Vintage Caliper Brainiacs...???

[Neunelfer]

...I think I know what it is, anyone else care to weigh in here?

I'll elaborate as the thread develops (if it develops) but I would like some specifics if anyone has them:

1. Have you seen any others "identical" to this?
2. If so, on what car or who's shelf?

The one on the left is my restored early S-Caliper for my 914-6/GT car. The one on the right is...?

[John Straub]

It also looks like one for a GT...I think it's the 908 caliper. Notice the quik release pin for the pads. They were used for endurance racing on those cars.

My car has the standard one on the left, as it was built for hill climbs.

Very Kool!!!!

John

[Neunelfer]

Nice John,

This very well may have been off 9140430033.

What's interesting is this:



You don't see this on 908 calipers. Most I've seen have the spring loaded mechanism. But... take a look at the 910 manual:



That's the endurance pin but, these are obviously not 910 calipers.

When you say

My car has the standard one on the left, as it was built for hill climbs.

you mean you have a different caliper on the right? Do you have one of these on the right? With this pin assembly?

[tomkirkcis]

Hi Eric

Those pins are the same as the ones that came with thecalipers on my 914-6, except my pins are not spring retained. My pins are cross drilled and have one small clip identical to the standard pin retainer. From your image, the shape and size of your calipers appears to be the same of the caliper in question, Is it?

[Neunelfer]

From your image, the shape and size of your calipers appears to be the same of the caliper in question, Is it?

Yes. S-Calipers and 908 Calipers are dimensionally identical. I would venture to guess the mold for the S-Caliper is simply a refined 908 Caliper mold. Some 908 cavities were cut a bit deeper so they could utilize 22mm pads vs. the 17mm pads on the S-Caliper.

Here's some basic mold differences. Look at the logo on a 908 Caliper:



See how it's centered in the wing area and you don't see an obvious casting line? All 908 calipers I've seen have this logo positioning. Now look at the early S-Caliper:



The red arrow shows the casting line in the mold. What's left of the logo is positioned along the lower edge of the wing circled in blue.

These also have 3mm shaved off the top at the factory for fitment in 14" and possibly 13" front wheels (hillclimb). Notice the stamping in the shaved top:



So... John got it right out of the gate that this is probably a 908 caliper and possibly used on a 914-6/GT car. What I'm looking for is some backup on the 910 caliper pin assembly. Most 908 calipers have two pins at the base of the caliper to hold the inner pad and a plate at the bottom of the outer half to hold that pad in. They then have a spring loaded pad clip that would be much easier to use than this set-up. I believe these pre-date your basic 908 caliper...

...others care to weigh in?

[Neunelfer]

(Pay no attention to the pair of factory 914-6/GT rear calipers in the background! )

[John Straub]

No, what I meant was, my car has the "S" type on the front both sides.

That's...still very kool! I'll give you 50 bucks for them! :-)

John

[Neunelfer]

Ahhh gotcha, standard caliper on the left in the picture.

[Neunelfer]

Any more? Come on gang... there has to be some 908 caliper experts out there.

I'm looking for anyone who knows anything about a 908 caliper with this type of endurance pin mechanism. Any leads on people to contact?

Side Note: We're currently measuring the radius on the top and sending the pins and latch in to be reproduced. Gauging interest. This would be a mod. for the 69-72 calipers. Thoughts?

[Neunelfer]

Thanks Raj,

This caliper came from Gerhard (Gary) Hirsh who had brief ownership of 33 in Canada. From what I understand, he is in the Toronto area and he's had a few other notable cars. This could be off a number of cars from that era. Factory records of that era seem to show that, a lot of times, cars were built with whatever was available on the shelf.

I also heard that 33 still had it's 908 calipers so... we're kind of bumping up against finding Gary to see if this has a mate or if this is off a certain car.

We'd like to get it in the right hands...

Sounds like a fun car. I have the same 2.5 waiting for mine (actually it's in the 911 while I build the 3.0 MFI). I can't wait to get it in the teener with a short box.

Do you have any pictures of your car?