another drum to disk conversion question

[Kingjasn]

has anyone done a conversion, and taken the time to do a step by step with pictures?

[chevy_mike]

Welcome to the forum. In the sticky threads area, just above the main threads, there is a 60-66 FAQ post that Woogeroo has taken a ton of time to put together. So many of the most commonly asked questions have links to threads that answer these reoccurring questions. It's worth taking a look at.

As for your question, this will put you into the right area in that FAQ regarding brakes conversions, http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...60&postcount=3

Enjoy.

[earl84]

I can't locate it right now, but i think it was hilandr, a member on here did a really good writeup on a C20. It's all the same process as a C10. Do a search for threads by him.

[Kingjasn]

thanks for the replies guys... (huh huh, that rhymed) I did look in the FAQ section and found some really great write ups and step by steps, but pictures seem to help with avoiding rework. I am confident I can do it, so I think I will give it hell and take a bunch of pictures to post as I go through it. By the way, I am going to take the whole cross member from my donor 72 and slap it under the 65. Gonna start it on Saturday!

[T.W.Dustin]

Originally Posted by Kingjasn

thanks for the replies guys... (huh huh, that rhymed) I did look in the FAQ section and found some really great write ups and step by steps, but pictures seem to help with avoiding rework. I am confident I can do it, so I think I will give it hell and take a bunch of pictures to post as I go through it. By the way, I am going to take the whole cross member from my donor 72 and slap it under the 65. Gonna start it on Saturday!

I am looking forward to seeing your pics as you progress. Good luck!

[Branman1971]

I decided that I am gonna do the same before moving on to working on the cab. Then I can finish painting my frame and get it out of the shop to make more room. I have a couple questions though. So if I install a crossmember and suspension and disc brake components out of a 75 or so, what happens to my 61 original torsion bar suspension? Remove it completely? Also, my hubs and rims are 5 lug, which I think are original for 61 C10, but what are the lugs on the mid 70's trucks?

[jtrichard]

61 c10 1/2 ton would be 6 lug c20 would be 8 if you have 5 lug some one has changed the hubs and rear

[gulfcoast66]

C-10. 5x5 lug pattern is from 72-98, some 1971's ... And Kingjasn if your 72 Doner truck have a Rear end, that's a Direct Bolt-in for a matching 5x5 lug for your truck...

[Branman1971]

Dang it...Thats what I was afraid of. I thought I was gonna be able to use my 5 lug rims after combing through this thread and seeing so many 5 lugs.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=379110

That sucks

[Branman1971]

I actually went with a 83 C10 that I found on CL. For $160 I am getting the crossmember and all components, master cyclinder, brake booster, proportioning valve, power steering components, and for another $50 I can take the steering column with tilt but I probably wont. Again, there's an issue with the lugs on the donor, there are 5 lugs and my rims are 6, but I saw where someone swapped rotors from another year that fit the spindles. Cant find it now though.

[Captainfab]

The only 6 lug rotors that are going to fit those spindles are the aftermarket rotors. That is providing that '83 has the HD spindles with the 1.25" thick rotors.

Originally Posted by Branman1971

I actually went with a 83 C10 that I found on CL. For $160 I am getting the crossmember and all components, master cyclinder, brake booster, proportioning valve, power steering components, and for another $50 I can take the steering column with tilt but I probably wont. Again, there's an issue with the lugs on the donor, there are 5 lugs and my rims are 6, but I saw where someone swapped rotors from another year that fit the spindles. Cant find it now though.

[Branman1971]

Thanks CaptFab. I thought I could use a rotor off of a C20 but I cannot find where I saw that info. Guess it was wrong anyways. I believe the rotors on my donor started out as 1.25" and have been turned cause they measure just a hair over 1.00" now. I am going to make sure tonight that they are the HD rotors so I can swap them with the aftermarket 6 Lug rotors that fit my rims. I was confused in earlier posts, my rims are 6 lug and I was calling them 5 lug. Duh!

If, and I pray it's not the case, but if this front end is NOT the HD setup with 1.25" rotors, what are my options? Can I bolt up some HD spindles and go from there?

[Branman1971]

Update: NAPA shows to have rotors for this truck and there are 2 different heights but both are the same 1.25" thickness.

[kieth]

Even if you found 6 lug hubs for the front your stock wheels would not fit over the disc brake rotors and caliper.......might as well get ready to go 5 x 5....with some newer steel wheels .....Kieth (or go 6 lug rallyes but they are getting harder to find...)

I converted mine to 5 x 5 and went with custom wheels....

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-GMC/i-wLm4dMM

[Branman1971]

I don't have stock rims, but these might not fit either.

So if I go with 5x5 how do I get my rear switched from 6 to 5 lugs?

[Branman1971]

Nevermind, im gonna keep my 6 lug setup and get a 6 lug rotor from somewhere. I just need to make sure the old 5 lug rotors were originally 1 1/4" width. They are about 1" now and someone told me that they were probably 1 1/4' when new but have been turned. There are numbers on the old rotors that read 14008847, L-103, K2, MINTHICK, and 24-5. Can anyone tell me if they were 1 1/4" when new by these numbers? If not, i gotta buy new spindles too.

[gofastnut]

Branman,
Minimum thickness is 24.5mm, which is just under 1", .096 something.
Can't find or X-reference the 14008847 number. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Branman1971]

That helps gofastnut, i think i got it figuered out now. The 1" rotors have an overall height of 4.640" and the 1 1/4" rotors are 4.95" height, so when I get home I will measure their height and see where they are. Also, the 1" rotors new show a minthick of 0.965 per Oreilly's website, so it looks like i got the wrong ones. Guess I will be back at the junk yard for spindles. I know where some 1971 spindles are for free I believe, and they are beefy.

[Branman1971]

Is it true that I can use spindles off of a suburban as well? Does anyone have any details?

[siggyfreud]

I believe Suburban spindles work as well up to 91. I think 73 is the earliest year that will work, as 67-72 had a different setup, but I could be wrong . Still muddling through this all myself.

[Branman1971]

Will it take same ball
Joints? I guess that's my concern.

[gofastnut]

OK, I'm going off memory here, so use at your own risk. 73-87 1/2 ton 2WD truck and ?? to 90 or 91 1/2 ton Van and Burb(again, 2WD) should work on our 60-66's.
I thought it'd be easy to find a mid 80's 1/2 ton van for all my parts--not so lucky!

[Branman1971]

I found another donor and it has the 1 1/4 rotors so I'm pulling the spindles. Do I need the calipers too or will the 1" rotor calipers work?

[siggyfreud]

Not sure on the calipers. Look up replacement part numbers on auto zone or O'Reilly's and see if they're different.

[Branman1971]

Good idea. It worked!!!