I want to convert from drum to disc in front on my 1969 Firebird convertible, and was wondering if anyone has any kits they would recommend. On Ebay they range from $400 to over $1200 and ever catalog has their own also. Looking for a complete kit with good instructions. Any help is appreciated.

You have to look out for the cheaper kits being based on recycling parts from your front drum setup. More expensive kits replace all the parts with new. I would also steer toward standard GM pieces as you will need to replace pads and rotors down the road.

I got a complete kit from MP Brakes that was built around the relatively genaric GM single piston setup. There are comparables from Stainless Steel Brakes, Matt's Bow Ties and others that I have heard about. Others here will chime in with other ideas.

I would also steer AWAY from E-pay. I had an issue with the delivery of my kit via UPS. It got trashed. The replacement kit got trashed. MP Brakes made it good. Try and get that kind of reliablity and customer service off of E-pay.

We've installed the Master Power ("MP") "kit". It's excellent.

Jim

I too have a 69 and want to convert to front discs. Can anyone confirm what kits will fit with standard, 69 14 inch Rally II wheels? According to info in the FAQs, in 69 there were no differences between Rally IIs for disc/drum brake cars.

Thanks,

grant

"Right Stuff" from Matts Classic Bowties, got everything including all new lines for around $800.00. Very concise instructions.

I bought a big brake kit from touring-classics when they were around. I believe they have gone out of business but they used mostly GM parts with 1 special bracket. These will not fit behind stock wheels as they use C4 13.5" rotors and C5 4 piston calipers. Kit came with a C2 master cylinder. Needed to use the drum spindle and drum hubs from the firebird. Kit cost $850. If I pieced it together it would have been $700, but I still would have needed the brackets that tie it all together.

As far as stock setup, I sold a complete kit from my car that was originally equipped with 4 piston disc. I took all parts off, cleaned them and powdercoated them correct colors and sold them as a GM direct fit kit. It went for $800 on epay.

That being said, I wouldn't pay much more than $800 or $900. From what I have seen, that price covers both ends of the spectrum. Numbers matching stock or big rotor performance.

It would be nice to find out which coded Rally 14's were used for disc and which could not be used. I did have to grind about 1/16 off the top of the caliper bracket to get the fit. But that was the only mod.

I bought a "Master Power" conversion kit from Matt about 8 years ago. As a complete kit it had everything new, all GM hardware and the Master Cylinder was a larger bore than the SSBC kit that was available at the time. I had no plans to use Rally wheels, and so never checked to see how well the 14" Rally II wheels fit them. Matt's has always been one of the best places to get parts from.

I bought the 4 wheel 'Right Stuff' kit. The 14 inch wheels don't fit. Just like was said before, if I cut down the caliper bracket it might fit. I think it says the kit is for 15 inch and bigger rims..
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I've only installed some of the front brakes and ran into a snag... The backing plate for the front rotors had to be notched out bigger to clear the lower control arm. The spindle would turn 'out' ok, but turning it 'in' it would contact the lower arm. Not a big deal to notch it out, but just something extra I had to do....
If you want pics I can post...
--Kyle

Weird, must have something to do with the 67. Like I said, just had to take 1/16 off the top of the caliper bracket.

I had 14" rally II wheels on my factory 4 piston disc, but they were not Firebird wheels. I think they were from a full size of a different year. My point is, and people who know more than me can help, I belive there were different 14" wheel offsets depending on whether it was a drum or disc car. That being said, they may fit under some 14" wheels, and not others.

Yup, some would accomodate the disc setup and others would not.

craig, the first thing I would ask is what rims do you intend on using? Stock 14" Rally IIs, 15" Rally IIs or something aftermarket and what size? If you are looking to use 14" Rally IIs would they be OEM rims or aftermarket reproduction Rally IIs. Trust me, this can make a difference. Some "kit" will claim you can use 14" but in some cases they are referring to reproduction Rally IIs NOT originals!

Next, based on the few "kits" I looked at just recently (for my 67 LeMans), the two things you mentioned above will prove difficult to find, "complete and good instructions".

I went with a four wheel power disc brake conversion kit from CPP (Classic Performace Parts) out of CA. I totally lucked out and won their 4-wheel conv. kit for the price of their two wheel due to the fact that I was the only bid. I got the entire kit for $775.

I did encounter issues, one, I was short a couple of parts and second (which was my fault) I did not purchase the pre-bent brake line kit (huge mistake).

I would guess that no matter what kit you buy, you are bound to run into issues. This is a relatively big job even if your only doing front. I had the luxury of having a vry seasoned Pontiac master do my install and I was the helper. I would consider myself relatively good with most everything pertaining to a FGF and I would still consider this to be something that I would not do on my own. Good luck and post pics etc.