Anybody run the ECI brake kits?

Im looking at the ECI Disc Brake Conversion Kit for my 51 chev, just wondering if anybody has any feed back on the kit?


Thanks

Will

 

I used one of his kits front and rear for a '56 Vette a number of years ago. Other kits since. Ralph's products are well thought out and always fit good in my experience.

Charlie

 

i used eci to do disc on a 70 nova sub, it all went together real good , and the customer has nothing but good stuff to say.

 

ECI has been around for many years, and has always provided good parts.

 

Good deal, supposedly the disc brake conversion kits are engineered and designed to bolt on to your stock Chevrolet spindle, absolutely no machine work is required.

Sounds to easy

 

absolutely no machine work is required.

Sounds to easy

[/QUOTE]


none, just bolts.

 

I bought the full front kit for my '54. Very easy and good instructions. You can buy just the brackets for the calipers, but they provide the bearing adaptors to upgrade to caged roller bearings. The only thing I that was unexpected was pressing different races in the rotors. Fortunately, I had a press handy.

I also converted to a Walton Fabrication swinging brake pedal bracket to run a modern boosted master cylinder on the firewall. Also a good performance upgrade in my book.

 

i used their kit on my 51 chevy, installed complete in about 2 hours. was a piece of cake. the only issue i've heard from others, and experienced myself also, is that on some 49-54 chevys, you will have to heat and bend both steering arms a bit to clear the caliper. it will go together without bending, but you'd have to remove the tie rod end to remove the caliper, not good.

 

i didn't have to do that.

 

I have the ECI kit on my 1950 ford. Kit was very easy to install.Make sure you paint the adapter plates so they don't rust..

 

I used the eci kit on my 54 chev with the stock front end, it was easy. I also used the under the floor master cylinder mount too, the only problem I see is that I used the recomended 70 corvette manual brake disc/drum master cylinder and it has a 1 inch bore and it takes some pedal effort to stop, I might switch to a smaller bore M/C to make the pedal work easier. When I put discs on my 65 Impala I used a power booster and it was an amazing upgrade, If you can try and work in a power booster to your set up.

 

I just put an ECI kit on my 37 Chevy,very nice stuff.......

 

Thanks for the replies, ssems it's a fairly inexspensive way to go, to get some rotors up front....


Will

 

I have an ECI kit on my T, Chev spindles. Kit worked well.

 

I wouldn't. At first, I just had discs with the stock 7/8 master. It didn't have the volume needed to move the fronts. I put a 1" vette master in and it stops easily with just a hint more effort, alot less pedal travel. If anything, I would put the kit on that moves the master under the seat, room for a booster and run a 1 1/8.

I thought the ECI kit was fantastic. Bearing adapters fit TIGHT. When the instructions say to use a 2" pipe to hammer on, they mean it. Clearance at the steering arm is a little snug, but not bad. Some have even put the rotors towards the front. The hardest thing is running brake line. I used the camaro lines, they are too short. if the store would have had a body lines in stock, I think it would have worked better.

 

I thought going with a smaller bore m/c would help it cause it would make more presure? am I wrong? For the lines I just got some universal brake lines from the local road racing shop , they were way cheaper than getting stock lines from the parts store. I got all three flex lines for about 50 bucks.

 

We got yours off ebay used, it was a good deal! Went on easy, the caliper can be mounted forward or to the rear. We have a problem with the caliper pin clearing the steering arm, cleanly! Sounds like we just need to heat it up and bend it alittle. The other problem is where to mount the brake hose. Been sitting this way sence March, we are just getting back to working on the car sence summer job ended. We put them on a 49 chevy.

 

I have used the ECI kits for over 20 years. The first one was on a 47 Ford pickup, next the 63 Chev front clip on my 48 convertible (200,000 + miles)and last on my 48 F-1 (daily driver). All went together easy and Ralph's service is great. I should also add that Ralph is a personal friend and I worked part time for him in the mid 1980's so I might be thought to be biased. His stuff fits and works.