89 Cutlass Ciera Race Car Build

[turbokinetic]

Nice to see progress! I know how your friend laying on top of the motor feels! At least it wasn't a HOT motor he was all over!

David

[lemons bob]

It was warm, which when its about 30 out it actually made it a nice place to be.

[jlattyak]

That was me sitting on the engine, it was not a bad place to be on that cold day, but I wish I hadn't been threading the sensor in father when I was trying to remove it.

So we have a breaks questions maybe someone can answer. The Car has the JA1 brake package, we need to replace the rotors and the calipers on the front and the drums on the back. Should we look into getting the parts that came on the wagon? I imagine that they are more heavy duty parts, but will they bolt on without any modification? also are the wagon breaks the JA2/ JA8 option? If we should just stick with JA1 or get the wagon parts any recommendations on what manufacture we should get parts from? or will the $15 rotors and $16 calipers from O'Reilly work for what we are doing?

Thanks,

JL

[Duke George V]

If you want to use JA2 brakes, you'll need a new hub and possibly new axles, since I think the splines will be different. Or you can get the JA2 parts and just redrill the rotor for the JA1 pattern. I don't know the difference in braking between the two, since all the A-bodies I've owned have had JA2 brakes.

[Prospeeder]

I wouldnt bother w/ JA2, plus you get opend to TONS of wheels w. the 5x100 pattern

[Duke George V]

I wouldnt bother w/ JA2, plus you get opend to TONS of wheels w. the 5x100 pattern

Which is why I also said to redrill the JA2 rotor with the JA1 pattern.

[Prospeeder]

ahh that could work

[turbokinetic]

JA2 brakes will make a normal, controlled stop* from 110+ MPH, without fade, with no damage or warping. I have carefully tested this on my turbocharged cars in an open area; so I know what to expect if I get crazy with it on the highway.

I haven't had a car with JA1 brakes to compare. The JA2's have always seemed adequate; but I am one to "watch ahead" and avoid panic stops anyway.

* By that I mean, stopping to a dead stop, as quick as possible ONCE from110, then allowing the brakes to cool through normal driving. Not talking about repeated stops, autocross or any other type of racing.

David

[jlattyak]

We don't have the facilities to drill a new pattern in to a rotor so we will be using a rotor with a 5x100 patern in it. I also don't trust us to mod something that might keep the car from stopping. I was just wondering what the difference between the calipers is, if there is any. We also need to start looking at what break pads we should run.

Any one have any preferred manufactures for break parts/ pads?

[Duke George V]

Redrilling the rotor doesn't compromise it, AFAIK. Fiero guys redrill Corvette rotors for the 5x100 pattern quite often, and I haven't heard of any failures.

[lemons bob]

might not compromise it normally but we would probably screw up the patter and have to do it at least twice.

I know for the races people have tried drilling to make vented brakes which typically causes the holes to shred the pads and then clog with the material from the brakes.

[turbokinetic]

might not compromise it normally but we would probably screw up the patter and have to do it at least twice.

I know for the races people have tried drilling to make vented brakes which typically causes the holes to shred the pads and then clog with the material from the brakes.

Lol! Cross-drilld rotors have to be done a certain way. I can't remember the exact size of the holes at the moment but it is near 3/16" or thereabout. The holes must be straight; and chamfered with a larger chamfering bit than normally used for a 3/16" hole. The placement of the holes is critical, too. All of the pad surface must contact holes as the rotor turns.

When I worked at the BMW shop several customers had done this on their cars with perfect success.

David

[Duke George V]

might not compromise it normally but we would probably screw up the patter and have to do it at least twice.

Now that I think about it, why not use Grand Am brakes? They're larger than stock JA1 but have the 5 x 100 pattern. Fiero guys use them as a stock upgrade. They have to be from '98 or older though, since the redesign in '99 uses JM4 ABS brakes.

[lemons bob]

Since we were waiting for some parts to get in we started stripping the interior. We pretty much took everything out except for the dash, and we did put the front seats back in.

Here are the piles we took out.




Here is what is left in there





And yesteday the muffler came in, so we can get to redoing the exhaust in a couple weeks.

[turbokinetic]

Since we were waiting for some parts to get in we started stripping the interior. We pretty much took everything out except for the dash, and we did put the front seats back in.

Here are the piles we took out.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/...8d248261e2.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/...a93985fbc0.jpg

Here is what is left in there

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/...99c3cabcec.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/...17c0e04b60.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/...1ec40b7e82.jpg

And yesteday the muffler came in, so we can get to redoing the exhaust in a couple weeks.

Wow you really lightened it up!

If you don't plan to return it to street use, you might want to list the removed items in the For Sale section here. Someone could get some use of it!

Good luck at the race!
David