The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Disc Brakes on 62 C20

I have been told that I cannot put disc brakes on my 62 C20.
Does anyone have any experience with this application?

They say that there is no one that makes a after market set of disc brakes for the 1962 C20 with the torsion bar front end suspension.

Thanks GW

GW, I've been researching this on and off for about 8 years. I have a 61 C20 myself. performanceonline.com recently added C20 kits but you have to choose either 5 lug or 6 lug; they don't make 8. So why I haven't made a move yet is that I can't decide on 1) install 6 lug kit and use 6-8 lug conversion spacer (have yet to confirm that will work), 2) Install 6 lug kit and get 6 lug wheels in front, leaving 8 lug in back 3) install kit and swap rear ends (by now you know "swapping" a 60-62 rear end is a major project) with one with same lug pattern.

I like my 8 lug wheels, and I have some spiffy wheel covers from a 90-something 3/4 ton suburban that would have to go unless I choose option 1. I hope you get comments from someone who's already figured it out. So far it seems like C20's have had a low survival rate do to being "farm" or "work" trucks from the get-go.

Ray
Virginia Beach
'61 C20

Ray, Thank you so much for the information. A lot of this is new information to me. I will let you know if I learn anything new.

A kit like the POL kit for 3/4T 60-62 front disc is, of course, strong enough for 3/4. It is 6 lug. It may be possible to redrill the 8 lug pattern onto the rotor if there is enough space...or is there a 72 and up 8 lug rotor that will fit the kit?

If that idea or an idea near that, does not work, possibly buy the 6 lug front kit and install a 1/2T 60-? trailing arm style rear diff.
Keep in mind when thinking about how to fab something that works, it's just a bracket that utilized existing bolt holes to hold 1972-up calipers, a rotor with a bearing set that fits your spindle and has 8 pressed in lugs. Not to oversimplify it, but to put it in perspective. If you can buy and modify or use donor parts, you can get it done. I say this, keeping in mind some have looked for 8 years! There has to be a way that's not real expensive.

The other option is a 73-86? front suspension swap. Maybe 63-86. Yours bolts off and the donor bolts on, with only two holes to drill. A lot of grunt work and heavy lifting but done by many and there are video/pics of the whole job online. If you want to stay with torsion bar, then this is not your option. I don't know if this option is the same procedure for 3/4 as it is for 1/2 T. The newer donor swap can give A-arm/coil suspension, free disc brakes and free power steering all in one swap.

Thanks Guys, This gives me some thing to work on.
Gordon