For Those Doing Disk Brakes. 60-66

[Captainfab]

Yes your '63 C10 will have the saddles to accept the '73-'87 LCA's. I would recommend drilling out the LCA U-bolt holes in the crossmember and upgrading to the larger diameter '73-'87 U-bolts when you reassemble.

Originally Posted by davbowen

Captainfab, been reading a lot about this change over and drop member swap. my question is will 73-87 control arms bolt directly to my 63 cross member, other than the u-bolt size. will the newer lca fit right into my lower saddle centered up. the reason I ask is am going with cpp or ece drop spindle 6 lug kit with 73-87 bolt joints. my current truck has 50 years worth of crud on them and was going to rebuild. but after more reading and research, the 73-87 arms will be way cheaper to buy new than to rebuild my existing. I really don't what to change the x-m out or have to modify a bunch of stuff to make it fit. anyway thanks for the input.

Originally Posted by davbowen

that's my 63 c-10

[Captainfab]

Upgrading to 5 lug or even 6 lug disc brakes on a C10 is a lot easier than on a '63-'66 C20 or 30.

Originally Posted by Big E65

Now when you mean 83 you mean a 1/2 ton right(just clarifying)?
And thanks for the break down this was a lot of help i really didn't want to do to much work or spend to much money(on a budget) just to achieve 5 lug disc brakes.

[gumbs77]

Can anyone tell me if the crossmember and control arms are origanal? I got the truck with 5lug disk on it and I'm not sure what parts to buy when I rebuild the front end. When I had motor out the crossmember didnt look like it was original. Im asking because I would like to order drop spindals and need to know what ones to get.

Jim

[lolife99]

Lower a-arms are 73-87 for sure.
Check rotor width.
They could be 1" wide or 1.25" wide.
(you will have to know to order drop spindles)
Either way I bet it's a 73-87 spindle.

[gumbs77]

THANKS! I will check and report back.

[earl84]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

When converting a '63-'66 C20 or 30 to disc brakes either 8 lug or 5 lug, you will have to change the crossmember. This is because there are no saddles to hold the '67 and up lower control arm shafts. Yes the '71-'87 C10 front suspension will basically bolt up. I don't know about the '71-'72, but with the '73-'87 crossmember, you will have to drill one hole on each side and elongate one hole on each side.

So if I have a 66 C20 and want to upgrade to disk brakes from a '74 donor, I have to change the entire crossmember, not just upper and lower control arms and spindles, is that correct? Plan on keeping it 8 lug, BTW. That sort of sucks, but good to know before starting the upgrade.

[Billett]

I don't know if this is in the right place or not, but there happens to be a CPP kit on CL near me that the guy bought for a 66. Kit is the 13" big brake kit with drop spindles. I have a 68, but I know most of the time our style trucks do swaps to 73-87 brakes just like you guys do. Would this kit work for me or is it not worth it?

[Billett]

Nevermind, just got a chance to check the site and CPP includes them in the same generation for front brakes, so this should work.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Billett

I don't know if this is in the right place or not, but there happens to be a CPP kit on CL near me that the guy bought for a 66. Kit is the 13" big brake kit with drop spindles. I have a 68, but I know most of the time our style trucks do swaps to 73-87 brakes just like you guys do. Would this kit work for me or is it not worth it?

As long as the kit includes upper and lower ball joints, outer tie rods and tie rod adapter sleeves.
You will also have to run a wheel bigger than 15" diameter,... to work with the 13" rotors.

[Billett]

None of those are included... Said he had new Mood upper ball joints he could throw in though. Do I need these new or is it just something you generally replace while you're in there? I still have the original crossmember and the link in your sig says there's no need to change them. Here's what I'm looking at

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/pts/4082856054.html

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/pts/4171394002.html

[lolife99]

The 99-up GM wheels are the same lug pattern, but the center hole of the wheel is much smaller.
I would be surprised if they fit without adapters or modifying the wheel's center hole diameter.

[lolife99]

I believe CPP makes their Modular spindle in a 63-70 application that will bolt directly on your '68.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/p...rder=Ascending

[Billett]

Yeah I know the center is smaller ,(actually tried it for S&Gs once when we had a spare set around the shop), but a guy near me used a dremel to open them up a bit on his conversion. Not my preferred method, but he said he didn't get any noticeable shakes or anything from it. I'll get different rims eventually, but for that price I could live with them for a while.

All told though, I *should* be ok to just get the kit and it'll bolt up to my existing ball joints and tie rods?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Billett

All told though, I *should* be ok to just get the kit and it'll bolt up to my existing ball joints and tie rods?

I doubt it.
Here's the kit. ($1199 from CPP)
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...SWBK-55213.htm

I think you will need to convert the ball joints and tie rods, etc.
http://www.classicperform.com/Catalo...ChevyTruck.pdf
Quote:**Upgrade kits include ball joints and tie rod ends.

[Billett]

Yeah, just thought about it and it won't bolt to the firewall without mods anyway. Oh well. Hope somebody else can use the link!

[Captainfab]

That is correct when changing to anything other than 8 lug. If you are wanting to stay with 8 lug, I believe you can upgrade to discs by changing the balljoints, spindles, rotors, etc. The only thing I haven't been able to verify is if the disc brake lower balljoint will press into the '63-'66 LCA's

Originally Posted by earl84

So if I have a 66 C20 and want to upgrade to disk brakes from a '74 donor, I have to change the entire crossmember, not just upper and lower control arms and spindles, is that correct? Plan on keeping it 8 lug, BTW. That sort of sucks, but good to know before starting the upgrade.

[earl84]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

That is correct when changing to anything other than 8 lug. If you are wanting to stay with 8 lug, I believe you can upgrade to discs by changing the balljoints, spindles, rotors, etc. The only thing I haven't been able to verify is if the disc brake lower balljoint will press into the '63-'66 LCA's

OK, thanks. I have the entire front end, (LCA's, spindles, rotors, calipers, steering linkages, PS pump, etc) from a 74 C20, The only thing missing is the UCA's. I want to keep it simple and swap the whole thing in there after I buy some UCA's. Gonna have to take a closer look at if I need the crossmember as well for the LCA saddles for the round control arm shaft. Hmmm. I want to keep it simple for future maintenance and have everything from all 73-87 parts so parts are easier to source if needed.
Also have a serpentine setup that I will install at the same time, and know I will have to change out the fitting on the PS pump to mate to the steering gear, or have a special hose made up.
Thanks, Captain, your willingness to help everyone is awesome, as well as many others on this board. When the time comes, I will be ordering your adapter.

[lowbuck63]

hey i have a 63 c10 that i just converted to power disk brakes in the front. I used the corvette style master from pol and mid 70's caliper. I have read all the great info in this thread and lots of others that have been very helpful, but the one question i could not find any answers to is the hard lines. I would like to replace them with ones from the parts store but have no idea where to begin with line size fitting sizes or length does anyone have a list of what lines or fittings they have used any help would be appreciated thank you!

[63longfleet]

Ok, i have read the entire thread twice so lets see if i got this correct BEFORE my trip to the pick a part lot saturday, I Need:
1 Upper and lower control arms from a 73-87 1/2ton

2 complete steering linkage from same

3 spindles that use 1 1/4 rotors

4 front sway bar from same

Now doing all this I can order rotors online that will let me keep my 6 lug set up

Oh and im putting all this on a 1963 long fleet, lol
Thanks for any input on any omisions i may have made

[Captainfab]

You do not have to change the control arms. Although I do like the rubber bushings over the steel bushings than can squeak if not greased periodically. If you do change the control arms, be sure to use the '73+ lower control arm U-bolts. They are larger in diameter and are far less likely to break as the original '63-'70 U-bolts can. Once you compare them side by side you will agree.

While you are there you might as well grab the power steering box too.

[63longfleet]

Steering box is already on my list, along with the booster and m/c off a later model truck, gonna look for a ford overflow/washer tank while im there as well. might as well get as much as i can tote half price weekend lol

[Branman1971]

Yep, I did this swap on my 61. Basically an 84 1/2 ton front crossmember bolted right in with a couple of new holes drilled. Bought new ball joints, bushings, and tie rods for an 84 front end and threw it all together. It was then I learned about the truck's rotors needing to be 1 1/4" thick to use my 6-lug rims. So I found a truck with the 1 1/4" rotors and grabbed the spindles off of it. I bought the new 6-lug rotors off of a very popular 4-letter bidding auction site (not sure if I can say it here), and they were a fraction of the cost of other parts sites I had checked. The 84 power steering box bolted to the frame with a bracket I fabbed after studying other brackets I had seen, (they don't make them for 60/61). Then I learned that my 6-lug rims are not big enough to clear my calipers. DAMMIT! Oh well, guess it's time for some nicer rims. The 84 engine towers were much taller than my 61's cause the 84 frame is taller, so I cut an inch out of them or so and rewelded them together. I acquired a 396 BB motor since then and my next magical trick is to see if I can mount the motor with these SB towers. (I doubt it) Also wondering if my 396 is going to clear my firewall? Anyways, I saw a few posts on this thread of folks asking the same questions that I had and I wanted to share how I got to the point that I am at now. I plan to pull the master cyclinder, booster, prop valve, and brake lines out of a newer truck soon and see what I can do. If anyone has info on my current tasks (396 towers and install brakes), please let me know. Great thread here!

[encasedmetal]

what has anyone found as a cheap solution for rear disc brakes? I have a 63' C10 and a 84 12 bolt rear 5 lug. any ideas?

[Captainfab]

I make 3 different rear disc brake brackets for the 8.5" 10 bolt and the 12 bolt with the 5x5 wheel stud pattern. Links to the for sale threads in my signature line.

Originally Posted by encasedmetal

what has anyone found as a cheap solution for rear disc brakes? I have a 63' C10 and a 84 12 bolt rear 5 lug. any ideas?

[Mjminino]

Seems like this answer is all sporadic.

I have a 1964 C10, in y'alls opinion, what is the cheapest way to convert my rear 6 lug to 5 lug for disk brakes? Going to a junkyard and finding a 5 lug rear end if so, what years?

Mike