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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1964 Chevy Impala Brakes

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Expert: Paul Wilczynski - 6/3/2009


Question

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Hi Paul. I recently purchased a 64 impala from a farmer's barn. It's in pretty good shape, and I've gotten it to start up and drive in the last couple days (even though when it's in gear the idle is very low, and when i hit the gas it has to be SLOWLY or it dies out). The brake lines seem to be in good shape, but the pedal goes from loose to locking the brakes up almost completely. The car had a master cylinder put into it at some point (or it could be original, I haven't found a good book yet to find what kind of mechanics came stock). I'm going to check the vacuum line to the master cylinder as soon as i get back into town from work, but i was wondering if you could tell me a good place to start looking. Like if the bladder were broken, would the hydraulics fail completely, or would the brakes lock up completely, or would they just be very tight.

Also. Would you be able to recommend a book to use for reference? (like looking at the 2 degrees before on the 327 engine, or trying to find what 4 barrel carb is on it, since it's a real oddball)

Thank you very much for your time.

Quinn

Answer
Quinn:

You absolutely, positively, do not want to drive this car until the brakes have been completely gone through and serviced!

Reasons: There is going to be corrosion in the master and wheel cylinders. Over years of storage (excepting desert storage), water will accumulate in the fluid and corrode the bores of all the master and wheel cylinders, and brake fluid turns rubber flex hoses spongy, causing them to fail at the time they need to hold tight--when you apply the brakes.

This is a major safety issue with any old car that is being revived after storage.

Your acceleration issue can be solved by draining the fuel tank, putting some fresh gas into it, and then replacing or rebuilding the carburetor and fuel pump. This could be a safety issue, too--a bad carb and possibly loose or corroded fuel lines mean fire.

With regard to books, Helm, Inc. used to be the supplier of dealer service manuals. If you can't raise them, try the pages of Hemmings Motor News dealing with literature for sale. They list EVERYTHING.

Good luck with your "new" car!

--Paul
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    CommentThanks very much! I actually took the fuel line off and flushed the tank right when I bought the car. there was probably less than a gallon of fuel in it, and when I used compressed air to push the fuel to the hose before the pump, the fuel came out beautiful and clean. (I think the fuel lines were replaced right before it was parked, they're in immaculate condition). And I'll definitely be flushing the brake lines and checking them all out now that you've pointed out the failing hoses. Again, thank you very much for your time. You've been a big help.


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Paul Wilczynski

Expertise

Most questions involving vintage car restoration, mechanical and body, paint and upholstery. Parts sourcing. Extensive experience in wood-bodied station wagons, British and French cars of the '40s through '70s. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger, Citroen Maserati, VW Beetle, 1955-65 Chevrolet (especially Nomad station wagons), Corvair.

Experience

Wide-ranging and long-term. I owned a restoration shop in the 1970s, continue to dabble in vintage exotics. At one time, had a seven-car collection of contemporary exotics which I had restored and maintained myself. When I was 18 years old, I designed a woodie kit for the VW Beetle, which I developed into a product which was featured on television and in over 100 magazines and 25 books at last count. I still own and drive one of my creations. I owned a design and fabrication consultancy from 1982-2002, specializing in show car fabrication for manufacturers including Ford, Mazda, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, etc. Since 2003, I have been a department manager in Industrial Design, and a full-time instructor in automotive design and fabrication at the university level. My students go on to design automobiles as staff designers for major auto manufacturers worldwide.

Organizations
Western Automotive Journalists, Industrial Design Society of America.

Publications
Long list of magazines and books, including Playboy, VW Trends, VW Greats, Hot VWs, and European automotive magazines.

Education/Credentials
I teach design and fabrication at university level. My education is in Industrial Design, University of Illinois (1966-1970).

Awards and Honors
Many awards for restorations in local concours and shows.

Past/Present Clients
Mazda, Ford, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mercedes, Porsche.

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