64-66 4x4 Brakes

[argonaut]

Can anyone tell me about the brakes available for the early 60's 4x4 trucks? When were disks versus drums available up front? What would be the options for swaps to put disks up front?

I'm inheriting a 69 pickup from my dad that actually sits on an early 64-66 frame. It has power steering and disk brake in the front.

[BobS]

60-66 4x4s (2WDs too) are all drum brakes. 71 and up are disks up front. The easiest way to switch to disks is to swap in a later Spicer 44 (10-bolts fit too), you'll probably want to switch to power brakes at the same time.

How is the power steering mounted on your 69?

Bob

[argonaut]

well what the PO did was weld some 67-72 cab and radiator support mount brackets onto the 66 (I'll just call it a 66 for now since i don't know the exact year) frame.

he also welded a 1/2" steel plate to the outside of the frame where the steering box mounts, and put the power steering in.

it has power brakes, disk up front, drums in the rear, but i haven't inspected it too much yet. Don't know what front axle its got in it.

also, he welded in the 4-speed tranny crossmember. but it has the stock np208 transfer case. what other transmissions would have/could have come in these trucks?

[BobS]

SM-420/Rockwell 221
SM-465/Rockwell 221
SM-465/NP-205
TH-350/NP-205
Also some three speeds and the Spicer 20 T-case but I'm not up to speed on what possible combos you get out of those.

73-87 gets even more complicated.

Bob

[1969 GMC]

If its a 60's or 70's anything, that NP208 is not original. That didn't happen until the 80's. It sounds like you may have a frankentruck on your hands.

[argonaut]

Whoa, I don't know what I was thinking when i typed np208, haha!

The truck currently has a 350 + SM420 +T221 in it. However the transmission cross member looks like it was welded in. Which leads me to believe maybe the at some point it had a different transmission. So on of my questions is: which motor + trans + transfer case combinations would have been available in a 66 or earlier truck?

I didn't think that anything but a sm420 would be able to fit in with where the t221 is located.

I suppose it doesn't matter too much at this point, though I wish the PO had bolted the cross member in rather than welding it. But it is still mysterious.