Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train front end swap & disc brakes

I wanted front disc brakes for my '68, but I couldn't find any 1 ton kits out there, just 1/2 and 3/4. But also one of my control arms actually is rotten I found out (one of the reasons it didn't pass inspection). So I have had much trouble finding a replacement 1 ton control arm, but what I did find out is that you can swap the whole front end from a '73 to '87 into your '67 to '72. So besides getting updated easier to find suspension components, if you have an early truck like mine, you will also get the disc brakes too. The trick is to get the crossmember up front so everything bolts up easy. My master cylinder leaks anyway so I had to replace it so they said to order one for the front discs and rear drums. Best part is over the weekend, I did some junkyard hunting and found a 1 ton '74 with the whole front suspension left in primo condition, barely any rust which is crazy for NY and the controls arms are only $12 each! Everything else can be gotten new at autozone like discs, pads, and I supose ball joints too. Has anyone tried this or heard other stuff? I found out quite a few people are doing it and if you get a complete front end, it is entirely bolt in. I can't remember if this was ever discussed on the BB, the search turned up nada for me so I thought I'd let you all know that others say it can be done fairly easy so I am going to try it as soon as I gather up the rest of the parts.

You are right Walt, I forgot to mention that. I heard you may have to drill a few holes out a little bigger than what is there. I heard a couple different things. When I do the work, I'll post what I find out unless anyone else knows for sure, it would be nice to hear from somebody who has done it, but I'll be the lab rat. Whatever it is, I'll make it work. It is strange because the suspension components look pretty much exactly the same.

I didn't know about the issue with the power steering. I don't have power though so am I going to run into problems still? If for some reason the steering I have won't work, the truck from the junkyard still had the steering box too. Will I also need that?

Get it ALL !!!! Brackets,pump,bolts, spacers,hoses, and steering box,with pitman arm and rag joint. On some of the early 67's you will have to put a washer behind the steering box to clear the frame. About mid year they put a dint in frame to clear the box....SCRAP

John,
Yes, from what I've read you should be able to swap out a whole 1 ton front end from a '73-'87 to convert to discs. I know Jim Carter sells kits for 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton conversions,as well as another company,(can't recall the name,sorry,rusty brain).The only thing I'm not 100% sure of is if you need a different proportioning valve (drum/drum vs. disc/drum)to make it work correctly.I'm no expert...some of the other guys can probably help you out better than I can. God bless, Frank

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'69 Chevy
292 3spd.

I was just going to get a new master cylinder already set up for disc/drum and it comes with the proportioning valve because my master cylinder leaks already. And for some reason, junkyards around here don't sell used master cylinders. You can only by a power booster without the master cylinder. It must just be a safety issue since they aren't rebuilt units. The other company that has the kit is Chevy Duty. But I think theirs is just a 3/4 ton kit too, but it only says 8 lug kit so maybe I could get away with using that. My concern is that lower control arm that is really rusted out and I can't find any 1 ton replacements new or used. Would 3/4 ton work or even 1/2 ton control arms work? I'm not sure how different they all are, I just can imagine if they are different, it is only for payload differences.

I do carry some heavy loads once in a while since I use the truck as a work truck for landscaping and construction so I would like to keep it strong. The problem is that the 1 ton at the junkyard is already missing the driver's side spindle and I can't find anyone selling one. And I didn't want to spend a ton of $$$ on the aftermarket stuff like control arms. The only stuff I wanted to get new was the brake stuff and the steering parts needed. I can use the half ton stuff and get wheel spacers that go from 5 lug to 8 lug and that will work or see if I can find a 3/4 ton so I just need a regular 8 lug spacer so I can still run my wheels on the front and the 3/4 ton shouldn't take away from the strength of the truck. I saw that if I just take the crossmember, they sell lift kits for the 2wd trucks that have the spindles, new springs, and control arms and stuff and are reasonably priced so I may look into the 2 inch kits because it would level the truck out nice and get me all new components. I gotta get to the wrecking yard again saturday to see if they had a 3/4 ton because you can't beat the $12 control arms there Then I would have enough $ for headwork left if I don't have to spend $1500 or so. It would take longer but be cheaper to just find a rig with a blown motor and switch bodies than spending so much on the custom magazine components.

Looks like I will have to hit another yard. I gotta keep searching for the right 1 ton stuff. I wanted to be able to have all the parts so I could get the work done when I have time off for the holidays. To be able to run my dually style wheels on the front still, I think the rotors come with that extension built into them. I'll check at autozone because I believe they stock the rotors for a dually. I know my drums on the front have the extension. I didn't know those spacers were unsafe, thanks

Haven't all front wheels on dual rear equipped trucks always had spacers (sometimes called adapters) to get the same wheels on the rear to fit the front?

Yeah, I understood you (Walt) were talking about the aftermarket spacers. But Bald Eagle is right that all dual rear wheel trucks have the "adapters" up front. That is like built into the rotor or something like that. That is why I gotta just hold out for a decent junkyard dually and get it all. I forgot that the 1 tons didn't change after 87 like the 1/2 and 3/4 tons. They remained the same through 91 like the burbs and blazers. So I should be able to find exactly what I need with a few more calls.