Need help with Disc Brake Conversion
 

I have a 67 LeMans with OEM 4 wheel power drum brakes and want to convert the front to power disc. What is the best way to convert over to disc in the front? What parts do I need? Appriciate and help. I don't need any super duper racing stuff just a properly setup front wheel disc set up for street use. Thanks.

Tim C

The cheapest and easiest way to do this is to find a '69-'72 A body and remove the spindles, calipers, master cylinder, and combination valve, and to simply bolt them on to your car. These are factory parts that fit perfectly, are high in quality, and will not change your front end alignment angles. We did one on a '65 GTO years ago and it worked very well. Total cost was $90. If you can get just the spindles (steering arms), you can get the rotors, bearings, master cylinder, and combi valve from the parts house.

x2. i did my 65 using a 'mini kit' from place called Ground Up. It included new spindles,backing plates,caliper brackets and bolts.The rest i got from NAPA.

You do have to check for caliper to wheel clearance with some 14'' wheels though.

http://forums.performanceyears.com/f...d.php?t=593740

this may help.

Sure I've put discs on the old cars. The latest effort was a 68 LeMans.

Inlinetube.com was where I got the Caliper brackets, & hoses.
Advanced Auto for 1970 Calipers.
I ground-down the upper BOSS & Bolt on each Drum spindle, using a belt sander.

I used an SSBC kit for one of my 69 GTO's and it worked out perfectly! Very high quality stuff and everything you will need comes in the kit. Mine is a manual disc conversion.

Goatman, the link doesn't work

Bought a set of 70 Olds. 442 spindles off ebay for 75.00$ last yr. Bolted right up on my 67 gto, Bought new rotors for ruffly30.00$ ea. Bought new brackets to put the brake pads on for 40.00$ so About 200.00$ its done, As for the master cylinder i called in line tube and bought there proportioning valve set up for another 100.00$ with all new fitting and hardware and it was all done right. Bled brakes and its the best thing i ever done!! Sold all my original drums, spindles and pads for 125.00$ so it was next to nothing for this set-up.

hmmmmmm

Sorry. Its in the Tech Archives sticky in the street section near bottom

I liked doing the "Scarebird" conversion.

Ya don't have to change spindles, and altogether it cost me less than $400.

www.scarebird.com

Now I am confused, do I need new spindles or not?

Tim C

You should drive over to Ecology and take a set off yourself.

I get the part that I can go to the pick-a-part and remove the parts and save the cash. Or I can get the adapter plate and I don't have to change the spindles and deal with removing and reinstalling the coil springs. My question now is what are the advantages/disadvantages of going with new spindles or just going with the adapter plate route? Thanks.

Tim C

You don't need to remove the springs. The whole thing is cake. I have a few sets of them, I don't want to step on other peoples toes.

Don't have to remove the springs huh, i'd like to see that.

Go to Ecology and you will see it LOL.

You jack up underneath the outboard end of the lower control arm, to create more weight leverage at the spot. The weight of the car/engine keeps the spring compressed, and you can remove your drum brake spindle from the ball joints, and replace with the factory disc brake spindle.

The shocks hold them in place. You wouldn't see so many missing disc brakes at wrecking yards if someone couldn't go in there and get them fast.

At the wrecking yards, sure, you can take it apart, but you don't have to put it back together :) . So, while the shock may keep the springs from coming out at a yard, if the engine isn't in the car with the weight on the lower control arm, you wouldn't be able to reinstall a spindle.