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37 Chevy brake Upgrade

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Markster60, Dec 27, 2008.

  1. Markster60
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 66

    Markster60
    Member
    from WI

    I have a 37 Chevy Pickup with stock front axle is there a way to swap to newer drum brakes something with 5 lugs small chevy pattern ? Or should I just have the stock hubs redrilled
     
  2. bbtom30
    Joined: Jan 10, 2007
    Posts: 155

    bbtom30
    Member
    from so. cal

    I don't have all the details right at hand,but 54 chevy car brakes are almost a bolt on.BBT
     
  3. A '51 to '54 half ton chevy front end will bolt right in from what I understand. The center to center distance on the springs is the same. You end up with self-energizing Bendix drum brakes, modern type tie rod ends on the steering, bigger diameter kingpins and tube shocks. I found a '54 3100 rusted up to the the door handles that I am going to strip the front end out of next month. You'll still have the 6 on 5.5" pattern, but I guess you could still drill for whatever pattern you want.
     
  4. Markster60
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 66

    Markster60
    Member
    from WI

    Thanks, 54 car brakes sounds like the way to go, Wish I had more info. Anybody?
     
  5. old dirt tracker
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,003

    old dirt tracker
    Member
    from phoenix

    49-54 cars drums will fit on some chevy truck axles to replace the 6 lug. i did it on my 54 truck although i am not sure how far back this works.
     
  6. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    I'm pretty ceratin that the 49-54 car hubs/drums will retrofit with their backing plates using a spacer or two and a little common sense all the way back to 1936 on beam axle cars.
     
  7. old dirt tracker
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,003

    old dirt tracker
    Member
    from phoenix

    if you do this look for the self energising brakes not the huck style.
     
  8. Markster60
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 66

    Markster60
    Member
    from WI

    I am very interested in doing this swap but I'm not real familiar with 50,s Chevy brakes. Anyone have photos of what I should look for? or maybe somebody has a set I could get.
     
  9. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,632

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    Any 51 and up car and truck will have the bendix self energizing brakes and thats waht you want,I should have a complete setup off a 52 1/2 truck for the 6 lug. Jeff
     
  10. Markster60
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 66

    Markster60
    Member
    from WI

    Thanks Jeff. I want to go 5 lug so I will need car parts.
     
  11. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,632

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    Does it still have the original rear end as the 50s brakes will work n it too but the backing plates are rivited on and can be replaced with bolts. Jeff
     
  12. use 51-54 car parts, the backing plates will bolt on using the 2 orig. top holes and spacers. You'll need to drill out the lower 2 bolt holes in the backing plates below the 2 orig. car bolt holes. You'll need to make spacers for the lower bolts (I just drilled out some 1/2 inch nuts and used 3 nuts & 2 washers on the lower bolts).

    Use the orig. truck inner bearing race and everything else from the car will bolt rite on...here's a pic that may help,...use grade 8 bolts...the bolts shown in my photo are not the correct length, they were swapped out for the correct size; the steering arms bolt onto the 2 lower bolts also.
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Markster60
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 66

    Markster60
    Member
    from WI

    Thanks for the info & pic. very helpful, the search is on.
     
  14. fordcragar
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 3,198

    fordcragar
    Member
    from Yakima WA.

  15. 35chevypu
    Joined: Dec 25, 2006
    Posts: 13

    35chevypu
    Member
    from vermont

    heres some old mag arcticles given to me by a killbillet member
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Lobucrod
    Joined: Mar 22, 2006
    Posts: 4,122

    Lobucrod
    Alliance Vendor
    from Texas

    On my 38 chevy coupe I used 56 Chevy 1/2 ton spindles and backing plates. I had to machine some special spindle bushings since the 38 king pins were smaller but the old ones were worn out anyway. I used 54 car drums. It was all bolt on except for the bushings.
     

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