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Classic Cars 54 Chevy Bel Air hartop
36 messages, Last post on Aug 16, 2009 at 6:20 PM
You are in the Classic Cars Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 02, 2007 7:56 am) How about this for a compromise? Instead of going with disc brakes, what if you just went with a more substantial drum brake setup from a later model car? Disc brakes are going to make a power assist mandatory, whereas simply putting bigger drums on the car, you could get away without the power assist. So there'd be less to change, less complexity, etc. I had a '67 Chrysler Newport hardtop with a 383-2bbl, and it just had drum brakes. I'd imagine they were 11" drums all around. It also had no power assist, so you'd think it would take plenty of leg muscle to stop a heavy, torquey behemoth like that. But I had no trouble at all. Even more telling, before I owned it, it belonged to a little old lady who'd owned it since around 1971. That's gotta be proof positive that, as long as your drums are big enough, you really don't need a power assist. Of course, a good disk setup with power assist will still be better, but that Newport was perfectly adequate in normal day-to-day driving. Of course, if you want to slam on the brakes multiple times in succession, hauling it down from highway speeds to a dead stop, you're going to fade them pretty quickly, but I can't imagine too many situations where you have a bunch of panic stops in a row like that. My '67 Catalina convertible has drums all around, with power assist. I dunno how much hp the thing has. Originally it had 290 gross with the 2-bbl, but it has a 4-bbl on it now, so I'd guess around 325? Other than being a bit grabby at first, I've never had any complaints about them. I'd imagine they're 11"? As for the domestics switching to disc brakes, I don't think it was high-hp engines that caused them to do that, but probably increased pressure from the public, foreign competition, or somebody else. Heck, in 1973, GM was still putting 9.5" drums (same size as a Corvair, I think) as standard equipment in 4000 lb musclecars with 454/455 big-blocks! Fortunately, a disc setup that also upgraded you to 11" drums in back was optional, and I think most of them were equipped this way. But they were still making you pay extra for the privelege, in a time when the power was coming down.
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Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 02, 2007 8:46 am) Now, if someone has turned the drums beyond minimum specs it could be a different story. Mine stopped just fine! |
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Thank you all for the opinions and suggestions...I appreciate all of your insights on the subject. I don't know why the top of the page says " What is this discussion about? Chevrolet, Classic Car, Coupe" <---I don't know why it says coupe there...I clearly put sedan. Knowing its a four door..Where this project goes will be entirely to my friend, being that the Bel Air is his car. Since my buddy and I are only 20 and 22 we have never seen the Bel Air in its original state during its "out the factory" time period , So I would scratch the stock classic thought and fabricate a more rod/moded car thats would reflect our time era and passions. but that's just my thought. I'm just here for the ride..Gaining knowledge is all I can ask for..Thank you all ...
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Replying to: ogre_bear (Sep 07, 2007 1:42 pm) |
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Thanks for the switch Mr shift. "In the heading of his post it said hardtop and later, he said it was a sedan so I don't know. " - There such thing as a four door hardtop right? I haven't seen the car in a couple of months so the picture of the car is kinda blurry in my head..Could I be wrong? 
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Replying to: ogre_bear (Sep 07, 2007 8:27 pm) |
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And I should know the answer but does anyone know if Chevy built any 1955 4 door hardtops? I am thinking they didn't start these until 1956 but now I'm questioning myself. At a car show, I recently saw a REAL oddball 1956 Chevy. It was a 4 door hardtop 210 series! Now, those were extremely rare! It was nice to see despite the fact it had the worst color combo they offered that year. Remember the two tone yellow and greens that were actually pretty popular that year. To make it even worse, they just HAD to add fender skirts and a hokey continental kit. Those are two options I just despise on ANY old car yet people seem to think they are nifty additions. To make ths Chevy even more unusual, it was a six cylinder with a three speed. Actually a VERY nice and very unusual old Chevy! |
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Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 08, 2007 8:45 am) |
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