers would bolt on. I have a 85 vette LQ9 engine and dana 36. I'm going till it breaks.
My vote for the engine would run the gen 5 LT4 or the 535HP gen 5 crate, just would put everything over the top. Thanks for pushing the envelope for the C4 car. It way cheaper than buying a new C7 ZR1/Z06 car.
Awesome build, I have C6 Z51 brakes on a 85 car. I didn't install the e-brake and was going to do that this winter. Looking at the pictures, looks like the rear brake calipers/ebrake C6 shoes on the rear just bolts up? My 85 rear brakes are different, I had to weld new brackets onto the rear end just so the C6 calipers would bolt on. I have a 85 vette LQ9 engine and dana 36. I'm going till it breaks.
My vote for the engine would run the gen 5 LT4 or the 535HP gen 5 crate, just would put everything over the top. Thanks for pushing the envelope for the C4 car. It way cheaper than buying a new C7 ZR1/Z06 car.
Yes, the Street Shop Inc. piece replaces the spacer the caliper bolts to on the rear. It has the e-brake built in and is made to bolt up C6 Z06 calipers directly up to it. Not cheap @ $790 for the set, but worth it. CNC machined from billet aluminum...a real quality piece.
I won't go to a supercharged engine...too many issues with them and heat-soak when tracking sessions are going on. Most likely an LS7 or a Gen5 LT1 with a T56 Magnum behind them. Either of those can easily be built to 600-700 HP without power adders like turbos or superchargers and they will run all day long without a fuss.
Although I was tempted...a crate LT4 can be on my loading dock for $12k, but no dice for me.
Where are you guys sourcing your Z51 calipers? fleabay?
I don't track my car but the stock c4 hardware looks tiny inside of my 18/19 wheels
I suppose you could...a better source is places like LGM Motorsports who do brake conversions for people.
Personally...I don't buy "used" calipers, I don't want the question of condition to nag at me. By the time I buy them and "recondition" them I've spent the same amount of money.
There are places like Van Steel who have the brackets to mount the Z06 calipers and rotors...which rally look better than the Z51 versions. Lots of people who seriously track their cars ditch the stock brakes for aftermarket versions. You can probably find them in the classifieds here on the Forum.
I started putting the DANA 44 together over the weekend. The input yoke and the stub-axles were looking pretty nasty next to this freshly polished carrier so I hit them with a wire wheel and cleaned them up before hitting them with some paint.
There was a BUNCH of rouge inside the carrier from the polishing phase, so I first had to liberally spray the inside down with engine degreaser and wash it out with hot water. After that, I put it out in the hot Texas sun and let it sit for a few hours to bake it dry...
It's pretty clean in there now...once I got ready to assemble the carrier with the bat-wing I liberally sprayed the inside with WD40 to keep everything from rusting until I get it in and fill it with gear oil.
It's now assembled and ready to stab back into the car...most likely sometime today.
I should have some more progress pictures later today...
The Differential looks awesome! Glad you were able to find the rear suspension pieces. I love the Banski part I have on my 88' they really inprove the rear suspension.
The Differential looks awesome! Glad you were able to find the rear suspension pieces. I love the Banski part I have on my 88' they really inprove the rear suspension.
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Originally Posted by 1991Z07
I've been talking to John @ CCW...their C14's WILL clear the rotors & calipers in 18" diameter. I've got to test fit a front and rear before I buy them...but with it being an 18" rim I can still get cheap take-off race rubber for it The fronts are going to be 12"x18" flat-faced and the rears will be 12"x18" with a 1" lip according to John.
Wait so John is back at CCW again? I thought he left after the buy out, good info to know
Wait so John is back at CCW again? I thought he left after the buy out, good info to know
What are you using for polishing?
Started out with a small pneumatic DA sander and mini belt-sander at 180-grit to get the deep stuff out and then progressed up to 3000-grit before hitting it with rouge. I'm using Tripoli rouge from Eastwood, along with their pads.
Just a mild picture after sanding for an hour or so...I swear I looked like Al Jolson in black-face makeup after a solid session in the shop.
Afterwards, I coated them with a 5-year ceramic coating to keep them pretty...it dulls the finished shine a bit but it sure protects it.
I got the D44 back in and started the installation of the Banski stuff...I've run into a snag with their spacers and my Van Steel coil-overs. It seems Banski make their stuff to use the OEM-length bolts and when I do that the bolts contact the coils. I've talked to Tom @ Banski and he's shipping me more of the short spacers so I can use a 3 1/4" bolt instead of a 4" bolt and that should give me plenty of clearance.
OK!!! Got the rear end installed! Still need to torque everything down but it's all fitting pretty good so far. The rear rotors were backorder, but should be here on Monday so I can put them on and see what needs to be done to fit the rear calipers.
Hello 1991Z07,
That is a magnificent car you are building there, I am very impressed in the polishing work you have done. Your work is gorgeous and those Corvette parts look awesome in that shine. My first thought was maybe I should send him another project... Having tried to polish an Edlebrock Intake manifold has taught me how much work is involved and you my friend have it all figured out. I finally bought some of Eastwood's Chrome Powder for Powder coating in your garage, it is much easier for me at least. I have been pleased with Eastwood's polishing tools and supplies. I have a full size buffing wheel and several smaller tools that can buff when needed. I started on the wheels of my 1988 C4 and that has turned into a major project to make them look good again.
Excellent work along with details regarding your brake conversion. You are not a mechanic but an "Artiste" who works on wheeled machines. Your car should be turned over to the Corvette Museum when finished out. After all that polishing it would be a shame to hurt any of those parts.
08-21-2018, 11:04 AM
The fronts are going to be 12"x18" flat-faced and the rears will be 12"x18" with a 1" lip according to John.
