The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop power brakes for '62 c-10 ?

I am going to change the fronts to disks and keep the back the orignial drum brakes. quesitons: 1)do I need to convert to a power brake, or can I simply keep the original brake hydraulic cylinder with a proportioning valve ?
2) Also, from reading other posts, it seems that I should convert the fronts to 5 lug wheels, right ?
Thankd in advance

You should convert to power brakes. You have to use a dual master cylinder with a combination valve. The advantage to converting to 5 lugs is the price of the parts. If your rear is still 6 lugs & your wheels are it would be best to get 6 lug rotors.

I thought I read in one of the posts that the original 6 lug wheels won't work with disk brakes......so....I figured as long as I had to buy different wheels for the front, that I would get 5 lug. I figued to have 15" 5 lug wheels on the front and original 6 lug 15" wheels on the back, knowing full well that I can't rotate them of course.

There may be a problem there. So many don,t use original wheels. Maybe some other bolters will come in & help out.

Some fit & some don't, sometimes a little grinding on the caliper will work. Brian

I have never had trouble finding wheels, aftermarket or original, to fit the six lug configuration on the '64-'66 Chevy trucks. I put a brand new set from an '86 Chevy K1500 on my '66 Chevy C10, back in 1986. I have a 2000 Z-71 Tahoe with six lug wheels manufactured by American Racing that will bolt on any of my '64-'66 C10/K10 trucks. The rotors and calipers for six lug disk brakes are readily available over the counter from any local parts supply house.

I scratch my head every time someone is told a disk brake conversion, also means changing from 6 lug to five lug, in order to find correct fitting wheels and disk brake parts. That notion is a myth. Each of my '64-'66 Chevy trucks have a different style of wheels from different manufacturers.

If you want disk brakes, you have many choices of wheel styles, sizes and manufacturers, as well as readily available brake parts, over the counter. Good luck with your conversion.

Tony

60 thru 62 trucks are completely different than 63 thru 66 and have clearance issues with the tie rod ends that are so close to the wheel. There are companies like CPP ( http://www.classicperform.com/6092chevtrk.htm )that sell 6 lug kits and most of them will tell you that it may not fit with the original wheels. You have some homework to do.

I guess I am convinced enough not to end up worrying about whether the 6 lug wheels will fit and just go ahead and get the 5 lug disk brakes up front, change the front wheels to 5 lug, leave the 6 lug rear wheels alone and keep the drum brakes on the back. Is there a fatal flaw with this plan, other than not being able to rotate the tires ?