I just got a set of silver Y2K wheels. I'm also doing a C5 brake upgrade, which is for the front brake assembly. Uses C5 calipers, rotors, etc.

Now, the wheels have centercaps with the Corvette crossed flags logo, seen here. I've thought about putting Firebird decals over those imprints, or get plain centercaps w/ the bird decals. No big deal, easy to do.

But the brake calipers have "Corvette" embossed on them, it's raised up from the surface. I plan on powder coating the calipers dark red to match the car, as well as the rear stock calipers. I was planning on some "Formula" or "Pontiac" caliper decals, but the raised Corvette logo is very cool, and would be tough to hide. I could sand it off, but then they would be ruined forever.

So, what do you guys think? Should I just leave everything Corvette and get some odd looks? I suppose that would show off the modifications better, since Vette stuff isn't normally on Firebirds. Get more attention.

Or should I do a good custom job, and turn the Vette parts into Pontiac? Of course then the calipers would probably be mistaken for painted stockers. Wouldn't get as much attention, but would look natural. I don't want to look like a some Corvette wannabe, or a mixed up Frankenbird.

I'm leaning towards Vette. What do you guys think?

 

Yeah I would just leave it how it is. Look good how they come.

 

I would leave it, atleast it'd be something different

 

If I did the wheels, I would put a Firebird logo on, but that's me.

For the calipers, I say leave the Corvette stuff on it. I've seen pics of other cars with Porche brakes on, with "Porche" left on them.

And if anyone asks, just say, "They're Corvette brakes"

 

Depends on what color you powdercoat them. If it's all the same color, you would have to be up close to notice it saying Corvette. But if you powdercoated them dark red and then accented the word Corvette with black, then that would be more noticeable. But with all the same coor, it would be harder to notice it even saying corvette.

 

leave the vette stuff;everyone knows corvette means 'performance' ...

 

Thanks for the opinions guys!

chenoweth: Yeah, I could do that, never thought of that. But If I leave the calipers Corvette, then I'm going to make use of that and accent it. I'm painting them dark red, and the words "Corvette" will be silver. The other option would be to grind off the words "Corvette" so I can put Pontiac decals on. So, I want them to be seen, I'm just not sure what I want people to see.

David: The calipers are the deciding factor. I'd like to do the wheels with Firebird decals, that's what I originally wanted. But there is no sense doing that if I have Corvette calipers, at least to me anyways. I didn't know the Vette calipers would have a cool 3D logo on them, until I opened the box.

I just wasn't sure if that would be acceptable, or look right. You guys seem to think it's OK. So... I'll go with Corvette.

 

That's what I did. I put some Pontiac arrowheads instead of the plain center caps on my SS rims.

 

leave it!! then they know you have upgraded vette stuff...

 

i'd leave it as is too...

 

Think of it like this, Steve: Say you bought some nice, slotted Baer rotors and calipers. The calipers will have the "Baer" logo and letters raised up. People will know that your brakes are high performance aftermarket ones. The "Corvette" has the same effect as "Baer" ones would.

Be sure to post pics of your Corvette brakes!

 

vette look

 

I'd do what you like the best, personally I like the vette look too.

 

Well, my digital camera died right before my brake upgrade... I wanted to take pics during the install and such, oh well.

So for now, I borrowed a 35mm camera and scanned the pics, the last ones on Page 6. Wider pics, the car looks really red. The previous pics look better in digital with the new wheels, but stock brakes.

Anyways, I left the wheels and brakes with their Corvette identity, and glad I did. Looks pretty good.

I ended up just spray painting the calipers, instead of powdercoating them like I planned too. I couldn't pick a color to match the car, and didn't feel like taking apart the calipers for the oven...

So I used some maroon high temp engine paint for a base coat, then a color matched metallic red. After that I sanded the paint off the raised "Corvette" lettering, and then I used a high temp clear.

It's softer, not as durable as I'd like, but so far no problems and looks great Rear calipers were painted a month ahead of time to match, and as a test. I also painted the rotors with black.

 

What do you mean no vette stuff on firebirds? They have a vette motor don't they? I'm putting Corvette FRC's on my 02 firehawk and I have no concern about the confusion or looking like vette wannabe. Lots of vette parts fit the f-body so leave the great custom work that someone else obviously done alone. It looks unique and cool.