The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 1961 C10 stepside upgrade brake system

Hello, I am new to the group thanks for the add and a new proud owner of a 1961 Chevy c10 stepside with a 350 in her I am very excited to get her going but need help along the way lol.

I would first like to upgrade her brake system to rotors I Was wondering if the mustang ll FTS fit? I have seen that it may fit? Where is the best priced items I would like the coils, arms, axel to come with?

Thanks everyone

Welcome. The fact that you have a ‘61 will present you with several problems. You have a torsion bar suspension. You can get a disc brake conversion kit fairly easily but the other modifications you are talking about require a whole lot more work. There are ways to remove everything and bolt on, with fabrication, a later Chevy front suspension and steering components. Kits are out there to use the Mustang II system but read the fine print to make sure they will work with your ‘61. Good luck.

The grill isn't a '61. Does it have coil springs or torsion bars in the front suspension? Might be a '63.

Either is the hood.

It does appear to have the “Knee Knocker” doors.🛠

Thats a 63 grill

Looks to be a '63 to me. Perhaps the o.p.wil post the1st bit of the vin.

Sometimes a truck gets "mended" with other year parts. Typical. The cab is 60-63.

Chevgirl,

Welcome. Nice to have 60-66 folks around stovebolt. Yes we will need the serial (vin) number on door of cab to make it easier to focus response. 60-62 suspensions are not conducive to your mod. Can be done but takes more drastic steps. If 63 things get easier.
Grill suggests mods were made to your 61 (which also important to your question) or you have a 63.

There used to be a great company called Early Classic Enterprises that sold the entire kit with everything part you needed in one box, but they shut down earlier this year.

Here is a good place to get started if you really want to run front discs:

'60-'66 Disc Brake Conversions

A lot of the 'old truck' magazines, now websites have articles about switching over.

Do your research if you choose to go with a kit, as always buyer beware.

I've been running the drums on my '65 C10 with power brakes since 2003... and it works great, except maybe during a panic stop or in the real hard rain, but I just slow down more, mostly.

good luck, welcome to the 'bolt.

-Woog

I have converted my '65 C20, and it wasn't that bad. Had to swap to 73-87 lower ball joints on the control arms, 73-87 spindles, fabricated a plate for the booster to mount to the firewall, drilled a new hole in the brake pedal, and ran some new brake lines. As stated, if you have the torsion bar suspension you have a bigger project on your hands.

For around $700 Classic Performance Products supplies an complete front disc power conversion for the stock spindles on a 60-66 chevy and they bolt right on without the need to be too tech savvy, and for an extra $100 you can even get pre bent lines that need almost no adjustments. My only caution if you do this, the rotors are from a mid 70s chevelle and the calipers are from a early 70s Camaro. Kinda stinks when you have to get replacements.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. My all original '61 Stepside rides beautifully,