1967 Catalina... want to change front drum to disc brakes

[starliner427]

We have a 1967 Catalina with drum brakes and non-power master cylinder. We want to change it over to disc brakes. Disc brakes in 67 are rare, hard to find, and hard to get parts for. The calipers are unique in 67 and again in 68. However 69 & 70 seem to be the same and more available. I know for a fact that the rims on my car only fit 67 through 70. So my question is: Will the spindles & disc brake assembly from a 69 or 70 fit my 67? Next question....How about the power booster and master cylinder?

[starliner427]

We have a 1967 Catalina with drum brakes and non-power master cylinder. We want to change it over to disc brakes. Disc brakes in 67 are rare, hard to find, and hard to get parts for. The calipers are unique in 67 and again in 68. However 69 & 70 seem to be the same and more available. I know for a fact that the rims on my car only fit 67 through 70. So my question is: Will the spindles & disc brake assembly from a 69 or 70 fit my 67? Next question....How about the power booster and master cylinder?

[wheelspin]

Welcome to the forum.

WWW.mpbrakes.com, (http://WWW.mpbrakes.com,) part# DB1775B, cost about $1000, including booster and master cylinder. You may have to use 15" rims for clearance as I did when installing one of their kits on my 66 GTO. I have e-mailed them to see if this kit fits my 68 GP since they advertise it as fitting 64-70 Bonny & Cat.

Les

66 GTO Coupe,455/trips,700r/2500stall,12bolt/3.08,1.79/13.01/104.5
68 GP daily driver and 2004 Route 66 Tour participant under restoration
--------------------------
Better lucky than good

['ol Pinion head]

With decently thick used factory rotors, one can usually do this swap with factory mid '68-70 Bonneville-Excutive-Catalina single piston disc brakes for under $500-550. Several years ago, could do it for under $350, but most today, are having to get the brake boosters rebuilt & having to pay more for thick rotor used changeovers.

The disc spindles are same for '67-70 big Pontiacs. Caliper brackets should be different between 4 piston & single piston caliper. Good place to find needed parts is on Bonne & Exec wagons built mid '68 through '70. '67 & early '68 set-ups will use 4 piston disc brakes...expensive to rebuild & calipers can often leak even after being sleeved & rebuilt. BTW, late '60's through '70 model BIG Old, Buick, & Chevy set-up are all different & different from each other, in other words, no luck swapping on other divisional spindles & rotors. Good luck.

[starliner427]

WOW !!! That was great information. Thanks a lot.
We have two Pontiacs. One is a lowered 77 GP and the other is the 67 Catalina. The 67 Catalina has 46,000 original miles and my son uses it as his college car in the winter. He drives about 210 miles each way every couple of weeks. It's only a 4 door otherwise we would not drive it in the winter. I worry about him with the lack of braking ability with the drum brakes. So now I have two good options, find a good 69 or 70 full size or go new aftermarket.