About three weeks ago I pulled a 1962 Cutlass convertible out of a barn in Indiana, drug it home to Atlanta, and went to work. It had been parked there since the mid 80's. within 7 days I got it started. the next problem to solve was making it stop. i am at a complete loss in my efforts to find brake parts for this car. I have considered a disc conversion, but I am a bit of a purist. As consider the restoration that lays ahead, I am concerned that I have landed in a car i just cant get parts for.

is anyone else in this same situation and what did you do to move your project forward?

Thanks

Boz

 

Seen some parts on a site called Hagen's Auto parts.

 

Try Rock Auto ;
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ke+&+wheel+hub

They list a pretty good selection of brake parts for a '62 F-85 .
The only thing they don't list is drums , but you can usually have those machined .

 

thank you. i checked out Rock Auto. your right, they do have a decent availability. but your right finding the drums is like searching for hen's teeth. the drums i have a pretty warn and id like to replace them. ill stay on the hunt.

you dont happen to know of an easy cross over dual reservoir master cylinder do you?

Dan

 

There are no body parts available of any kind. You have to fine NOS and that is hard to do or find a rust free car. The engine has parts available with no trouble at all. The transmission is not to difficult to find parts for but takes a little looking. The brakes, you can get all the lines reproduction, the front shoes are available at most parts stores, the wheel cylinder rebuild kits are simple to find and most parts stores can get them (just can't get the complete wheel cylinders), The master cylinder kits can also be found but I have had issues with some of the kits you find. For the most part, you have to rebuild the parts you have or fabricate body panels. I have had wheel cylinders with pistons stuck in them so bad it required lots of oil and heat and a press to get them apart. Kanter has lots of stuff available for these cars but the prices are a little high. I use them as a last resort but at least they have parts.

 

thanks for all the information. ill check them out.

 

That's good to know on the wheel cylinders. I have not been super impressed with rebuild kits and vowed a long time ago only to buy all new wheel cylinders after a rebuilt wheel cylinder nearly put me and my '62 Dodge Lancer into a fence one day. That car too only had a single circuit for the brakes and I found out that you get basically three presses on the brakes before you have none. The hand brake saved me, but literally only by inches from mowing down the fence.

I wonder if anyone has tried adapting a new cylinder from another car that is similar in dimensions? It seems doable.

 

For the master cylinder. If at all possible I reuse all the parts in the original and just replace the cups or rubber seals. I always use the original single master cylinder and never had a problem after a rebuild. I make sure the E brake is in working order all the time though. There are other members here than have switched to the dual master cylinder but not sure what it is they used and fit.

 

This 62 cutlass project is beginning to get the better of me. i got the brake cylinders rebuilt, but i am having trouble finding brake pads for the rear end. While i am intent on getting the drum brakes functioning, i have decided to plan for the future and seek out a disk brake conversion that consists of more easily sourced parts. Finding a complete disk conversion is actually proving to be quite difficult. is there anyone that produces a full (front and rear) disk brake conversion for this car? i found some conversion brackets for the front end from Scarebird. but i cant seem to find anything for the rear end.

I would appreciate any advice and guidance you guys can give me.

Dan

 

I think the reason you can't find a disc conversion kit, especially for the rear wheels, is the same reason you can't find many other parts for this car---no one makes them because cars like this are not commonly-enough restored for manufacturers to tool up to make new parts. I don't know for sure, but I would guess that any disc brake conversion will require serious modification skills on your part as disc brakes were not available for these cars when they were new. If it were me, I'd look to getting the existing drum brake system in good working order. It stopped the car well enough back in the day.

 

x2 on Jaunty's advice .
Trying to convert to disc brakes is an unnessicary "can of worms" that you don't want to open .

 

Basically that's it. If you want to show up at the car show with something unique, something that there isn't at least three other guys driving, you need to be committed, resourceful and patient. If you can't do that, get a Mustang, or Camaro. This is a car that will take time.

 

Might be able to get your original shoes relined. There's a lot of cars out there that parts are hard to source.

 

I would just find a set of correct drum shoes. Mobileparts, Kanter, and Fusick will all have them and you would not likely drive the car enough to wear them out.

 

It turns out that Kanter claims to have brand new wheel cylinders for the '62 F85. A little high priced, but if this is accurate, I'd rather have these over trying my luck with resealing rusted old ones.

https://www.kanter.com/productdetail...Router=Catalog

 

Pm sent on front brakes

 

thanks for the guidance. i am about as committed as i can be. this is my first ever project/restoration. so far it has been a good experience for my sons and i. we have learned a lot in a short time. this car sat for more than 40 years and it was not in the worlds best shape when it was stored. my short term goal is just to get it driving. ... and stopping.

 

i cannot thank you all enough for the guidance on this brake parts issue. i was able to get the parts locally that i needed to get the front brakes done. i have also recently received some new brake lines that we will tackle in the next week or so.

while working on the front end, i identified that the lower ball joint on the passengers side is completely shot. i have just begun my quest to find one, but i cant even figure out how to get the lower ball joint off. id love to hear about any experience any of you have that you could share.

DJB

 

Get yourself an Oldsmobile Shop Manual . Both 1961 and 1962 , as the '62 book is a supplement to the 1961 manual .
I guarantee that it will be the best money spent on this project .
E-Bay has them ;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-3-Vi...oAAOSw94hcvb6K

The ball joints are also on E-Bay;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suspension-...YAAOSwqDBbnTfo

 

If we had "like" buttons on this forum, I would use them here. Get the manuals. I totally would and will when I get my '62. I have purchased aftermarket reprints of every single other vintage car I have ever owned and they are always 100% worth the money. Get them. So many questions answered.

 

BTW please replace both lower ball joints .
If one is " completely shot " , the other one probably isn't too far behind .

Original manuals are always better than aftermarket re-prints . Pictures are clearer , no missing pages , etc .

 

I was able to source new ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings, and control arm bushings. From Performance Now Direct. I learned how to press out the lower ball joint and remove the threaded upper ball joint. (Had to buy a very large socket for that one 1 3/4 I believe).

I have the kit kit to rebuild the master cylinder now, and I got the brake lines. Hope to have that done before the end of the month.

New shocks went in with some minor modification.

With th any luck, we will drive this thing out of the driveway by September.

I really appreciate everyone’s feedback and guidance.

 

Keep up the good work and pictures.

 

The original motor, completely rebuilt. Notice the alternator conversion.


A couple of additions to original equipment. Locked and phased distributor and FiTech fuel injection system.


Lots of progress made over the last 11months. The motor is running great, the transmission is also rebuilt.

at this point, I am somewhat concerned about the ability of the drum brakes to keep up with the rest of the car.

I am considering a scare bird disk brake conversion to the front end. I would love to know if anyone has attempted this before.

thank you to all of you who have been patient with me and answered my many questions.

 

Looks awesome!!

 

I love the way your project is turning out. I see you switched out the distributor. What did you end up going with I like the idea of switching but wondered how you liked it and what you chose to go with thank you for your input.

The original motor, completely rebuilt. Notice the alternator conversion.


A couple of additions to original equipment. Locked and phased distributor and FiTech fuel injection system.


Lots of progress made over the last 11months. The motor is running great, the transmission is also rebuilt.

at this point, I am somewhat concerned about the ability of the drum brakes to keep up with the rest of the car.

I am considering a scare bird disk brake conversion to the front end. I would love to know if anyone has attempted this before.

thank you to all of you who have been patient with me and answered my many questions.[/QUOTE]