The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop six lug disc conversion

Man, I just keep thinking of questions tonight. I am sorry if this is a dumb question but is there a way to convert to front discs and keep the six lug pattern? As far as I am concerned you can never have too much braking power on anything, so with that in mind, is there a way to put disc brakes on the rear while keeping the stock rearend and the six lug pattern? Thanks!

Mr. Swan-you can for sure do the front disc brake conversion (six lug kits are available). I'm not sure about discs on the rear...You might want to check with some of the aftermarket suppliers-try Master Power Brakes, Classic Performance Products, and others. Just run a Google search on your computer for those company names. Hope this helps and best of luck with your project.

Regards,
Wannabe

I recently did the conversion on my 69. Classic Performance six-lug discs with 2-1/2" drop spindles, 3" drop coils on the rear, and gas shocks. Good quality products, available from several of the vendors. Here's a link
Classic Performance Products

Ingo - the only problem with the kits on the market (47..55 years) is that you cannot use your stock rims with the kits as the inside rim will not clear the caliper. If your truck is another year . . . not sure what the deal is.

If your truck is a Chevrolet, from 1963-71 then I've heard that the 1973-1979 3/4 & 1 ton K5 Blazer front spindles will work too. Those were factory 6 lug front disk brake vehicles.

Shouldn't be too hard to find one in a junkyard and should be quite a bit cheaper than buying the new conversion kits.

-ftyler

That is pretty stupid to make a kit stay with six lugs but you can't use the stock wheels. The only reason I would want to stay with six lugs is so I can use my original wheels. Are all of the kits this way?

I have roughed together a setup that can work with stock rims. I haven't driven on it yet so I can't tell you how well it works. It involves using the stock hub sans drum with a late 80's rotor off of a 4WD. I turned the DIAMETER of the rotor down 3/8" and used the a set of late 80's calipers with my own mounting bracket. They clear the rivets on a 16" rim by about 1/8"

The bracket is made up of 3 pieces of steel plate that have been laser cut and welded. I am going to redo the design and make the next set from two pieces of steel plate and some spacers.

Ken

Ken What about using the late 60's to 70's Rims from a 4x4 truck. I know that they aren't standard but should clear with no problem.

I have also looked into this conversion, and want to stay with stock wheels.

I understand that a spacer can be used to move the stock wheel out 3/8" to clear the caliper.

Classic Performance Parts web page shows a tech article and the installation instructions are posted for a 55 -59. Well worth the read if you are considering this conversion.

Tech article

Installation Instructions

Brian,

Finding rims that clear is no problem - but finding rims that look correct that clear is a problem. The other solution that JH put together using a nissan setup works and clears fine, but when you compare the two side by side (nissan about 10.25 inches in dia. vs. GM @ 11.75 inches in dia. - I like the looks of the GM setup better.

For a few dollars, well, a lotta dollars , Stockton Wheels will cut out the centers from your stock 6 lug wheels and weld them into a set of classic looking rims that will clear the disk brakes.

Jim

Will this work?
\'39 Semi w/ Disc Brakes

Kurt