Customizing a 39 Chevy 4dr: How to lower and install disk-brakes?

Hi,

Since there is not much expertise in germany to modify cl***ic cars, maybe someone here could help me with my actual project:

I want to start customizing my stock 1939 Chevy 4dr with these steps:

1.) lower it (front and back)
2.) do a disk-brake-conversion
3.) install power-brakes

Step 3 should be no problem, but could you tell me how to achive the lowering and where to get a disk-brake-conversion-kit?

All hints are welcome.

Thanks a lot and greetings from overseas...

JP

 

I'm not sure if your 39`s front axle is similar that -38 is but here´s what I did: Spindles were filled a bit and then machined to adapt disks from a -79 Camaro. Saddle mount was laser-cut. The frame was pie-cut under the firewall to lower the front. In fact, it wasn´t low enough but the brakes were OK...

--mika

 

does the 39 have "knee action"? I think the 49-54 spindles can be made to work then use a eci disc kit, but it may be cheaper in the long run to subframe it, or use a *m2* kit

 

@at***ude

>The frame was pie-cut under the firewall to lower the front.

If I do that, the german technical inspection will take my car out of order forever.

@53sled

>does the 39 have "knee action"?
I am not quite sure what you mean with that. I attached a picture.

>I think the 49-54 spindles can be made to work then use a eci disc kit

Where could I get such a kit?

>but it may be cheaper in the long run to subframe it,
>or use a *m2* kit

That is something I do not want to do. I want to leave it mainly stock at the moment, only put in some security add-ons. Also I try to use only chevy-parts.

Greetings from germany... Peter

 

OK that´s not a knee thing but an i-beam, similar than 36-38. You could try to lower the front by flipping the axle over the springs, perhaps you need to C-notch the frame as well, there´s not too much space between springs and frame. That´s what I tried to do in the first place but I ended up to just replace original large-arch springs with straighter ones and left the axle under them. I replaced original springs at rear as well and used 2" lowering blocks with Camaro rear end. Speedway sells 49-54 spindles if you want to go that way, but it´s not too hard to use original spindles with machined hub adapters.

--mika

 

I don't know how wild you wanna go, but there's alot of European cars that will give up their brakes and suspension systems! Volvo 164's, Opel Comodore and Jaguar XJ6. I'm not sure about the Mercedes. Good thing about it, it's cheap and easy to get parts for and easy to get inspected because they know specs. for the parts used.

Klaus

 

peter-

here's a solution that will get your car a little lower and make it easy to adapt disc brakes:

buy a drop axle from MAS. they're an american company that advertises in Rod and Custom, Street Rodder, etc every month. if you search on this board for them, you can find a phone number.

the MAS axle is setup for 49-54 chevy car spindles. you can buy these new from Speedway if you can't source them locally.

Speedway sells a disc brake conversion kit for the 49-54 spindles.

if you want to get it lower, use monoleaf springs with reverse eyes and possibly shorter shackles.


hope this helps,
ed