Technical 1948 oldsmobile front disc brakes

Want to upgrade from drums to disc brakes using just a double bowl master cylinder . What are my options?

 

So I guess it's off to ebay thanks

 

First, easiest and probably least expensive option is to rebuild the existing drum brakes.
Properly operating, drum brakes provide plenty of clamping/stopping power. Yes, if abused they will fade more quickly than discs, but just limit the repeated panic stops.

 

Finding someone who put disc brakes on a 48 Olds is going to be hard. Are they the same as any other years? Knowing that, may find you someone who has done the swap.

 

Yea front drum brakes are good just wanted to upgrade to disc brakes . I was hoping someone knew if the chevy and oldsmobile front end are the same

 

I'd have to believe that that Chevy and Olds being the same isn't going to happen.

Now the internet totally befuddles me. A guy asks if anyone knows about a disk brake conversion for a 48 Olds. Alledge that he can't find anything. I hit Google and type in 1948 Olds Disk brake conversion in the search, Damn that was hard it took all of about 10 seconds. And look what I found three links down. A link to a disk brake conversion for 40 through 56 Olds. A bolt on kit with all the pieces for bolting on the spindle.

 

Yea saw those , original question was what options I had before I buy and I thankyou

 

You probably saw the Kanter kit with Mc and booster for 1703 then.
450/500 seems to be the going price for disk brake conversions minus the booster for pre 60 GM vehicles right now. That one has everything except the tub of wheel bearing grease and that is a plus.

I've never in my life had my nose under a 48 Olds so I am lost as to what it might take to put a booster and master cylinder under the floor. A whole lot less than the 1200 bucks difference though.
The good news is that the 48 Olds master cylinder mounts fairlysimplywith two bolts going to what most likely is a bracket bolted to the frame and that makes fabbing your own setup simpler if someone didn't do the fabbing.

The Kanter setup uses a firewall mounted booster with a swing pedal and you may be stuck with getting a universal booster/master cylinder setup of choice and using a swing pedal. Not the end of the world unless you are putting a lot of effort into having a real nice looking engine compartment.

 

Midland and Bendix made remote vacuum assist brakes. The units are available especially at Thunderbird suppliers. They were for single master cylinders but the Thunderbird owners I have talked to have them work with just the front brakes when they add discs and dual masters. They are very happy with that system.

 

I’ll second jimmy six. I had the front disc with the booster and the rear brakes manual as a conversion on the bird. Worked fine. There’s more modern versions out there, I think Master Power Brake used to list them. Probably easier to mount under the hood on the disc only than deal with a booster under the floor. You’ll still need a dual master under the floor.

On the other hand, you might be fine with the above kit(s) and no power booster. Cars went millions of mile without dual masters, that’s your choice.

 

Scarebird has resumed production under a new owner. Most of Mark's original brackets are once again available. It's another option and lets you choose your design to a degree. FWIW, most Hudson guys are running something like what has been discussed by other posters (Bendix assisted drums or Scarebird kits). I know of some who are even running manual discs.
https://scarebird.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=62&product_id=187