The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk disc brakes for my '48 ??

I based my brake conversion on parts from a vehicle that had about the same gross weight rating because I wanted to be sure my brakes would not be undersize.

For the front disks I used the kit Chevy Duty offers that uses 70's mid-size GM parts. I had a '73 Chevelle wagon I was pulling parts off of. I now have 11" front disks and 11" finned rear drums (complete rear axle) from the wagon.

It stops great. I once towed a loaded trailer with this truck, and the brakes are not up to that, but frankly neither are the brakes on my 70's 1/2-ton pickup if I don't use the brake controller (don't have one on my old GMC).

I've talked with guys who built rather than bought the conversion stuff. Unless you are a machinist with the right tools, making the bearing adapters isn't going to be easy. And making the caliper brackets might require some trial and error.

I think my kit cost $150. I can't imagine you'll actually come out ahead making your own. By the time I converted to a dual master, and replumbed the entire brake system, replaced rotors and calipers and shoes, and dealt with all the little parts I couldn't list, I spend about $700 on the project. The kit wasn't a big part of the cost.