The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1957 GMC half ton : go to discs/stay with drums?

Howdy Bolters, I have a 1957 gmc half ton pickup and am replacing the entire brake system with new.

I'm running a FE big block for the motor. I will be putting in a new master cylinder with a booster. with the extra weight in the front end will the stock drum brakes be safe or good enough to stop when i need to. I was thinking about upgrading to disc brakes in the front, but dont know if i really need to.

I plan on driving highway speeds with it (65-75mph), will the drums be good enough or should i upgrade?

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

The weight of that BB is of little concern. The overall stopping power of the truck was built into the truck determined by the brake size.
The truck was built to have weight added to it in the bed and be able to stop.

Now if you load the truck to the max, plus the added weight of that BB, then you might over come the brake systems ability to stop that rig safely.

Now weight distribution may be an issue because your adding more weight up front and when you stop the rear becomes lite because of weight transfer which usually causes the rear to lock up and skid around, especially on a slick surface.

I don't own a 57 GMC and it's been to long since I drove one so I can't judge the stopping power it has.

If I felt the truck stopped well now, plus the booster your going to add, I don't think I would need to switch to disc because of adding a few hundred pounds up front.

I have a pickup and I added weight to rear behind the axle to improve traction and help keep the tires on the ground when braking.

Now if you have the formulas, ie. weight vs brake surface area, then this could be figured out on paper.

Keep in mind, these are my thoughts, all of which are not facts.

Don't forget to upgrade the front springs for that added BB weight.

Dan

a BB only weighs about 50# more than the 6, not as much as carrying a fat passenger

Bill

Well, if a big block only weighs 50 pounds more than a six....I'd say you're fine. I weigh 275 and my 59 with a six stops great with drums1 lol!

I wouldn't give it a second thought, install the front disc brakes, power booster, dual MC, prop valve, etc. You know you are going to put your foot in it and cruise the freeways with the Honda crazies. There are numerous suppliers out there with kits that don't cost much more than the stock parts.
Fred

I have drums all the way around on my '56 with a manual dual cylinder and it stops good.

I have front discs on my '54 with a power booster and it stops great.

I say go with discs.

Are you talking about me again squeeze?

Ok not sure what I'll do yet but thanks. I have been looking at those conversion kits. Its just that have to get new front drums cuz the old ones are pretty messed up and I dnt quite know where I can take the new drums to get the hubs riveted back on. So I'm kinda leaning towards the disc kits
Thanks

You don't need to rivet the hubs back on to new drums. The wheel holds them in place just like the rears.
Fred

That would be true with a Big Block Chevy, but gumbi is planning to use a (GASP! NOOO) an early big block Ford FE, which, according to the chart, runs anywhere from 5 pound lighter to 20 pound heavier than the 235.

OH! that FE ... well then what the hey, won't go fast enough to need brakes anyhow

Bill

hahaha yeah sure. its called being unique man. i guarentee you wont find another like it anywhere. it will even have a ford tranny. but thats what it had in it when i got it. the motor came outa station wagon and the tranny off a mustang. and its gonna haul after i get done with it lol. everything is in a million pieces all over my garage right now though.

oh and thanks Fred. didnt know that

Saw a guy with a '54 1.5 ton that had a power stroke stuffed in it

I am restoring a 58 3100. Years ago my wife and I owned a 1931 Model A pickup . Now boys please be nice. Any way that truck had mechanical brakes which were lever operated .
On a long down hill stop the rods would bend putting less force on the pads and elongating the stopping distance. I learned. Originality is more important to me. That's just my choice however. There were people who modified their brakes on their A's

I think that drum or disk would be good.