I'm ready to do the front end suspension, brakes, steering components on my build. Any recommendations for brand / parts vendor??
I want the car to remain stock. The car comes with manual drum brakes. I was going to upgrade it to power but my front drums are done. Since I need new drums I might as well get disk brakes instead. I have all the working parts for the manual system to retain with the car for future owner. However, I do want to keep to 1968 era stock components. So I need disk brakes but of the "old style" variety.
Parts required:
Front End Bushing Kit Front END Upper and lower ball joints Front coil springs Power Steering Linkage Kit Front disk brake kit (rotors, calipers, master cylinder, lines, hoses etc.)
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
Definitely recommend front discs. You'll love them. The kits they sell are great. I think inline tube or the right stuff sells good conversion kits. Other than that, I'd get all the parts from Ames. Some of the front end parts like the tie rods are Pontiac specific. Some places try to give you Camaro parts. Ames will provide the right parts
Well if all those disc parts didn't weigh a ton i have everything nearly new. All with really low miles. All removed from my car to upgrade. I'm sure you'll find some closer.
I have no complaints about the right stuff disc brake conversion I did... I also did a whole new suspension.. I got a kit from DR Classic... no complaints there either.. everything fit great and the car handles a gazillion percent better...
[quote=Bob S.]Definitely recommend front discs. You'll love them. The kits they sell are great. I think inline tube or the right stuff sells good conversion kits. Other than that, I'd get all the parts from Ames. Some of the front end parts like the tie rods are Pontiac specific. Some places try to give you Camaro parts. Ames will provide the right parts[/quote
I will probability give them a call to see what they have. The TRW parts look good. However, I can't use the website, it's needs to be put to pasture. Great parts, horrific website. lol
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
I will caution you on the front disc brake calipers. Not everyone sells an exact match to the original castings that have the "V" in the back side. If that matters to you, then look for those specifically. I also bought the correct brake booster with the upside down Delco stamp from Summit Racing of all places. Also be warry of fuel tanks if you plan to buy a new one. I ordered one and it came painted silver. returned it no questions asked, but I did replace it with the Canadian built one that is perfect.
I also bought a bunch of fuel and brake lines and clips etc...from Inline Tube. That stuff all looks very correct but I went with the stainless lines. Plan to get going on the installation once I paint the bottom of the car. Weather has been crappy here in Chicago. Hope that changes soon.
Aren't you afraid people will know you have stainless lines instead of stock steel tubing. I don't knowww. ( sorry, I just couldn't resist busting your balls a little. I mean, the "V" on the caliper? Really? Is it going to work better because it has a V? I think I would smack somebody if they got close enough to see if my caliper had a V on it.) I think I have some original 69 air in a tire out back. How much do you think I could get for it?
I hear you, yes it seems a little ridiculous, but if you are spending $60 each for a caliper and you could have the correct one for the same price, wouldn't you? It is a giant "V" by the way, which insures Victory! LOL.
48 year old air? I bet there is a market for that on EBay.
Would I? Really I don't think I would even care one way or the other. Now if one worked better than the other...that would be totally different. I don't mean to berate your quest for everything original. I get it. But sometimes it just seems a bit over the top to me. But then I'm not from the original camp so much either.
I have the original 4 piston disc set up on mine, but I put a booster on at the advice of 68tpls400 and a couple of other folks. I love the set up so far.
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
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[quote=Gus68] I was going to upgrade it to power but my front drums are done. Since I need new drums I might as well get disk brakes instead./quote]
I am still miffed by this statement. Upgrading manual drum brakes to power drum brakes only requires adding a booster. The drums are the same.
Just add the booster, and enjoy your drives with the top down.
And yes, it will all be/look stock.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
[quote=Gus68] I was going to upgrade it to power but my front drums are done. Since I need new drums I might as well get disk brakes instead./quote]
I am still miffed by this statement. Upgrading manual drum brakes to power drum brakes only requires adding a booster. The drums are the same.
Just add the booster, and enjoy your drives with the top down.
And yes, it will all be/look stock.
I had my front drums checked and they can not be turned anymore. So I need new drums. I was going to upgrade upgrade to power drums but since I have to get new drums I might as well upgrade to disc. Make sense?
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
Whe you said 'done' I thought you meant 'ready to go'. Not 'shot'. Makes sense now.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
[quote=Gus68] I was going to upgrade it to power but my front drums are done. Since I need new drums I might as well get disk brakes instead./quote]
I am still miffed by this statement. Upgrading manual drum brakes to power drum brakes only requires adding a booster. The drums are the same.
Just add the booster, and enjoy your drives with the top down .
There are a few minor things 1. The rod to the master should go to the lower Clevis hole on the brake pedal for power brakes. 2. Power brake master cylinder should be checked for the proper length pushed hole from the pedal. Typically the manual rod is longer and the hole in the master is deeper than a power brake master cylinder. You could use some steel round stock in the hole of the master to take up the difference. Some brake kits even come with it.
[quote=Gus68] I was going to upgrade it to power but my front drums are done. Since I need new drums I might as well get disk brakes instead./quote]
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There are a few minor things 1. The rod to the master should go to the lower Clevis hole on the brake pedal for power brakes. 2. Power brake master cylinder should be checked for the proper length pushed hole from the pedal. Typically the manual rod is longer and the hole in the master is deeper than a power brake master cylinder. You could use some steel round stock in the hole of the master to take up the difference. Some brake kits even come with it.
That's a good point. I have my original power drums setup from my coupe. I can use the linkage and master and Vac pod. If I put in factory discs on the front do I need a different master? I need brake line.
Thanks
Last edited by Gus68; 05/26/1701:03 PM.
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________