67 Camaro SS questions
 

Considering the above small block 4 speed. Largely original car. Car has stock non power drums. How well do these stop on a 67 Camaro? I have a 69 Charger RT with non power drums so have some experience but those pads are 3” wide but a heavy car. Any commentary?
The tranny is a M20 with a 3.73. pJ coded and dated to the car. Would prefer a 3.31 gear. I expect first will be a little of a granny gear? Any thoughts around this?
Thanks
Lawrence

Regarding your brake question I'll chime in with my opinion. I had a 68 RS Camaro in high school with a 6 cylinder and non-power drum brakes. I had to put my foot through the floor in order to stop it. I just finished a 67 SS I built for my daughter and there is no way I would have given it to her with non-power drum brakes. It got upgraded to power disc.

Stock drum brakes, regardless of drivetrain: Steer left, apply brake pedal, brakes pull right, stop straight.

I had a 327 2bbl '67 Camaro I bought from the original owner, with original paint and interior. Non power drums and power steering. I put a Muncie 4-speed in it and left the rest stock. I drove it for 5 years as my only car in the late '80s and early '90s. Wonderful car and maybe the best Camaro I have ever had and never once did I have a negative thought about the brakes.

I had non power, drum brakes on my '68 Camaro for 32 years. I don't know what was more exciting, ripping an 11 second quarter mile time or trying to slow the car down after ripping an 11 second quarter mile time!lol
About five years ago, I put Wilwood 4 wheel discs on the car, but kept it non power brakes.

My 67 RS/SS L78 is non power drum. If I need more stopping power with 456 gears I just down shift. I considered converting to power drum, but don't drive it very often.

I've had plenty of C1 and C2 Corvette's with non power drums. When properly serviced, they are predictable and safe. Similar weight to a 1st gen F body, with similar weight bias.

I have two drum brake cars and one is a 396 and don't have any problem stopping them. Most of us don't drag race these cars so we aren't not trying to stop from a 100+ pass.

I upgraded my C1 Vette manual drum brakes with a kit from Praise Dyno Brake a while back and was very happy with how it performed during spirited road rallies. I think they are called Muscle Car Brakes now.

I had non-power drums all around on my '68 Camaro and once you got them a little warm, they were fine. I planned ahead when I drove it as it had manual steering as well. If this is your car and you want that old time feel, drums will be fine. If you want your kids or spouse to drive it, invest in the power discs.

I have a '67 Camaro SS/RS, 350, with power drum brakes, power steering, and 3:31 rear, with the Powerglide trans. I only drive it like what probably others would consider mildly. I do take it for short blasts on my local freeway. I always allow a longer braking distance for it compared to my other cars with front power discs. That's really the only allowance I do for the drums.

Growing up with 6 cylinders and 3 on tree cars with all manual drum brakes, we never gave it a second thought. My '67 SS 350 Camaro had the manual drums and I drove it on and off for a few years before I started a day 2 resto. It now has '69 Camaro single piston disc brakes on the front and doesn't seem to stop any different from the drums. As Napa68 mentioned, keep them adjusted equally and they will be plenty good.
The 3.73 axle ratio should have brought an M21 into the original build. Maybe it was still an option with that ratio...
Sounds like a nice car, got any pics ?

I had a '68 Chevelle 300 Deluxe with manual drums and a warmed over 327, needed a lot more room to brake that's for sure.

My '67 Camaro LS turbo has manual disc brakes front and rear, no issues.

Mitch, the M21 was only available with the L78 or Z28 for the '67 model year so an SS L48 or L35 would have had a Muncie M20 if a 4-speed was ordered. Further info, the M22 was not available in a Camaro in '67 regardless of the engine.

I just went the opposite way and took aftermarket power front discs off our 409 car and installed the correct non power single pot master and front drums. It's no Z-06 but I was surprised how well it stopped.

Thanks guys, appreciate all the responses. If this deal happens will likely leave the drums on.
Another question about an early build 67 SS Camaro (September) would it be possible that no vin would be stamped on the transmission. Assembly date is consistent with the build date of the car.

The vin may be stamped on top and only visible with a mirror and it should be aluminum, not cast iron...

Yup, I expect it on top....

It’s aluminum, thanks for the intel guys.
Have a few other things to sort out on this one and see where it takes me.
Lawrence

careful shopping you could put 67 4 piston brakes on for just under $ 1000
power booster to calipers --- have done several

I have had several 67 350 cars and all stopped fine with only drum brakes. Don't let this be a consideration for buying. The trans should be stamped on the top with the VIN, even the early built cars. Usually near the very front of the transmission is where the stamp is found.

A question regarding body side moldings on a 67 Camaro. Is there an easy way to tell if they were hung with fasteners or adhesive without removing the door panel? I am curious if there is a visual way to tell by just looking at the type of molding.
Thanks

The spear was on all cars and would need the tape to touch the top and bottom edges to hold it. Same with the rs trim pieces. A close look should reveal tape between the trim and body. Those are only trim from the factory. If you are talking about door dig prevention tape down the side, it would have been applied with tape from dealer or owner. I have heard of some having studs that needed holes drilled, but I don't think that was common.

This is the body side molding I was asking about. Not sure I want this to stay on the car? If it is adhered on hopefully not an issue. If riveted or hung with fasteners a problem for me. Anyway to tell with this photo?