63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

[Duke W.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

It appears from the AMA specs that a power booster was included with J-65 in '64, which means the actual brake hardware was only about ten bucks versus $37.70 for the 1963 J-65 option, which did not include a power booster (J-50, $43.05). This doesn't make sense, so I wonder if the AMA specs are wrong. But maybe GM decided to include a vacuum booster with J-65 due to customer complaints about high pedal effort when they were cold.

It's my understanding that you could order J-50 with J-65 in '63, but when I ordered by SWC with J-65 I did not even consider adding J-50, so I don't know if it was available with J-65 or not.

Also, give how much the Cf increases when the J-65 shoes got really hot, like hot lapping a race track, they felt like power brakes. I had to learn excellent pedal modulation techniques to prevent locking up a wheel when they were really hot, and I would think they would be way to sensitive with a power booster. I'm glad my J-65s have no vacuum booster.

Does anyone have a '64 known to have had the J-65 option WITHOUT a vacuum booster?

Duke

[Michael J.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

All C2s with J56 brakes were also all power, and those brakes are even more touchy and difficult to modulate. I think your thought about the high pedal effort is the correct reason they were.

[James G.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

A customer purchased a collection of cars and one is a silver silver 64 365 coupe with J65. I've got a photo of the order form, sales invoice and I know the window sticker for it- there is no power brake notation anywhere on the order or dealership invoice.

[Alan D.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

But the question is "Does anyone have a '64 known to have had the J-65 option WITHOUT a vacuum booster?"

Think we all agree that the J65 was an available option which included the vacuum booster, so one would not expect to see a J-50 on the order.

[Larry M.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

Some early 64 might not have the booster but the answer to James' question is that J50 does not show on the factory documentation. J65 included power breakes without calling them out. I have an original 64 with 40K miles and J65. I have the original window sticker certified by NCRS and I'm still running the original brake shoes. As an aside, somewhere above or in a different thread Duke Williams commented that the difference between the 63 and 64 price was low and a cheap way to buy power brakes.

[Duke W.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

Okay Larry and James, do your '64 J-65 cars have a vacuum booster or not?

Duke

[James G.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

My fault Duke, yes it has the vacuum booster.
The car was built for a GM - Cadialllac Division engineer who worked on cooling systems and the overhead valve engines in 62-63 - Frank Kostiuk

[Jack M.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

FYI- These are excerpts from a SAMPLE 1964 Corvette Ordering Form (dated 6-63 in the top/left corner).
I also have a REAL Corvette Order Form (ordered 4-14-64), with the SAME info as displayed below:
1964-01a.jpg


1964-01b.jpg

[Paul Y.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

My 63 Coupe came with metallic brake shoes and no power booster. Paul

[Michael J.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

The '63 order sheet does not specify power brakes are included/required, unlike the '64 one does.

[John D.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

My current63 FI car that I has been off the road since 1970 has metallic brakes but no power brakes.
Another '63 340 HP car I sold had metallic brakes also. No PB's.

[Alan D.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

Since we are now in a long thread let's go back to Larry Meyer post #5 which is still valid,

"I know that the Corvette Black Book nor Dobbin's Vette Vues are recognized authorities but after research I see this. In 63 the price on J65 was about $37.70 and J50 $43.05. In 64 these were $53.80 and $43.05 respectively. Both show a difference...63 does not indicate power brakes with J65 whereas 64 does. But Adams in his second edition page 223 discusses J65 for 64 as adding power brake equipment for this difference making J65 a real bargain and acknowledging that J50 was separate in 63. Again, I think the guide needs to be fixed for 64."

Summation, 63 not included (examples above) while 64 it was.

[Michael J.]

Re: 63/64 Judging Guide Power J65 Brakes

Agreed, that certainly seems to be the bottom line conclusion.