Hotrodders Bulletin Board Hotrodders Bulletin Board
Home · Bulletin Board · Project Journals · Tech Article Wiki · Knowledge Base · Photo Gallery · Classifieds · Company Reviews · Calendar · T-Shirts


Demon carburetor Get parts for cheap, all for a good cause.

Parts auctions to protect free speech online.
Click here for details.


Parts currently up for auction: Rat rod chassis parts, Demon carburetor, aluminum Hemi head, 1947 Chevy engine + suspension + parts, '30-'31 Ford headlights, '33-'34 Ford window regulator, "Power Rods" billet air cleaner top.
Mopar performance heads

Register FAQ Search Today's Posts Unanswered Posts
Hotrodders Bulletin Board > Tech Help > Suspension - Brakes - Steering
User Name
Password
lost password?   |   register now


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 03-16-2007, 06:46 PM
stu_yoakam stu_yoakam is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: kansas
Posts: 23
Wiki Edits: 0

71 el camino disc brake conversion

I want to put disc brakes on my 71 el camino. I can get them at the pick a part for super cheap; if I can find a suitable donor. S10s and Caprices are a dime a dozen, for example. My allignment shop says S10s use the wrong ball joints. Maybe malibu or simmilar spindles would work? Some cars use a different tie rod, but thats not such a big deal. Changing to a 15" wheel is not a problem either. Does anyone know what will work (that I will acctually find in a yard)? Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-16-2007, 11:59 PM
john56h's Avatar
john56h john56h is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Age: 40
Posts: 17
Wiki Edits: 0

re: 71 el camino disc brake conversion

All GM intermediates from 1964 to 1972 (Chevelle, El Camino, Skylark, Cutlass, Tempest, etc...Monte Carlo and Grand Prix 1970-72) use the same basic front suspension and hubs/brakes. There ar some slight variations in control arm bushings and tie rod end sizes.

Also Nova and Buick Apollo/Pontiac Ventura from 68-74 are the same, but you'll have to switch the bolt on steering arms side-for-side as they had the steering box behind the front wheels.

Disk brakes were available from 1967 to 1972.

Metric and S-10 will not fit, nor will 70-81 Camaro/Firebird. The 73-77 intermediates and 77 up full-size GM's use the same as the 70-81 Camaro.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-17-2007, 01:24 AM
stu_yoakam stu_yoakam is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: kansas
Posts: 23
Wiki Edits: 0

re: 71 el camino disc brake conversion

Thanks. That is somewhat helpful. I already know all that except for the part about 77 full size. The question I asked was that I will ACCTUALLY FIND AT A JUNK YARD not what I can order for $500.oo out of a catalog.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-17-2007, 05:37 AM
poncho62's Avatar
poncho62 poncho62 is online now
Moderator
 poncho62's barnstar
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hanover, Ontario, Canada
Age: 56
Posts: 13,461
Wiki Edits: 5

re: 71 el camino disc brake conversion

Chances are, you wont find a 67-72 Chevelle disk setup, still in a boneyard...........

Try these guys.......for brackets that bolt to your spindles...

http://www.scarebird.com/6928.html

1964-72 GTO, 442, Chevelle, Skylark, GS, Cutlass, SS $105*
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-19-2007, 02:40 AM
jimfulco jimfulco is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Shreveport LA
Age: 59
Posts: 4,644
Wiki Edits: 0

re: 71 el camino disc brake conversion

Quote:
Originally Posted by john56h
Also Nova and Buick Apollo/Pontiac Ventura from 68-74 are the same, but you'll have to switch the bolt on steering arms side-for-side as they had the steering box behind the front wheels.


I've heard that doing that will screw up your steering geometry (bump steer, I think). Your original steering arms will work just fine in their original positions, since your Elky & those Novas use the same spindle. '67-'69 Camaro/Firebird also use the same parts.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-19-2007, 04:34 PM
joe_padavano joe_padavano is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 939
Wiki Edits: 0

re: 71 el camino disc brake conversion

Quote:
Originally Posted by stu_yoakam
Thanks. That is somewhat helpful. I already know all that except for the part about 77 full size. The question I asked was that I will ACCTUALLY FIND AT A JUNK YARD not what I can order for $500.oo out of a catalog.


As others have noted, you will ACTUALLY FIND pretty much nothing of use in a wrecking yard. The A-body and 1st gen F-body people have picked those clean. GM changed ball joint stud taper in the early 70s when they did major model changes, so spindles from the 73-up A-body, the 70-up F-body, the 71-up full size, and the 75-up X-body (Nova et al) will not fit. Same for anything later like G-bodies or S-10s. You probably already know about the B-body tall spindle swap onto 64-72 A-bodies, so I wouldn't want to bore you. That requires expensive upper control arms.

The low-cost alternative is to have your drum spindles redrilled for the original style disc brake brackets. The upper bolt is different. You can get repro caliper brackets for around $40 a pair on ebay. The rotors and calipers are available at any auto parts store.
Reply With Quote
Reply Back to top


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads for: "71 el camino disc brake conversion"
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
79 El Camino Rear Disc brake conversion Nailhead Suspension - Brakes - Steering 3 04-06-2007 04:32 PM
1964 F100 Disc Brake Conversion Charlse P. Green Suspension - Brakes - Steering 5 01-14-2007 09:09 PM
disc brake conversion for 65 rambler 65ramblinwreck Suspension - Brakes - Steering 3 12-21-2006 06:22 AM
Ford Galaxie Disc Brake Conversion CrashFarmer2 Suspension - Brakes - Steering 2 12-07-2004 11:35 AM
`33 Ford disc brake conversion Mike Humphrey Suspension - Brakes - Steering 0 02-17-2002 02:49 PM



Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 2.3.2 © 2005, Crawlability, Inc.
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:04 PM.
Copyright Hotrodders.com 1999 - 2008. All Rights Reserved.