Better Brakes
CPP Has Brembo
Classic Performance Products (CPP) has been selling great braking systems for muscle cars for years. In fact, CPP sells most of the popular brands already, and that simple fact allows them to do a very good job of matching the right brake system to the car, driver, intended use, and budget. Now that CPP has worked a special deal with Brembo to be the exclusive dealer of AFX Muscle Car disc brake systems for GM applications, that job becomes even easier. The Brembo AFX system falls at the high end of the spectrum price-wise, with kits for '64-72 Chevelle (GM A-body), '67-69 Camaro, and '68-74 Nova running $3,595.
According to the information provided to Popular Hot Rodding, Brembo's unique float bushings on their billet aluminum bells allow the disc to seek true centerline for consistent braking. This floating-disc design reduces stress to the wheel bearings and hubs. Two-piece rotors also reduce un-sprung weight by approximately 8 pounds per corner for better handling and acceleration. The mounting system is designed to allow a specific amount of float in both radial and axial directions. Brembo has designed special anti-rattle springs that are used on some fasteners in order to slightly preload the assembly, and prevent excessive noise during street use. Brembo's high-performance calipers have four sequentially sized pistons for even pad wear (40-44mm diameter) and zero off-pedal drag.
Source:
Classic Performance Products
(714) 522-2000
www.classicperform.com
Stock-Look Shifter
Shiftworks For Overdrives
We realize that not everyone wants a huge race shifter bolted to their trans tunnel. Sometimes you just want stealth, and that big, obnoxious billet shifter just isn't going to fit in with the intent of your low-key street cruiser. The experts at Shiftworks in Rochester, New York, are big fans of that type of car, and like building gear that has the rugged reliability of race hardware, but looks factory stealth. In fact, the central theme of their bread-and-butter product line is factory restoration shifters that have added features for today's drivelines.
The idea behind Shiftworks' new universal shifter for GMs is to build a better mousetrap that looks and feels like the original, but that has a lot more beefcake. The best part is that it's set up to work with all popular GM overdrive transmissions like the 700-R4, 200-4R, 4L60, 4L65, and 4L80. It also works with three-speeds, like the Turbo 350 and Turbo 400. Shiftworks builds it with a stainless steel handle and button, a reverse lock-out, and detents for each gear. A universal bracket kit for floor mounting is included, and it can be ordered with either a rod-, or cable-style linkage. Prices start at $224.50.
Source:
Shiftworks
(585) 383-0574
shiftworks.com
Billet Specialties
Prismatic Bronze
The Legend Series of wheels from Billet Specialties has proven to be a big hit with Pro Touring and Street Rod enthusiasts everywhere. The Dagger and Bullet styles are available in popular 17-, 18-, and 20-inch sizes with 5x4.5 and 5x4.75-inch bolt circles, and there's ample space for big brake kits with a 1-inch caliper clearance. But what if you're not into highly polished wheels, either for maintenance reasons, or for aesthetic reasons? Billet Specialties has just come out with an optional Prismatic Bronze powder coat, that gives your car a more understated look. It also cleans up with just a damp cloth or a spritz with the hose. We called Billet Specialties and asked how much all this goodness was going to cost, and they said it's a zero-cost option. (Any Billet Specialties dealer can sell them too.) We then checked Jegs.com, and found a typical 17x8 Dagger wheel for $324.99.
Source:
Billet Specialties
(800) 245-5382
www.billetspecialties.com
Second-Gen Steering
Rack-&-Pinion Conversion
You can spend a lot of money on upgrading your second-gen Camaro's stock steering with better steering boxes, bumpsteer kits, high-volume pumps, and new spindle arms, but no matter how far you take it, and no matter how much you spend, it will always feel like a recirculating-ball steering system. For that kind of money, you might as well go to a new ground-up design from Unisteer, and get state-of-the-art rack-and-pinion gear. Unisteer specializes in rack-and-pinions steering, and their kits are known for their quality, engineering, and ease of installation. These true bolt ons require no welding, cutting, or drilling, and are compatible with stock steering columns. Also in the plus column: zero bumpsteer, great ground clearance, and a full turning radius. Everything you need to convert your Camaro's steering (including a lifetime warranty) is included in the kit's $1,774 price tag.
Source:
Unisteer
(800) 338-9080
www.unisteer.com