'67 Firebird Disc Brake conversion using OEM parts.

[atomicjoe23]

Quick question. . .13 years after I bought it my '67 Firebird (with the 400 engine and a TH400 if it matters) and I are finally in the same state and I'm trying to get it back on the road to enjoy for a year or so before I tear it all the way down for a major build.

Since there is a major rebuild planned for the future is there a way to ditch the drum brakes (at least the front) using parts from another vehicle that I could aquire at a pick & pull to keep the cost of just getting this thing safe and road-worthy for now.

Sorry if this is a silly question or if it's already been answered before, but I haven't been on the forum for a while and I would rather not buck up a bunch of money for a "cheap" aftermarket disc brake conversion or replace all the drum parts if I don't have to.

Thanks!

[cwylie]

I have a factory set about to come off of my 69 with the spindles and all if you are interested.

[Apogee]

All of the disc brakes from the '67-72 A-body, 67-69 F-body and 68-74 X-body applications will interchange so long as you get the spindles with the brakes. Not a lot of these in auto salvage yards in my area anyway, but lots of guys looking to offload their old parts after upgrading to performance aftermarket stuff per the post above. Check the classifieds, post wanted ads, etc and you should be good to go before you know it.

Tobin
KORE3

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for the help guys. . .I've been working on off-road/4x4 rigs for the last 5-6 years so I'm pretty out of touch with what's going on over on the hot-rod/muscle car side. . .

. . .I appreciate the tip.

Cwylie. . .PM sent.

[ADiCarlo]

There's nothing newer than 74 that would work?

[XLexusTech]

my 2 cents...
stock spindles..
Drum brake hubs with the center turned down (see many article online about how to do this) C5 brakes / bracket... done cheap.. better lighter, more breaking power

[atomicjoe23]

my 2 cents...
stock spindles..
Drum brake hubs with the center turned down (see many article online about how to do this) C5 brakes / bracket... done cheap.. better lighter, more breaking power

Interesting. . .and I can turn the hubs down myself as well! Sweet!

[Apogee]

Interesting. . .and I can turn the hubs down myself as well! Sweet!

...just keep in mind that a base level 325mm C5/C6 front kit will require at least 17" wheels and not all 17" wheels will fit, so while you most certainly can do a C5/C6 kit on the cheap, it will cost more than an OE-type kit almost regardless of what you do considering I've seen OE kits go for less than $250 pretty often as good condition takeoffs.

Tobin
KORE3

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks Apogee. . .I was thinking about that today. . .and it is definitely a consideration since the front wheels are currently 14" Cragar SS's. . .

. . .wheels can cost WAY more than the brakes!!!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I have a factory set about to come off of my 69 with the spindles and all if you are interested.

this is the way to go joe...if the price is right. Its a fairly easy swap.

a new disc brake spindle kit with brakes go for $487 shipped
same as above with booster and master $815 shipped

[atomicjoe23]

I agree. . .I checked prices and the best I could find was from Speedway Motors. . .it wasn't terrible.

Plus the fact that I've got 14" front wheels means I'm stuck with OEM sized stuff at the moment. . .bigger wheels and tires are a GIGANTIC expenditure which I just can't afford at the moment.

[T_Raven]

All of the disc brakes from the '67-72 A-body, 67-69 F-body and 68-74 X-body applications will interchange so long as you get the spindles with the brakes. Not a lot of these in auto salvage yards in my area anyway, but lots of guys looking to offload their old parts after upgrading to performance aftermarket stuff per the post above. Check the classifieds, post wanted ads, etc and you should be good to go before you know it.

Tobin
KORE3

I know you know brakes, but do A body spindles work on a F body? I've always thought I've read they either don't fit, or will bolt on but aren't ideal.

[Apogee]

I know you know brakes, but do A body spindles work on a F body? I've always thought I've read they either don't fit, or will bolt aren't ideal.

They're the same exact spindles, just with different steering arms. There are several variations with respect to drum versus disc, steering arm bolt size (7/16 or 1/2), upper mounting boss thread size (1/2-20 or 5/8-18), etc, however they're all interchangeable within the A/F/X-body applications. Since the OP was asking about disc brakes, I wasn't including the drum spindles, however if you were to run aftermarket disc brakes, then that potentially opens those up as options as well depending on the manufacturer and/or kits.

Just as a side note, the '67 and older Nova/Chevy II spindles also look very similar to the A/F/X-body spindles, but have a different steering axis inclination, so they're not the same nor interchangeable.

Tobin
KORE3