The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 40 1.5 ton drive train

I am new to stovebolts so here I go. I am going to put a 10 lug rear from a p series chev {width is same,wheels bolt on} just move spring perches. Same donor truck th400 w/parking brake. Power will come from 292 with new motor mounts/brackets,so power steer can be added to orig front axel.Stopping power is from rotors from late model tahoe with center hole bored out {stud pattern is same as orig drum]I need to find or make caliper mounts.Also want to replace front wheel ball bearings with taper roller bearings.

I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO DO THE SAME, BUT THE CALIPER BRACKET HAS BEEN HOLDING ME BACK. MY REAR HUBS DON'T AUTO ADJUST SO INSTEAD OF PUTTING NEW DRUMS I JUST WANT TO PUT ROTORS. DO YOU JUST PLAN TO CUT FLAT METAL FOR THE BRACKETS OR PURCHASE THEM?

was hoping to find sombody that makes the plates if not I have a fab wizz that will make them. allready putting in drive train.

Winky,

What's a P series Chevy truck? I see in the '79 Chevy service manual that they were available with 5/10-lug disk brakes front and rear (14" rotor).

I'd like to use that set-up on my '38 1-1/2 ton but don't know what to look for in the wrecking yards.

p series are like ups trucks ,potatoe chip trucks, most have alum body. Easy find in truck boneyards

Winky,

Thanks for the info. Weather is warming up and drying out so feels about right for a boneyard trip.

has anybody changed front wheel bearings to roller bearings? I need interchange info from anybody? :confused:

Ok so I cant find replacement bearings to fit soooo... If I take spindles from P-30 5k lb front axle [same truck doner rear axle]use kingpins from f*** 4k lb axle [has same .922 dia] and bush the I.D. of the spindle bores to accept the bushings.That allows the use of the calipers,brackets and rotors and gives disc brakes and gets rid of the ball bearings.It allows the original 5 hole 20" wheels to be run [with the hub pilot in wheel bored a bit] and gives beefier steering knuckles and arms for power steering.

Some P trucks have independent fronts, some have I-beam if big enough. Seems with big wheels it should have I-beam, correct? AND, most times these are narrower than the same years of standard trucks. SO, if the spring perches are about right, why not use whole axle under old rig? Lots of times if you stay with same brands, dimensions like that stay the same for years.

yeah i wish the whole axel would fit in, sure would make something easy. the doner truck i found is a school bus [short one like i rode to school in]has a straight axel in front that is too wide. thought about a custom tube axel but that passed quickly.next was bore out axel for larger kingpins,nix that idea-dont want to thin out ends of axel.so i think if i sleeve the spindle top and bottom and add a few shims to set the hight,i get modern disc brakes and taper bearings. I plan on driving this truck more than on sundays. Next I learned power steering comes from a 79-84 toyota 4x4 steer box that is a rare find cause its small and everybody is putting them old street rods.

Winky- Sounds like a good plan, but I would make a quick check of the old and new axles and spindles to make sure they have the same kingpin inclination angle. Usually kingpins don't stand perfectly straight up and down, they tip in at the top alittle. So a marriage of old and new axle/spindles can work perfectly, or can possibly create a camber problem.

good point I thought they would be the same.anybody know where i can find kingpin angle specs? my spec sheets have about everything but that.

Do you have both axles there? I would think once you had the kingpins knocked out of each, it wouldn't be too hard to check quick with a degree finder. Just something to check before you get started on a bunch of machining.

as soon as i can clean the doner axel thats just what will done.thanks for the tip barry

kingpin angles are the same. has taken almost a year to find an axel shop to retro fit my axel with newer spindles.just picked it up it looks great. they added spacers on top and bottom of original axel found f*rd kingpins .922 dia. the rest is simple simon. now i have my rolling chassis started. frame was sandblasted and rust preventer painted over the summer.looks like engine and front disc brakes time. need to take some pictures too.