Disc Brake 1966 Front End Question....

[junglefire]

Howdy.. here's my first ever post..

I just picked up a 1966 front end (cheep) for my '66 C10 longbed fleetside to convert the truck over to disc brakes.

the front end i just bought has a new disc brake kit already on it. but it's 5-lug.

my truck has 6-lug wheels and i wanna keep it 6-lug.

QUESTION:
i know i need to buy the 6-lug rotors, but will they fit on the 5lug spindles? or do i need to purchase Spindles too from an online parts place? anything else i'd need to buy?

[junglefire]

here's the truck by the way.. just got it about a month ago!

[Captainfab]

First of all, '66 chevy pickups were not available with disc brakes, or is that a typo in your first post. It is hard to tell in the pic, but that almost looks like a '63-'70 front suspension that has the adapter bracket to convert to disc brakes. I believe those conversions used a rotor with a 5 x 4.75 bolt pattern.....I could be wrong though. If those spindles are not the '71-'87 HD spindles, then you will need to get a set to be able to use the aftermarket 6 lug rotors.

[junglefire]

thanx...
yeah i never said the '66 truck came with discs..
but the front end i bought had 'em already installed (new aftermarket kit is written on it in chalk.) the guy i got it from had gotten it at a swap meet and was gonna put it on his kid's truck, but the kid lost interest and joined the army...

so if the swap meet guy put an aftermarket kit on there - with 5-lug - would he have had to already upgraded the spindles?

i guess what i'm asking is... on a 5 lug kit - are the 6 lug rotors swappable? or do they each require specific spindles?

thanx in advance..

[Captainfab]

What I am saying is that if that front end you bought, has the conversion kit that uses the stock spindles, then you can not put the 6 lug rotors on them. You will have to get a set of the '71-'87 HD C10 spindles.

[Greshampiglet]

Ok guys I have the same question I have a 64 GMC I put drop A frames and springs from Charlie’s Drop shop here in Gresham Oregon, I recently bought a set of 73 to 80 spindles to convert to Disc brakes I have a factory power brake unit installed on it now work very well but would like to have that extra secure disc brake feel and keep the 6 lug wheels Yeah I like them here is a picture

[Captainfab]

Here is one of the more complete threads on converting to front disc brakes

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=367260

The answer to both questions is yes you will need to change the spindles to the '71-'87 C10 HD spindles to be able to use the aftermarket 6 lug rotors. There is another way to have 6 lug discs using factory parts, but it is more complicated. It is described in the above thread.

[junglefire]

ok cool.. that answers my question. thank you.
also, is there any way to tell if they are the HD spindles? if i took a close up photo, could u tell?

[Captainfab]

The heavy duty spindles have rotors that are 1-1/4" thick, The light duty spindles have rotors that are 1" thick.

Yes if you can take a pic from the backside of the spindle, I should be able to tell you what you have.

Originally Posted by junglefire

ok cool.. that answers my question. thank you.
also, is there any way to tell if they are the HD spindles? if i took a close up photo, could u tell?

[junglefire]

Also. how much for the booster brake bracket??
jeffee@earthlink.net is my email.. lemme know.

[Captainfab]

My booster bracket will not work with the booster you have in the pic. There are links to my for sale threads in my signature line. Here is the one for the '63-'66 booster bracket

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=1#post3257836

Originally Posted by junglefire

Also. how much for the booster brake bracket??
jeffee@earthlink.net is my email.. lemme know.

[junglefire]

here's 2 pix of the spindles.. what do u think?

[Captainfab]

Those are stock '63-'70 drum brake spindles with an adapter bracket to convert to disc brakes. If I'm not mistaken, that conversion uses a rotor with a 5 x 4.75 wheel stud pattern.

To be able to use the aftermarket 6 lug rotors you mentioned yesterday, you will need a set of the '71-'87 HD C10 spindles. You can go with either stock height or dropped spindles. If you are on a tight budget, you should be able to pick up a set of stock spindles for cheap. You will also need to change the balljoints to either the '71-'72, or '73-'87 style depending on which spindles you get. If the slider bolts on theos calipers are on a 7" center to center, you can use those calipers. If they are 5.5" then you will need new calipers as well.

Originally Posted by junglefire

here's 2 pix of the spindles.. what do u think?

[junglefire]

thanx again.
i'm starting to think i shoulda just bought the kit
and leave this alone for someone who doesn't mind converting to 5-lug

[jocko]

junglefire - what is your plan for wheels? I'm a 6 lug fan also, but if, perhaps, your plan calls for stock steelies, you could keep the stock rear 6 lugs, and get some stock front 5 lug steelies on the front (i.e. leave it like it is and save some $$) and then just stick a poverty cap on the steelies and it all looks copasetic. (sp?...) But then, of course, there's the whole "which spare do I carry question...." Doh

[junglefire]

i just got the 6 lug rally wheels... so..

the plan is to put the 5-lug front end back up on craigslist (try to get my $250 back) and buy a 6 lug kit.

my buddy has a shop so he might be able to save me a few bux on a full kit.

i'm in orlando if anyone is interested in the front end.

[jocko]

Ah! I understand. That may be the best approach - but if it doesn't work, here are some options for 6 lug rotors that should work with your original spindles (they also sell rotors for 71-87 spindles too). Before you buy - make sure you are certain which spindles you have (i.e. originals or 71-87 converts) then call them and make sure they will work in your application - may require that you use their bracket also, but still not TOO expensive to convert what you have. http://www.performanceonline.com/Bra...onents-c-1086/

But then again, you could just apply the whole kit concept to your current 66 drum front susp on the truck - and yes, that would probably be easier and ensure that the components work together. Only mention this option in case you can't unload your front disk/5-lug setup.

[jocko]

Oops - belay my last - the link I provided was for 71-87 spindled trucks. Someone makes them for original spindles also, it's either CPP, POL, or Early Classic Enterprises...

[61_FL_Apache]

Nice looking truck!!

[k1rodeoboater]

FWIW I pieced together a kit for my 66....in the end I wished I had just gotten the full kit. Granted that's part of my own doing for not test fitting parts together and inspecting them prior to trying the install. On paper I came in a few hundred dollars below the cost of a full kit, but that doesn't take into account the lost hours spent running back and forth to the parts store to exchange parts and what not.

[junglefire]

yeah from what i've read on all the chevy forums - alot of people wish they would have just gotten the kit. now i know why that guy was selling the front end! i'm sure someone will pick it up..
and yes. my truck has all original parts behind the drums.. so i'll just save for the kit..

thanx for the compliment. paid 3000 for it and i've put about 800 into it in rallye wheels & tires. plus a few cosmetic items. it came with crate 350 engine/holley carb and spent most of it's life in a barn in central florida. so there's not alot of rust!

[jocko]

wow, i'd say you stole it... Really nice truck and the rallies look really nice on it.

[junglefire]

here's a few more pix. only had 66,XXX original miles on it too!

[junglefire]

on thing is my house doesn't have a garage.. anyone have any luck with a cover/tarp thing.. which one did u get?? should the cover repel rain? or let it breath?
i work from home, so i only drive it like every other day to go to the store or whatever..

[S-31]

Welcome to the forum, nice truck. Please dont take this as any kind of criticism of your truck at all, but I'd get rid of the clear plastic fuel filter between the fuel pump and the carb asap! I'm sure there are alot of folks that have used them for years with no problems but I had one spring a leak and sprayed fuel on my distributor and caught my truck on fire. Luckily i got it put out before the truck was a total loss but I wont ever use one again. I think the heat inside the engine comartment made the plastic soft and the fuel pressure from the pump (although fairly low pressure) found its way through a weak spot in the plastic. I use the metal body inline filters on mine now.