Stovebolt.com Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Disc brakes for 1.5, and 2 ton trucks

Grigg,
I had a question about best ways to go as I was reading your tech tip on the 4BT swap where your cut 10” out of a P30 to use it on that build. Would that be a reasonable way to go since I want to convert my 1.5 ton 4400 to disc brakes. I don’t have a 2 ton axle, so I was just thinking of finding a 5/10 front and rear combo and do the cut down and weld. Otherwise if I use the methods you described earlier in this thread I would have to source a 2 ton axle as well as the 5/10 P30 axle correct?

The cutting and welding on the P-30 axle is a lot of work and some risk, not something I recommend anymore. It solved my problem at the time, before I learned of the spindle swap.

The 2 ton I-beam with the P-30 spindles and brakes is a very easy job, low risk.
Take the time to find a 2 ton front axle beam, they're usually about free for the taking and some labor to extract it.

Grigg,
I have a 3800 DRW and I have an 88 8 lug 19.5" stepvan. My plan was the front axle shortening approach and now my beacon of knowledge is no longer recommending this course. Is the spindle swap applicable to the 3800? Would the axle need to be replaced with 2ton or will the 1 ton work? What risk have you identified with the axle shortening (assuming the axle gets welded in proper alignment, which is where the work comes in)?
Thanks for any info you can provide
Chuck

I don't have enough measurements yet to know if the P-30 spindle swap (8 lug) is useful for the 1 ton DRW trucks.
You can measure your original axle width and compare with measurements given earlier for what a 2 ton axle with 8 lug P-30 spindles on it would measure.

(I'm sure it does not work with single wheel 8 lug stuff on P-30 spindles on 2 ton I-beam, it's still overly wide...)
With luck your measurements will workout on the DRW version, I have not ventured down that path to know.

These P-30 spindles do not fit on a 3/4 or 1 ton axle, but the 2 ton axle beam (48-54) does bolt under the same model 1 ton trucks.

The risk is not having the axle welded properly, that's up to you. It's not terribly difficult for a competent welder and with some careful alignment of the pieces before welding. Altogether though it's a lot of work and time to cut, prep, weld, and pretty up a welded axle beam.
The P-30 spindle swap on a 2 ton axle beam can be done in an afternoon once you have the parts and pieces at hand and clean, reaming some bushings is not tricky or difficult, low risk.

Thanks for the extra commentary Grigg, I appreciate all of the research you have put into this area of our trucks.
Chuck

First time poster here.....

I’ll be honest, I didn’t read through all the posts yet, but figured I’d ask first, then read. Lol. So, I have a 55, 2nd series 6500 2 ton truck that I want to convert to 4 wheel disc brakes. Are there any kits that are basically a bolt on? This thing is a beast. Came stock with a 265 V8 and has a regular bed with widened fenders, not a stake bed.

No kits for the big trucks that I know of.

Griggs, is that for the front or rear? Or both?

So, I just found this awesome website!!!! 12 long phenominalpages on the front axle issue that I have been pondering for my 54 ford code C 500. Probably my biggest concern as I plan to use it to tow my racing trailer distances of up to 5 to 600 miles from my home in Orlando. At first I didn’t realize I was on a Chevy website. I see there is much crossover on this issue between different cab over engine trucks in the solid in front axle. Your moderator GRIGG is a phenomenal moderator as he has lasted on this one thread since at least 2012 or 2011. When I finally got in and saw there was more than one page I about fell out of my chair when I saw there were 12 very long pages on this topic and others too. It makes everything make so many other automotive websites Pale in comparison. This goes for the any of the Ford websites as well as there’s little to any help or information regarding cool old trucks like ours. I haven’t read the full 12 pages yet as I just discovered this yesterday. But I do look forward to gleaning much information not just about the front axles the brakes but, about other things related to cool vintage trucks whether they be Chevy Ford Dodge international whatever. Thank you guys so much for making this happen it’s gonna be very helpful and fun.

Hello there, would you please share the name of the website? Thank you.