[Canby GTO]

Has anyone had experience in using the Ames Performance 64-72 front disc brake wheel kit Part# R440BA. I want to know if it will work with the original 14" steel rims that came with the the car. (This is the dog dish style rims )The description reads that it will and the individual from Ames says it will, but their supplier told it me it will hit where the center part is welded to the outer part of the wheel. My original brakes work, but would like to have a more reliable brake system. I am the original owner, so I know the rims are original.
Sure would appreciate some help on this. Thanks !!!

[Skip Fix]

I know the kit I used I had to use some extra 15" TA wheels, 14s hit.

[b-man]

Your original 1965 GTO wheels are drum brake only 14x6” wheels. The disc brake caliper will hit the rim near the center of the wheel.

Disc brake 14x6” standard steel wheels (they will accept dog dish caps and full wheel covers) were a different design, the rim shape was changed to provide caliper clearance. These wheels can be sourced from a number of GM intermediates from the 1970s.

If Ames states that their kit will work with 14” wheels they’re most likely assuming you have disc brake compatible wheels and not drum brake only wheels.

[Scarebird]

The only ones that will clear are aftermarket kits like ours that use a 10.5" rotor and Celebrity caliper. We now offer a bigger version of the Celebrity caliper that will clear and has a bigger piston - making for a better hydraulic match.

That said, useless you really wish to keep those rims and they are in good shape I would step up to disc rims and use the Ames kit.

[Canby GTO]

I have the original 14" drum brake rims (that came with the car in 1965) are in very good shape and want to go back to dog dish hubcaps and red line tires, also this way my spare tire would work incase needed. The kit has the 10.6" rotors.

[Chris65LeMans]

I have 4 wheel disks and dog dish hubcaps on the 15 inch powder coated “tri five” wheels from Summit. Just sayin’

[aceaceca]

While at it I would like to ask if the disks will clear on 14 inch Cragar standard wheels like on my car?
The set up from Aames.

[The Champ]

Heck, you can go to 17" rims and run poverty caps....

They you can put the "redline" on the rims and your savings on a set of performance radials will be enough to pay for the rims (Wheel Vintiques available from Summit).

[Canby GTO]

Thanks everyone for replying still don't know if the kit from Ames will work, really would like to hear from someone that has gotten this front wheel disc kit Part# 440BA and used it with original 14" steel rims.
I have waited a long time for my order and found they weren't sending it till all the parts were ready which included booster and master cylinder so I found out who Ames supplier was and talked to an individual and the order status if they could just send the rotors and calipers and hardware for mounting and not wait. Also while talking to him, he said it would hit what I referred to in my first statement, we talked about other ways that might work by just using a booster and stay with drum brakes. I told him to hold the order and I would talk to Ames, to cancel my order they still say it will work and I don't want to take everything apart and find out it doesn't work and have to send back all the parts. Guess what the next day part of the order came. So I took the caliper and put it on the rotor and fits in the original rim, but remember the mounted hardware is not mounted on the spindle. but it doesn't hit anything. So I don't know it I should go ahead and try mounting it. The rotor measures just a hair over 10.5 ".

[Scarebird]

Send a pic of what you have.

[Canby GTO]

Hope this works on the pictures they one is with the rotor and caliber in the 14" rim.

[Scarebird]

That is a modified copy of our setup. The rotor is proprietary; not available from NAPA, etc.

[Skip Fix]

What caliper is that?? The kit I got has what look like D52 calipers in it. Could be smaller but that type floating pin.

[Scarebird]

1990 Chevy Celebrity, they have a 2-1/2" piston in them.

We have had cast a new version with 2-3/4" piston for better hydraulic match to the stock master.

[Canby GTO]

There is no name on the caliper or number. Wish there was, as if this works, and I have troubles later on won't know where to get parts.

This is the description that is the Ames catalog, (sure looks like it will work with brake drum rims)
Part#
R440BA
Description 1964-72 FRONT DISC BRAKE WHEEL KIT, FITS DRUM SPINDLE AND 14"-UP WHEELS (AP)
Net Comments This disc brake conversion kit is specially designed to fit any factory 14" wheel. (but will also work well with 15" wheels) including the stock steel wheels that were found from the factory on drum brake vehicles. This kit mounts to your stock drum brake spindles, making installation much easier than kits that require a spindle change. Kit includes a booster, master cylinder, proportioning valve, calipers, brackets, rotors, bearings, seals and frt flex lines. NOTE: this kit does not use backing plates. This kit does not include brake lines! Stock lines will NOT work with this kit. Specify car model details when ordering. This kit has a 9 inch booster.

[Scarebird]

How about a few pics of the brackets?

[Canby GTO]

This is some pictures of both sides of the bracket.

[Scarebird]

Those are "Right Stuff Detailing" pieces, a modified copy of our original brackets.

As stated earlier, they use a proprietary version of the 1978 Malibu rotor and Celebrity calipers.

[Skip Fix]

My Right Stuff kit "AFXMD" that uses 69 Chevelle calipers and rotors. Different looking brackets also.

[chief2k]

Scarebird - do you have a complete kit for a "66? I couldn't find it on your website. I have 14" rims too. (Hurst repos). Thanks