1970 front disc conversion

[polevault1977]

I have a 70 frame that I converted to front disc brakes. As you know the steel brake line run on the backside of the front crossmember opposed to the 71 and 72 being in front. Looping the flex hoses from steel line to cylinder really seems like a tight bend. I could swap sides the the flexes and loop it towards the rear, but I didn't really like that look either. Anyone made this conversion and how did your flex hoses work out? I may just need to by long hoses instead of using stock. I don't really want to redo my steel lines. Any help and pics appreciated. Danny

PS How do i insert a pic. Insert Image does not seem to let me.??

[gr8scott51]

http://www.classicperform.com/produc...-Hose-Kits.htm

These guys will help.

[RON WOODGEARD]

Originally Posted by polevault1977

PS How do i insert a pic. Insert Image does not seem to let me.??

The best way to insert a Picture is to "Web Host" it. That's where you take it from your hardrive and put it on the Web, Then you go to the web spot, find the Pic, Right click, and Highlight "Properties" Highlight The HTTP (that's where the address to where your picture is) and copy, Then come back to your post and do this..


[img] then insert here (paste) where the Http of your Pic, [/img]

You have to do the slant after the [ of the last img....

Other wise you have to size the picture down to get it within the size allowable.

[polevault1977]

Thanks, Danny

[Tx Firefighter]

I did the same thing to my 70 and ran into the same situation. I did not want to bend all new hard lines. I called ECE and they have a set of special conversion brake hoses just for this situation.

The big brown truck stopped at my house 4 days later with them.

[crazy longhorn]

You gotta love seeing that big brown truck! The driver here (Pauley), brings the pcs right out to the garage. He is a gearhead , & runs a BB 70 Nova! Last trip in, the wheeler cart brought the goods up the drive, to the garage.....& the dude just couldnt leave till I opened that big box that had Richmond all over it Back to topic, I did my brakes the hard way(cheap tho). my longhorn has 1975 1/2 ton pcs under it, & the master, prop valves,lines ,hoses & all were used. I drilled a couple holes in the very front crossmember to mount the prop valve, & a hole in ea side frame rail for the hoses(crawl under a 73-up truck & take a look). The brake hoses run across the front of the top a arms.....maybe not the way you want to go, but another option. Best of luck,crazyL

[polevault1977]

Thanks for the info crazyal and txfirefighter. I'm thinking maybe just buy the new longer hoses. Hey Txfirefighter, I'm not to far from you. My uncle used to live on rambling trail there in weatherford, but he is moving to fla.

Later dudes,

Danny

[greasemonkey]

polevault1977: did you just buy all new hardlines for a 72 Chevy truck? I have run into the same problem as you, and didn't know if i could reuse any of my old lines since they are in good shape. How do the lines attach to the front of the crossmember?
Thanks,
John

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by crazy longhorn

....my longhorn has 1975 1/2 ton pcs under it, & the master, prop valves,lines ,hoses & all were used. I drilled a couple holes in the very front crossmember to mount the prop valve, & a hole in ea side frame rail for the hoses(crawl under a 73-up truck & take a look). The brake hoses run across the front of the top a arms.....maybe not the way you want to go, but another option.....

That's how I did mine as well. I don't remember having to drill holes on the side of the frame though as I used existing holes. I did cut one of the upper a-arm hose tabs & invert it so the hose would have a smooth (& symetrical) transition.

[polevault1977]

Greasemonkey,

I bought new hard lines for a 70 frame and they fit fine. It's flex hoses i bought for a 72 that is the problem. I have them hooked up, but they have two really tight bends, kinda like a S that is bent tighter than it should be. I going to check into the hoses that are specifically made for this swap. I just never thought about them being any different. Live and learn!!
Danny

[polevault1977]

I'm trying to figure out the pic posting. Let's see if this works

[polevault1977]

Viola!! It worked. anyway the hose is fine in this position, but when i turn the other direction is when it is really in a bind. Learned something today.
danny

[greasemonkey]

I'm running into the problem of the hardlines that run off the proportioning valve down to the frame. My existing hardlines run straight up to plug into the bottom of the valve, but the new disc brake proportioning valve is configured differently and the rear hardline has to take a 90 degree bend to screw into the back of the valve.
Does anybody know how to get around this?
John

[Tx Firefighter]

I just re did mine today. Not only do you need to put a 90 degree bend in that line, but it's different size too.

Notice in the 1st pic, I had used an adapter to change to the right size.

In the second picture, I went ahead and rebuilt the line with the right size ferrule on it and reflared the line.

It looks much cleaner that way. I hated the hokey looking adapter I had used.

Be sure to use a double flare if you do like I did.

Also, I installed power brakes at the same time.

[Tx Firefighter]

Here's some clearer pictures.

I origiinally did it quickly just to get on the road. I used adapters to get the right sizes and just bent the stock lines to fit.

This time, I replaced the whole line down to the "tee" on the crossmember. I didn't replace the rear line because it's very long, going all the way across the truck and down the frame aways. If I can find a 6 or 7 foot 1/4 brake line in the next few days, I'm going to replace that one too.

For now, I just cut the wrong fitting off the end, put the right fitting on, reflared it, and bent to fit a little better.

I'm still not happy with it though. That ugly bent up back line has got to go.

By the way, that's an S-10 proportioning valve. It fits and works exactly like the original 72 one in the before picture, but it's newer and better looking. Works great too.

[greasemonkey]

TX, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[polevault1977]

Good info. Thanks. Wish I was plumbing to the mc, that'll be a little further down the road. Danny