what is the cheapest way to convert ford 9" to disc?

I have not been able to ID the drums needed for my current project so my only other option is to convert to disc. I am on a tight budget so I need to pinch pennies on this. I am looking for the cheapest way to convert.
I have the Big Ford Old Style bolt pattern. 5 on 4.5" Any help would be great.

 

we always use the speedway kit 259 bucks complete with two pc rotors calipers, (gm) bolts weld on brackets etc work great

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370329407117&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

Front rotors off a 1993 Ford crown Vic, 35 bucks at AutoZone. Weld on brackets from Speedway & calipers from local parts house or U pull-it.

Later, Mark

 

If u want an emergency brake setup at he same time, use 78 ElDorado rear calipers. I got this info from a guy that sells the weld on caliper brackets. Picked mine up today from auto parts store.

 

Thanks for the quick replies....did you just buy the flat mount caliper bracket or the GM std or metric? I just want to make sure I get what works together.

 

Yup, 78-up are small metric style calipers, 77 Seville are large calipers with e-brake and match early GM front calipers.

Louie

 

i think you got the 3x11 inc brakes on that axle

 

(Quote) did you just buy the flat mount caliper bracket or the GM std or metric? (Quote)
I use the flat brackets & the metric calipers

Later, Mark.

 

Is any GM car front caliper going to be a metric? Is one smaller than the other or do I not have to worry about that....are the flex lines a problem or are they pretty easy to match up? I have my flat metric brackets ordered from speedway and 93 crown vic rotors. Thanks again for the help.

 

The working part really is in the stopping. Well when you want to stop. I think all the advice here has been good ones. If you know the set up you want, buy the brackets. If your not sure buy a whole kit. I had one for a 55 chevy rear conversion, had to make new brackets that would work with the rear end, versus the ones that came with the kit. So that shows you kits are only so good.


The most important part once its done, is proper wheel measurements so your clearance is right. Thats where I got screwd up buy the wheel guy and only found out a year later, when I put the wheels on the car.

 

'96 explorer rear discs.

 

Parts from a late 80's early 90's lincoln 9" rear end should bolt right up. Parts from the recyclers should be cheap enough.

The Old Tinbasher

 

Or you can use plentiful and CHEAP 80's crown vic rear brakes. All it takes is a small spacer and a touch of grindng on the original flanges.

 

Got brakes off 00 Explorer. Had to oversize holes for flange bolts. Had to make a spacer from one of the old bearing races.

 

Trying to do it cheap AND get a park brake will be tough. Those Eldo calipers aren't cheap...and need additional parts that don't come with the new one.
Your best bet is to buy some from a s****yard and either try them as they are or keep the extra parts and use the used caliper as a core towards the new ones.

Besides...hitting the yard will get you the handbrake cables as well. I THINK theres a difference in the ends but I'm not sure. Just something to check.

IF I were you I'd be working hard to find the correct drum instead of messing with the discs.
Post some details on the rearend and maybe offer up some measurements and I bet you'll get the answer on what you need.

 

I tried doing the drum thing, no luck. I tried every shop in town to id the rear axle. I am now committed to discs so my battle begins... I would like to know what HOTROD31 Mark used on his (year and make of calipers and flex lines)

 

Find a Lincoln Versailles and rob the rear discs off or take the whole rearend.

CN

 

I don't think the parts will just swap over although if the rearend itself fits it would be a good setup.

 

Well...just remember you said that! LOL
Sometimes this stuff has a way of *********** on you and what may seem easy now, in retrospect proves itself more difficult than the issue you were trying to avoid!

With a bit of info I'm sure the HAMB experts can figure out your drums. Autozone...perhaps not!

Anyway...All the best on the project and I hope it works out fast and cheap for you.

Did you try "Scarebird.com" for brackets and info?
I'm not sure they have exactly what you need, but I'm pretty sure they can get you on the right track...plus he's a HAMBer.

Might be worthwhile to check out a couple of 4x4 suppliers or even "Pirate4x4.com" as some of the 4 wheelers with 9" Fords go with Discs. You might get a bolt on conversion and save the welding and fiddling!

You'll get it figured out...

 

The easiest answer for the park brake is to put on a pinion-mounted disc. I used a disc and mechanical caliper from a snowmobile. It took a few hours to make the bracket. It gets rid of all that ugly junk that came with the Versailles rear end that I used.

 

Here is some info on the Crown VIC brakes. The pics are Crown Vic brakes I put on a 1967 Fairlane 9" axle I modified to put in a 67 Shelby clone I built. The drawings show the part of the flange that has to be trimmed and the dimensions of the spacers that need to be used to center the hubs. It's a pretty straght forward operation and the Crown ViC parts are plentiful and dirt cheap. It also gives you the ability to use the parking brake that is part of these units.

 

Take it from a parts guy. Avoid the Lincoln Versailles setup like the plague. Parts are nearly impossible to find & it wasn't a great set-up to begin with. If Speedway has a kit to use more modern, readily available parts, I'd do that, but stay away from AutoZone, unless by cheap, you mean absolute ****. If it says DuraLast on the box, it is total garbage!

 

I normally don't chime in when I read this kinda stuff on here I just make a comment to myself or my cats, & please, don't get all over my case about it, my comment is a sorta legit one & I really just wanted to hear myself type.
I think I'm getting bitter, call me olde fashioned or whatever, but the HAMB is a Traditional discussion board or like olde timey (yes olde timey sounds more old) so I thought 2 things when I read this post 1st, since when is "The Big Ford Old Style Bolt pattern 5 on 4.5"?
I was always under the impression when someone said Old Ford Bolt Pattern it was 5 on 5.5" you know old like TRADITONAL, like most Fords from 1940-1948, NOT like disk brakes on your 9" Ford. Oh yeah, 2nd was disk brakes on your Ford 9" rear end.

I don't really need your replys, as a matter of fact, just ignore me, I'm just venting.

Cheatercarl
Traditional Hotrod & Custom Enthusiast

 

"The Big Ford Old Style Bolt pattern 5 on 4.5"?
There are two mounting flanges on 9 in rear end. Big bearing and small bearing. I ***ume that is what he means. I also had a 9 in that came with a Galaxie ( it was not Galaxie) I bought and put it in my sons Mercury. It was an inch wider but we dont know what it is out of. We were one drum short also so we did the Explorer deal. It is supposed to be a bolt in, it but it is not. It took my son about 4 hours of grinding to make it work.

 

THAT'S IT! SOMEONE IS GOING DOWN!!!!!
This should be a rule....When someone on this board is going to mention "The Big Ford Old Style Bolt pattern" it MUST be 5 on 5 1/2"!
YOu know like when someone says "hey man, do you have any rims to fit my TRADITONAL HOT ROD ROADSTER, I'm using the running gear from a 1940 Ford, spindles, rear end, the whole deal," his buddy would then say ..."yeah I gotta set off my uncles 40 Mercury, he was gonna gay it up & put a IFS & some rear end from a Maverick under it so I got all the cool stuff, those are (wait for it...) 5 on 5 1/2" big Ford Bolt Pattern right dude, the big Ford old style? Yeah, that's them, NOT the BIG, BIG 1936-1939 style, no not them these are the Big FORD BOLT Old style Pattern!

TooManyFords,
I dunno if I'm buyin it man...
I understand the whole 9" rear end thing, but when someone says "bolt pattern" & shows a picture of the studs bolt pattern on the hub & then references a known bolt pattern dimension, & has NO mention of a bearing, I'm gonna ***ume they are talking about a Bolt Pattern.

it does not matter anyway, I really don't care, I was making a point, 2 actually, this is a Tradtional Hot Rod & Custom discussion board, silly nonsense like they are asking about belongs on a late model Mustang or Camaro chat room. There is NOTHING traditonal about it.
I'm sure they are cool dudes & the car might be sorta cool, but the conversation/question is just out of place.
Whatever, even my cat agrees, he was talking about the bolt pattern, you guys lose, my cat wins.

Sincerely,
Cheatercarl & Cootiecat

 

Sorry to offend the "Traditional Hotrod & Custom Enthusiast" on the site with my less the perfect project car...I did not realize this site was only for the polished pretty cars or some elite cl*** off car people... I would like to thank TooManyFords, 59KUSTOM, James427, henryj429,Hackerbilt, Tinbasher, shinysideup, ken1939, slopoke21m and Heo for the help and input they offered without complaining about what type of car I am building or what site I was "suppose" be posting my questions. Looks like I have to find a new place to post...maybe a place a little less judgemental.

 

Don't let these guys run you off. Opinions are like ***holes and this board has it's fair share..... or something like that.

Also, take some comments with a grain of salt or a beer or two. It makes things a little easier to absorb.

 

where at in Michigan are ya "flatrat32"

a guy I know used a nice disk brake setup on his '30/'31 sedan, he said it was pretty cheap..I have picts and info somewhere I'll hunt em up for ya

I plan on doing the same thing for the rear of my coupe

 

Pics and info would be great. I am going to hit a few junkyards this weekend.