63 Brake Re-Conversion
07-13-2018, 11:23 PM
#1
6th Gear
Thread Starter
63 Brake Re-Conversion
I recently bought a numbers matching 340 hp 63 coupe with the intentions of restoring. The body on the car was “customized” by the original owner I was told in 1969. He also “upgraded” the brakes to four wheel disc
.
My question is how difficult is it going to be to change back to the original drum brakes?
My my goal is put the car back as correct as possible. I had a 64 coupe that was a non matching driver, and always wanted to do a correct restoration.
Ive found most of the hard to find parts, correct headlight buckets, missing back glass trim, ign shielding, shifter, etc.., but the brakes have me a bit baffled.
.
My question is how difficult is it going to be to change back to the original drum brakes?
My my goal is put the car back as correct as possible. I had a 64 coupe that was a non matching driver, and always wanted to do a correct restoration.
Ive found most of the hard to find parts, correct headlight buckets, missing back glass trim, ign shielding, shifter, etc.., but the brakes have me a bit baffled.
07-14-2018, 12:27 AM
#2
Drifting
I recently bought a numbers matching 340 hp 63 coupe with the intentions of restoring. The body on the car was “customized” by the original owner I was told in 1969. He also “upgraded” the brakes to four wheel disc
.
My question is how difficult is it going to be to change back to the original drum brakes?
My my goal is put the car back as correct as possible. I had a 64 coupe that was a non matching driver, and always wanted to do a correct restoration.
Ive found most of the hard to find parts, correct headlight buckets, missing back glass trim, ign shielding, shifter, etc.., but the brakes have me a bit baffled.
.
My question is how difficult is it going to be to change back to the original drum brakes?
My my goal is put the car back as correct as possible. I had a 64 coupe that was a non matching driver, and always wanted to do a correct restoration.
Ive found most of the hard to find parts, correct headlight buckets, missing back glass trim, ign shielding, shifter, etc.., but the brakes have me a bit baffled.
Wish I had kept all the parts. I gave them to a friend 4 years ago when I moved because they were heavy. I also got rid of the 4 speed and shifter.
He either sold them or they were stolen out of his storage shed. I find vette parts hard to find when I need them and difficult to sell when I want to sell them.
phil
Last edited by mrtexas; 07-14-2018 at 12:29 AM.
07-14-2018, 07:55 AM
#4
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Thanks Guys,
I was hoping my dread was unfounded, but it sounds like it is going to be a job. I’m thinking I’ll have the body off so maybe it won’t be so hard to access.
Yes, I too have a shed full parts from my last restoration project. Some removed, and some I bought and found either were not correct, or I just found something I liked better later during the restoration.
I was hoping my dread was unfounded, but it sounds like it is going to be a job. I’m thinking I’ll have the body off so maybe it won’t be so hard to access.
Yes, I too have a shed full parts from my last restoration project. Some removed, and some I bought and found either were not correct, or I just found something I liked better later during the restoration.
07-14-2018, 10:16 AM
#5
Drifting
07-14-2018, 10:56 AM
#6
Safety Car
Unless your going for NCRS Top Flight stick with the Disc.
My '63 has '65 Disc (4 wheel) and you need get underneath to see.
George
My '63 has '65 Disc (4 wheel) and you need get underneath to see.
George
Last edited by Black_Magic; 07-14-2018 at 02:21 PM.
07-14-2018, 11:21 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
If you want to go back to drums contact Dick Barron at Virginia Vettes. I traded my front 63 drum setup complete (spindles and all) with him many years ago. Might be he still has them. Don’t know where to find rears but they’re out there as people have converted to discs, as I did.
07-14-2018, 01:14 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Feb 2007
Location: OP Kansas
Posts: 2,923
Received 134 Likes
on
95 Posts
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I replaced all parts of my original brake system and now I'm about to go with a disk brake conversion on the front only. I'll have all new springs, pads, wheel cyl (used a half season) and drums for the front for sale. The kit I am using does not need a new spindle, so they will not be for sale. If you are interested, let me know, I haven't started the conversion yet, so let me know if you have a time frame for when you would need them.
07-14-2018, 07:03 PM
#9
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Land of Thunder
Posts: 33,595
Received 217 Likes
on
160 Posts
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15, '19
^ There you go.
i also have a 63 340 hp, and when I bought it, it had power steering added. In the course of doing my restoration I didn't mut the manual steering back because the power unit has such a nice feel to it. I hate the drum brakes on mine. If it had come with disks I would have left those too. If the car's not fun or safe to drive, you probably won't.
i also have a 63 340 hp, and when I bought it, it had power steering added. In the course of doing my restoration I didn't mut the manual steering back because the power unit has such a nice feel to it. I hate the drum brakes on mine. If it had come with disks I would have left those too. If the car's not fun or safe to drive, you probably won't.
07-14-2018, 07:21 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Sep 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 3,111
Received 1,120 Likes
on
576 Posts
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
I converted my 63 to 67 discs last year. Its not a simple change and will likely be expensive to find 63 parts such as trailing arms. You also have to add all the parking brake paraphernalia and go back to a single master cylider and lines (for safety, I don't recommend this!)
Unless your going to have it judged, I'd leave the brakes alone.
Unless your going to have it judged, I'd leave the brakes alone.
Last edited by Vettrocious; 07-14-2018 at 07:43 PM.
07-14-2018, 08:31 PM
#11
Team Owner
This is why a lot of these so-called "reversible" mods never get undone.....the original parts "grow legs" and disappear and the seemingly innocuous upgrade turns out to be way more complicated than first believed..
07-14-2018, 09:21 PM
#14
Team Owner
There are excellent repros of the 63 master cylinders now. With correct number casting, etc.
07-14-2018, 09:54 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
I recently bought a numbers matching 340 hp 63 coupe with the intentions of restoring. The body on the car was “customized” by the original owner I was told in 1969. He also “upgraded” the brakes to four wheel disc
.
My question is how difficult is it going to be to change back to the original drum brakes?
My my goal is put the car back as correct as possible. I had a 64 coupe that was a non matching driver, and always wanted to do a correct restoration.
Ive found most of the hard to find parts, correct headlight buckets, missing back glass trim, ign shielding, shifter, etc.., but the brakes have me a bit baffled.
.
My question is how difficult is it going to be to change back to the original drum brakes?
My my goal is put the car back as correct as possible. I had a 64 coupe that was a non matching driver, and always wanted to do a correct restoration.
Ive found most of the hard to find parts, correct headlight buckets, missing back glass trim, ign shielding, shifter, etc.., but the brakes have me a bit baffled.
and didn't really feel I needed the disc's on the rear.You might also check with Vansteel. I know they do a lot of conversions and may be able to help you.
Good luck... GUSTO
07-21-2018, 04:54 PM
#16
brakes
George, my '63 is a September '62 car and after storing it for 36 years, I decided to restore it and replaced the front drums with disc's at that time. I kept all of the front parts from control arms, to spindles and drums. I do not intend to return the drums, so they are available if you need them. I did retain the rear drums, mostly for the functional parking brake and didn't really feel I needed the disc's on the rear.
You might also check with Vansteel. I know they do a lot of conversions and may be able to help you.
Good luck... GUSTO
and didn't really feel I needed the disc's on the rear.You might also check with Vansteel. I know they do a lot of conversions and may be able to help you.
Good luck... GUSTO
07-22-2018, 07:23 AM
#17
Drifting
I did a front disc conversion 2 years ago and have the drums and spindles, but honestly I cant see going backwards.
07-22-2018, 10:06 AM
#18
Drifting
If you're super serious about going back original, the lower front A-Arms are a '63-only piece and can be a bit pricey. They lack the leading-edge reinforcement piece that's welded onto all later cars.
I have no idea if these are modified during a disc brake conversion - but its something to be aware of.
Also, lots of '63-only parts on the rear as well - trailing arms, u-joint flanges, strut rod bracket, etc. Depends on how much of the original car was retained during the conversion. Seems like entire sub-assemblies are sometimes swapped during conversions and the 1-year only parts are tossed.
I have no idea if these are modified during a disc brake conversion - but its something to be aware of.
Also, lots of '63-only parts on the rear as well - trailing arms, u-joint flanges, strut rod bracket, etc. Depends on how much of the original car was retained during the conversion. Seems like entire sub-assemblies are sometimes swapped during conversions and the 1-year only parts are tossed.
