Starting the build/mods

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by Extended Power, Nov 4, 2015.

  1. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    Have a link to the conversion kit?
    Sounds awesome!
     
  2. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Few Guys make the bracket you'll need I don't how to do links just google Abody LS brake swap several YouTube vids and what not BRP hotrods is one vendor
     
    Extended Power likes this.
  3. Dr. Evil

    Dr. Evil Silver Level contributor

    What he said ^
    That and the close ratio steering box were the 2 best things I could have ever done.
     
  4. Dr. Evil

    Dr. Evil Silver Level contributor

    I used BRP hotrods.com for mine. I went ahead and purchased their hubs too but you can machine yours pretty easily. They sell just the brackets and everything else if you want it. I cant say enough good things about how much better my brakes are now. To be clear, you'll have to run bigger wheels to clear those rotors though. I have a thread on my conversion somewhere here. I also used the booster and master cylinder from an LS1 F body car too.
     
  5. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    Looks like you need to run bigger than 15" rims for 13" disks.
    I'm sure Haydn will want to keep the Centerline Convo-Pros, so 12" disks will have to do.

    It will be parked soon enough for the winter, and with him going to college now...may be awhile before it happens.
     
  6. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Here is something to consider;

    http://musclecarbrakes.com/

    They claim 38% more stopping power than over the counter brake shoes.

    Or another conversion would be swapping to the full size car drum brakes which have 11" x 2 3/4" front drums and 11" x 2" rear drums vs. 9 1/2" x 2 1/2" front and 9 1/2" x 2" rear brakes. Use the ceramic brake shoes with the big drums for even more stopping power!

    With over the counter brake shoes on my '65 Impala with the full size car manual single master cylinder brakes it can slow down fast enough to make the first turnaround at the QM track after hitting more than 100 mph in it! I can't wait until I need new brake shoes so I can try out the ones in the link, with 38% more stopping power than I have now, the car should stop better than any modern car on the road.

    Or there are some reasonable priced aftermarket factory style front disc brake conversion kits that will work with 15" rims. If that's what your interested I can link a few options later for you, let me know.
     
    Gary Farmer and Extended Power like this.
  7. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    Sure Derek, link away!
    Yeah, I checked with Haydn...he wants to keep the Centerline rims. (15")
     
  8. Gary Farmer

    Gary Farmer "The Paradigm Shifter"

    I recall it was showing big block power on the dyno simulator when I entered in the specs you gave, so this comes as no real surprise. :)

    Have fun and be careful.
     
    Extended Power likes this.
  9. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    You can do it piece by piece and start with these;

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Disc-Brake-Caliper-Mounting-Brackets-Dust-Shields-Plates-64-72-GM-A-F-X/252982753578?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

    And get a set of these;

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-1972-GM-A-BODY-CHEVELLE-GTO-DISC-BRAKE-SPINDLES-STOCK-RIDE-HEIGHT-NEW/222028158807?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

    And source the calipers, pads, bearings, seals, rotors, mounting hardware and new brake hoses that attach the calipers to the steel lines at your local auto parts store.

    I know shipping is a bugger to where you're at that's why I listed the piece way to make factory style disc brakes for you.

    Or get a complete kit;

    http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Deluxe-1964-74-GM-Car-Front-Disc-Brake-Kit,4624.html
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2017
  10. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    Well, Haydn learned a valuable lesson about a week ago.
    We went for a drive, taking some used oil down to drop it off.
    As we were coming home, we got to a four way intersection.
    He has a look around to make sure the coast is clear, and then before I could say anything, he pins the throttle while making a left hand turn.
    I don't think I have to mention what happened next, but for those that don't have a post type rear diff, I will explain:
    The ass end of the car came around so fast, he couldn't correct fast enough to hold the car straight, and as the car was already sliding across to the left lane, he cranked the wheel the other way, and the car whipped around to the right, slid off the road, and just missed a post by INCHES!
    The engine stalled....I just sat there staring at the floor, as a truck came by, and stopped...I didn't even look at them.
    Haydn started the car, and went to turn around, as he was pointed the wrong way yet again...
    All I said was: "You know......I'm all for jackin around as much as the next guy, but never, ever do it around a corner....EVER!"
    "You gotta respect this car, and it's power Bud, cuz you just proved how easy it is to lose control."
    "Straight line....no problem, you can correct for that, if the car starts to slide....but not in a corner."
    "You've seen how many videos of yahoos leaving car shows and get togethers, only to put their cars into a crowd of people by accident..."


    So we go to Tim Hortons drive through......he pays, and as he passes the drive through worker his card, I see his hand just shaking like a leaf!

    I smiled, and laughed a bit and said: "Still a bit shaky eh?"
    He nodded and smiled back, "Yeah..."


    .....I think this was a perfect learning experience for him...no one got hurt....no damage to the car or anything else, and he got to do it with me.....(And I didn't lose my sh!t on him.)
    Now he knows...
     
  11. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    That same mistake can be made with even half the power your new engine puts out. 17 years old and my first car was a 40 year old V8 RWD.

    It was raining and my first time driving the car. My friend said to take it easy but I punched it around a turn merging onto the highway. Found myself 180 degrees the wrong direction. I just held the pedal to the floor and kept going to keep from being rear ended.

    I probably had one of those scares each time I made an improvement to the car.. posi rear, 4 bbl swap, 3.73s, rear sway bar. Each time I was too foolish to respect the car. Luckily I never hurt myself or anyone else. I did learn to test the limits of the car in safer areas though.

    The biggest factor to the spinouts for me besides my lack of experience was those darn 205/70R14 tires. Much too tall and narrow for a RWD car.

    Wide tires with shorter sidewall make the car much more predictable.
     
    Gary Farmer likes this.
  12. Gary Farmer

    Gary Farmer "The Paradigm Shifter"

    Valuable lesson, glad it turned out well with no one (or the car) getting hurt.
     
  13. Gary Farmer

    Gary Farmer "The Paradigm Shifter"

    I've had my Skylark sideways down the road more than once or twice, and came real close to ditching it one time. Learning your car's (and your) limitations is important.

    It taught me how to drift around curves, but it can get tricky when the road conditions are questionable.

    Reverse camber cornering, reverse-forward spins, etc. are all fun, but you gotta give yourself some room for error and be able to recover. :)

    Practice, practice, practice. Feathering the throttle using a carb or injection tends to be easier using larger primaries (or a big 2).
     
  14. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    It scared him enough that his hazel coloured eyes turned brown!
    I'm pretty sure he won't try that stunt for awhile.
     
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  15. Skippy597

    Skippy597 Silver Level contributor

    Wow that took awhile to read! A lot of good information here though! Glad you got it going despite the setbacks. That's a hell of a car for a teenager, I probably would have died if I had something like that when I was a teen.

    Awesome build, keep us updated on the brakes and everything else also.

    Congrats,
    Ryan
     
    Extended Power likes this.
  16. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Any chance of making it out to a QM track with some sticky tires on the car this year before winter? Or is it already winter up there?
     
    Gary Farmer likes this.
  17. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    We had snow storm that shut down the highways for two days. (Monday & Tuesday)
    The snow is almost all gone again, but last weekend was the last race weekend of the year, and I was at work.

    If we find a trailer, we could take it to a dyno, and have it done though....and that would be the break in completed too.
     
  18. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    Huge swap meet this weekend, but the War Department doesn't wanna go...
    It's four hours away...one way.
    I have a couple of friends going though, they live closer...I'm gonna ask them to look out for some front fenders, windshield washer motor, and some other small items.
     
  19. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Wasn't that suction cup on your back thing the "war department's" idea? If so I think she owes you big time! That is if in you want to cash out on the swap meet?
     
  20. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    Yeah, lol...it was.
    I got enough scouts now that will let me know if anything is worth while.
    It would be a two day trip...meals, hotel, etc...can't swing that right now as it is, so it's probably best I stay on the porch this weekend.
     

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