Disc Brake Conversion

I am planning on converting my 56 Star Chief to discs on the front. I would like any ideas or advice on bolting a new master cylinder and booster through the firewall. As you know the old system is under the floorboards, behind the steering column, and very difficult to service. Any help or past successes would be appreciated! Looking at the Scarebird Disc conversion from the original spindles up.

 

You'll need to relocate the defroster box, then you have a ton of room. The easiest thing to install should be a 55-57 Chevy pedal unit, but as those aren't super common you might look in your junkyard for a GM G-van pedal unit. 96 and back hang to the right of the column, 97 up to the right, they can be a bear to remove but the pedal mount is just a square box which lets you take a couple of rods and bolt them anywhere you need on the dash rail to brace it. No need to cut stuff up that way. The pedal arm can be swapped out if needed.

The bolt pattern on these is pretty much the same on all, so you can use your choice of booster, disc-drum master, and a proportion valve or combo valve. All that stuff could come off the same donor vehicle depending on what you used (I'd avoid some of the trucks with rear or 4-wheel ABS).

 

I adapted an S-10 swing pedal to my 53 GMC pickup project and it was very easy to fit and adapt. The Jaguar booster and master cyl (I used Jag front and rear susp) bolted right up, same bolt pattern.

Just take some rough measurements of your car and then go to the junkyard and start looking. You will find something that will work without much fabrication needed.

 

Thanks, I was looking for something like the S-10 application that I could find in most any junkyard. And the master cylinder and booster from the S-10 would probably work out well. My firewall is pretty flat so it should be easy to work with. Thanks for the info!