I've always thought about making personalized caliper covers for my Big Brake conversions.
Most people refer to this brake conversion as the Zettner or the LeBaron conversion. They're all the same.
A couple of months ago, I mentioned this to my friend Chuck (MotorTV).
Since he has a small homemade CNC mill in his garage (<~~yes, he's pretty resourceful) I told him he could run with it if we wanted to.
As a result, he's finally ready to make them & sell them as a kit for those that are interested.
They are made out of 3/8" thick aluminium. He can personalize them with your name, you car's name, your PFF name of just about anything you want to put on them. He'll be able to fill you in on the details but I'd try to limit the number of characters you ask him to put in them. He's going to be making me a set that has "V-8 Archie" on them.
He also can anodize them in basic colors or they can be painted or powercoated to your taste.
Anyway, you'll need to talk to Chuck (MotorTV) about pricing & your specifications for what you want.
The purpose of this thread is to prove out Chuck's 1st "Kit" & show that they can be installed on a car with this brake conversion without taking the brakes off of the car.
Dave B. (DL10) is the guy who's getting the 1st set & Chuck sent me the 1st "Kit" to test install on Dave's Great Blue Chop Top (GBCT).
Dave plans to have his covers painted when he gets his car painted, so these covers are raw aluminium.
Here are the components of the kit.....
There is a 1/4-20 Tap with the correct Tap drill. 8 1/4-20 Stainless Steel Allen Head Cap Screws. 2 little plastic sleeves & the 4 Personalized Caliper Covers.
The Cover has the 2 outboard holes are there to provide clearance for the 2 caliper pin bolts. The 2 inboard holes are drilled 1/4" thru with a counterbore for the heads of the cap screws that will attach the cover to the caliper.
Before
After
I'll continue this thread with a detailed description of mounting them on the GBCT.
Archie
[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 09-10-2009).]
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11:56 AM
PFF
System Bot
Fierofreak00 Member
Posts: 4221 From: Martville, NY USA Registered: Jun 2001
You do know you 'glue' these on right? I wouldn't trust something I can't actually bolt on, which to me there doesn't seem to be anyway to do that with these brembo 'covers' without modifying them and potentially damaging them.
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12:58 AM
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
You do know you 'glue' these on right? I wouldn't trust something I can't actually bolt on, which to me there doesn't seem to be anyway to do that with these brembo 'covers' without modifying them and potentially damaging them.
Yes those were the ones I was referring to. I don't know that much about high temperature adhesives. They seem to work pretty good on the space shuttle most of the time except for the challenger. Why do they look ridiculous? I think I would be fooled by a walk by. The covers are not structural so I don't think they would need bolts unless the adhesive is no good or doesn't handle the heat generated by the calipers.
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 09-12-2009).]
Why do they look ridiculous? I think I would be fooled by a walk by. The covers are not structural so I don't think they would need bolts unless the adhesive is no good or doesn't handle the heat generated by the calipers.
I didn't say they looked ridiculous. I said they are ridiculous. You're sticking on something that is made out of ABS plastic. While for sure they're be able to withstand the heat, I can't see them staying together forever on most applications, especially with 'spirited' driving that a lot of people do. Can you imagine the sound and crunching that would happen if it came loose and trapped itself against the wheel? Umm.... yeah. Sorry but I won't take that chance.
I'm surprised they've gone down now though. I remember first seeing these a few years ago and they were going for big big bucks, like $150-$170 -ish. You can also get Endless and Project Mu covers, although the later is hard to find.
I would say though if given the chance and the need I'd buy the ones from Chuck (MotorTV). Those are a lot smoother and more unique than some old 'rice' brake caliper covers.
Alright, I'm done jacking the thread.
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03:44 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
This is about Custom made Personalized Caliper covers.
It's not about Decals & Plastic covers.
I'll be talking to Chuck today at the FieroRama & I'll find out why he hasn't found this thread yet.
Archie
Sorry Archie, I was responding to the Brembo post. I realize that yours are an original custom design and nothing like the ebay items. Back to the purpose of the original post.
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10:07 AM
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
Arch, I just mentioned that to illustrate calipers dont get as hot as most people believe in street drivng. To listen to a lot, they get hot enough to melt solder or fry eggs. Mine last for years painted with Krylon spray can.
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03:48 PM
MotorTV Member
Posts: 260 From: chicago,il,usa Registered: Nov 2001
I finely had time to sit down and work out a price... It looks like 125 dollars a set of four, with the install kit I can fit nine letters in one line for this price, this includes any spaces. As for anodizing clear and colors, I still have to work that out... I can fit all four covers in my tank at once but i will have to get prices on dyes that i don't have... If you are looking to have the letters painted in, this can be taken care of as well... Dave is having his painted body color by the same guy that is painting his car... The best bang for the buck is to paint them yourself... The mounting screws are stainless steel so they will not rust... Let me know what you think... Chuck
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09:13 PM
Riceburner98 Member
Posts: 2179 From: Natick, Ma, USA Registered: Apr 2002
Do the outer through-holes have to go all the way through, or can they just be milled from the back side to clear whatever they're supposed to clear? IMO they look unique but the extra holes with no bolt heads look a little funny.. . I have the LeBaron swap brackets but don't have calipers yet so I can't look for myself..
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11:47 PM
Sep 15th, 2009
MotorTV Member
Posts: 260 From: chicago,il,usa Registered: Nov 2001
Do the outer through-holes have to go all the way through, or can they just be milled from the back side to clear whatever they're supposed to clear? IMO they look unique but the extra holes with no bolt heads look a little funny.. . I have the LeBaron swap brackets but don't have calipers yet so I can't look for myself..
The outer holes are for clearence to the caliper mounting bolts... As the brakepads wear the bolts slide further through the covers, so the holes must go all the way through to avoid binding the calipers up...
As of this time there are no pictures of them on my car because i have been busy making other peoples sets before mine... :-) Chuck
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11:27 PM
Sep 16th, 2009
exoticse Member
Posts: 8650 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
Originally posted by MotorTV: The outer holes are for clearence to the caliper mounting bolts... As the brakepads wear the bolts slide further through the covers, so the holes must go all the way through to avoid binding the calipers up... Chuck
Ah, that makes sense!
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05:18 PM
PFF
System Bot
MotorTV Member
Posts: 260 From: chicago,il,usa Registered: Nov 2001
You do know you 'glue' these on right? I wouldn't trust something I can't actually bolt on, which to me there doesn't seem to be anyway to do that with these brembo 'covers' without modifying them and potentially damaging them.
Sorry for the side track, but I just wanted to point something out for those people that are considering these ABS covers listed on eBay: ABS operating temp is 176°F (80°C), Melting Point is at 221°F (105°C), and it's UV resistance is poor.
Anyways, back on track these covers that are offered here are a great ideal for those looking to cover up the calipers.
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01:55 PM
Sep 19th, 2009
MotorTV Member
Posts: 260 From: chicago,il,usa Registered: Nov 2001
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Alright, I'm done jacking the thread.
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