I can buy disc conversion kits from the folks at CPP that put 73 spindles on my stock A arms with either 5-lug or 6-lug and with the same original offset as drum brakes. Which would give me all new ball joints, etc. Or I can scrounge around and find a complete 73-87 front end.
It would seem as expensive, maybe more to buy a front end and then rebuild it. Although I'm not trying to get by as cheap as possible, I want it to work well. Since I would probably have to/want to rebuild any 73-87 front end, what is the advantage of the whole front end vs the kit method.
1966 Suburban 305 V6
1. What is the advantage to change to 5-lug wheels? Is it just because there are more rim choices?
2. Would you run 16” rims to give a little more room for the disc brakes?
3. Which method is best/easier? Can you do the whole method without taking off the front clip and removing the engine? Reason I ask is most junk yards are pick your own parts.
4. What should I pay for a complete 73-87 front end?
5. Where is the donor front end connected to the OE? I guess if you install the power steering box from the donor then everything has been replaced.
6. Any issue with using Pickup parts on a Suburban? I've been told that a Suburban sits on a 115" PU frame, so everything should work.
7. What do the alignment shops think of these or is it no big deal to them.
I’ve even considered buying a whole 73-87 truck and taking both the 5-lug rear end and the front end and maybe the engine/tranny. I haven’t found one with the right engine yet, so I haven’t pursued that idea.
Any thoughts/warnings you want to throw in here would be welcomed.
Last edited by Jon_S; 04/25/2012 4:43 PM.
