69 Z/28 Day II Project (Air Force Brat)

[NorCam]

As I have often said, if only these cars could talk?

In the early 90's this car moved as a roller between a few car guys who were known for bartering first gen cars and parts. Obviously someone back in the day started to restore it, but never got further than the front clip. They actually did a decent job on the subframe as all the front suspension and brakes were previously redone before the subframe was painted. It will now make for an easy clean up and I'm not planning to over restore or powder coat any of it. Just a good scuff followed with an epoxy paint and it'll be good to go.

Once I get the front springs out, I'll pull the calipers apart to see what they look like inside. I'll then rebuild and detail the calipers while the other parts are out for plating. I've only got a few weeks left to get any painting done so I gotta stay on it now. Fall is upon us here and the seasons are changing quickly in the great white north. Yesterday I was riding my Harley and it was 85 degrees. This morning it's 50 degrees and they are calling for a dusting of snow here tommorrow as a storm is coming down.

You guys in the desert have it all somedays.

[big gear head]

We have you up north with the cold weather and Dave in Texas where it's too hot to paint. Extremes!

[NorCam]

It's cool and overcast here today, but that's keeping me in the shop where more work will get done. Checked the rotors this morning and they are measuring 9.90 and 1.020. Good thing is that I have another pair of nice takeoffs that measure 1.010 and 1.030 that I can use. They are now off for a soak in the Evapo-rust tank and should come out looking like new before being re-used.

[NorCam]

More of the mundane stuff while I restore the front brakes and rebuild the suspension. All of this has to be done ahead of the more exciting Day II parts as the car needs to become a roller again sometime before year end. Here are some more pics for those who like the original stuff being re-used, and a couple neat paint daub pics on the front calipers. Also seen here is a restamped build date for one of the calipers. I have not seen them restamped before but I'm sure it happened when parts sat around.

The one caliper was cast in July and assembly stamped 227, but must have sat around for months before being picked up for use since it was restamped 049 atop the 227. The other caliper was stamped 32 for an assembly date and was cast 361. Now that all of the rust has been removed, time to paint them up, install new o-rings & seals and lightly face/machine the rotors. All factory brakes for this car and no repro parts being used other than the soft lines.


Ready for a light surfacing.


Cleaned up in Evapo-rust


Dust shields and caliper brackets are now going out for plating.


This caliper had an nice daub or orange paint and both dust caps on the bleeders.


It was stamped 32 for an assembly code and was cast 361st day


This one was cast 207 and must have sat deep in the pile as it wasn't used until February...


It was first stamped 227 as it appears, and was then restamped 049 by the looks of its assembly stamp?

[rlw68]

Originally Posted by NorCam

The one caliper was cast in July and assembly stamped 227, but must have sat around for months before being picked up for use since it was restamped 049 atop the 227. The other caliper was stamped 32 for an assembly date and was cast 361.

It was first stamped 227 as it appears, and was then restamped 049 by the looks of its assembly stamp?

This is too cool !!! My calipers are RH casting# 204 with date restamped 48?, and LH casting# 355 date stamped 32. I thought one got replaced but maybe not now, given how close the build day is for our two cars.

[NorCam]

Originally Posted by rlw68

This is too cool !!! My calipers are RH casting# 204 with date restamped 48?, and LH casting# 355 date stamped 32. I thought one got replaced but maybe not now, given how close the build day is for our two cars.

It's uncanny the similarities between these 2 cars built within a day of each other Rob. It's like the same batch of parts were being picked over by the same guys on the same lines, but a shift apart from each other. I take it there must have been a run of calipers dug out and re-stamped that particular week where they used whatever was left in old inventory? Maybe they ran short on production or they deliberately cleared out old stock. Cool to know for sure.

[NorCam]

While cleaning up the other parts, I also decided to restore a spare pair of low mile calipers I had sitting here as spares. They turned out to be pretty clean as the pistons show. Earlier today I then got around to pulling the front springs out and split the ball joints. Now I will tear down the control arms before painting them...and may install new hardware if I can find some nice original stuff.

[NorCam]

It's all blown apart here. Tomorrow I will get the bushings pressed out and I guess I might as well media blast it and have everything powder coated and do it right. (lol)

[L78M22Rag]

That is some cool documentation of component dating right there! Thanks for sharing all your discoveries.

[napa68]

Looks great Graeme!