brake line replacement

[tbird55]

well gang, turning to the experts again. im planning to replace all brake lines in my 65 monza. do i have to pull the gas tank or is it all accessible through the interior under the dash and the panel under the car? i really dont want to have to pull the tank if i dont have to. thx in advance for all your help. tom

[cad-kid]

If you want to do it right, you will pull the tank. If you haven't pulled the tank in a while, you should get the rubber bits that connect the filler pipe.

[County98]

I just did all the lines, Dual MC conversion, and brake rebuilds on my car. You can see some of it in my signature thread.

To do them all, you need to drop the tank, pull the center kick board out of the car, drop the tunnel pans, heater ducts, etc. You do not have to pull the power pack out, but it's a little of a PITA to get the lines run over the rear member and though the stand off right before the shift coupler in the back.

If you're doing them all (long line included), do the rubber bits for the fuel tank like Cad-Kid said, and I would do the long fuel line if you're doing the long brake line. They run right next to each other the whole way back. Good luck!

[tbird55]

thx much, not what i wanted to hear but if im gonna do im gonna do it right. thx for the tips. appreciate your replies. tom

[caraholic4life]

A while back I purchased new brake parts for my '65 Monza coupe as the car has been sitting for close to 30 years now. I have now owned it for about seven years but have not made much progress putting it back together. It is a relatively rust free LOS built car.

I bought all hard lines pre-bent, hoses, wheel cylinders, hold down & spring kits along with shoes, drums, and a dual master cylinder conversion so I will be going through the same thing at some point.

I have replaced the front brake lines in the past on other LM Corvair's and pulling the tank is the best way to go. As for the front to back lines, removing the interior kick panel (beside the accelerator pedal) and belly pan as described sound correct. I am debating about removing the power pack when I do the front to rear lines but know it would be the best way to go about the task.

I have a new NOS gas tank, new rubber bits but have decided to reuse the sender unit as I expect it should be OK still.

Other items I bought for the car are carpets, Soff Seal roof rail, door, hood & trunk weatherstrips, shocks, and dual exhaust.
The car already had new OE style replacement seat covers but I will need to buy door panels if the ones that came with the car won't clean up. I will also need a headliner.

At this point I have well over six grand cash in the car and anticipate another two or three before the car is back on the road. Even though the car had been disassembled and had a color change Lacquer paint job almost 30 years ago, it has suffered some minor damage while sitting and will likely require another paint job down the road.

Once on the road I expect to have a real nice three thousand dollar daily driver quality car.

[cad-kid]

I feel your pain For what I purchased my Vair for plus what I have invested, errr- I don't think about it

I like how Jay Leno puts it "the more money than brains club"

[tbird55]

Well, what exactly is the power pack? I've never heard of it although that may be because I'm pretty new to Corvairs. as far as having more money in your car than is worth I would say if you like it and drive it then just enjoy it.

[bbodie52]

The term "power pack", or "power train", is essentially a term used to describe the combined, consolidated components in the Corvair — ENGINE / DIFFERENTIAL / TRANSMISSION. Many conventional cars that were manufactured in the 1960s have an engine in the front, a transmission in the middle, and a differential in the rear. But of course many modern front-wheel drive cars have a "power pack" in the front, while the Corvair had its "power pack" in the rear.

In a Corvair the "power pack is easily removed as a single assembly. The fuel lines, wiring, linkages and final drive components must be disconnected. Attachment nuts must removed from three points, and then the "power pack" can be lowered as an assembly from the vehicle.

The attached pamphlet demonstrates the removal and installation process of the Corvair "power pack".

[64powerglide]

At this point I have well over six grand cash in the car and anticipate another two or three before the car is back on the road. Even though the car had been disassembled and had a color change Lacquer paint job almost 30 years ago, it has suffered some minor damage while sitting and will likely require another paint job down the road.

Once on the road I expect to have a real nice three thousand dollar daily driver quality car.

I did that with a 65 Triumph Spitfire, had well over $12,000 in it & it was an 8 year build. I put it on ebay & got $6,100 but I drove it for 10 years & got three 3rd places in class & one 1st place in 9 years at an all British car show that's held here every year. My wife said "you only got $6,000" & I said if I had bought a new car & had it 10 years what would I have. So I took the money I got & got a Corvair like the new one I had when I was 18, a 62 Black with red interior Monza. The 64 I have is close enough to the 62 & oh what memories. So you will have a Corvair that will last another 20 years, how can you go wrong!!

[caraholic4life]

One of the best things about building a car up from scratch is I will know it inside out for the most part. It does not matter if I put another five grand in the car, it will still be less expensive that many other options out there and much more fun to drive.

The powerpack came out of another Corvair I owned for years and worked with the person that rebuilt the motor so I know it is a good one.

With me starting from scratch and going through the brakes, shocks, fuel system, I will be comfortable using the car as a daily driver if I choose to do so.

In my mind there is no point of owning a car that become a garage queen and does not get driven.

Back in 2008 I purchased a Plymouth Prowler from the same guy I bought the Corvair from (longtime friend) and have put 35,000 miles on it since that time. The car now has almost 48,000 mile on it which is considered "High Mileage" for the car, I consider it barely broken in.

The Prowler is a large part of the reason my Corvair is still in pieces. My 1991 S-10 is begging for retirement or for a seriously reduced use schedule so getting the Corvair on the road needs to become a priority. Being a Corvair person, I really don't want to spend money to buy another car. I really don't need five vehicles.

[tbird55]

once again thx for your replies, i dont think ive ever encountered the term power pack as used here so thanks for enlightening me. never hurts to learn something new