Building a clone of grandpa's service truck

Ok, I have a dilemma and I'd like some input from you fellas.

The "bolt on" brackets from Speedway don't work properly, and their tech support was no help. The kit they sell is piecemeal... the bearings come from CPP, the brackets are another supplier, calipers another, rotors another, etc. That's why the kit is so cheap.

I called CPP's tech support as well. The guy there wasn't much help, either... since the brackets are the problem and CPP didn't supply Speedway with the brackets.

As I see it now, I have a few options.

1. Keep all of the parts I have from Speedway, and modify the caliper brackets til everything fits and is sturdy enough for use. To use the brackets that came with the kit, I'll have to grind away material on the front side of the bracket, then cut and weld in more material on the back side of the bracket in order for the bracket to retain its strength.

2. Keep all of the parts from Speedway and use the brackets as-is, and remove the steering stops from each side of the back of the axle.

3. Keep everything from Speedway, and order a caliper bracket kit from CPP, at a cost of about another hundred bones.

4. Return everything from Speedway, order the caliper bracket kit and bearing conversion kit from CPP... and buy the rotors and calipers from my local O'Reilly's.

I'd like to weigh the options before I decide, but I'll decide this week... I want this chassis wrapped up so I can finish building the engine, inspect the transmission to see if it needs rebuilt, get back to work on cab sheet metal, etc. Do you folks see a major problem with eliminating the steering bump stops? Other than the obvious possibility of ruining tires, inner and outer fenders... etc. Maybe I can look at modifying the steering bump stops a little. I dunno. I'm just very disappointed with Speedway's kit and lack of support. Their customer service has been great. My kit was missing the new dust caps for the spindles. They had replacements to me in a day. I wonder how receptive they'll be to taking back the entire kit... if it comes to that.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Experience? Please share if you're willing. I'm having to put way too much thought into this, and my feeble little brain can only take so much. Thanks in advance.

Damon

 

Martinius,

What did you buy from CPP that did not fit?

Damon

 

Bummer

This is why I'm leery of discount kits .

I'd send it back ~ there's NO WAY I'd ever cut a steering stop , there's safety issues there .

 

Thanks for the input, Nate. Believe it or not, one of the techs I spoke with recommended I just remove both steering stops, since "they're not really used anyway..." Blah, blah, blah.

I just wanted everyone else to know my experience with this kit. I'll think about it some more this week and let everyone know what happens.

Any other thoughts, anyone?

Damon

 

Sorry to hear about that, Damon~ Sadly, I don't believe you're the only one who has had major problems with CPP.

I have always planned to go with our hosts brake conversion kit. I have had good luck with any assistance needed. Rob is just a Private Message away, as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Thanks, Zig. I'm more sore with Speedway than CPP at this point. Speedway's kit is sent with caliper brackets made from a third party that do not work, but the bearing kit and instructions are from CPP. If I was CPP, I'd be more than a little miffed that someone is selling a kit with my name on it... that doesn't fit as advertised. I looked at CPP's brackets and compared them to the ones Speedway is selling: CPP's calliper brackets appear to have the correct shape that allows for the steering stops to pass through the bracket, unlike Speedway's.

Compare the two here:

Speedway's: http://static.speedwaymotors.com/RS/SR/Product/91031916_L.jpg

CPP's: http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1947_59_Trucks/4759DBK5.htm

The difference in the brackets is easy to see. The brackets mount to the top two spindle holes, and the rearward hole on the bottom. The caliper opening is to the rear. The Speedway brackets follow a straight line from the rear holes, top to bottom... while the CPP brackets are "notched" to allow clearance for the steering stops.

Damon

 

Our host's brackets appear to have the same style brackets as CPP, but I can only find the entire conversion kit and not the brackets only in an online search. Seems to me I've seen the brackets for sale in their printed catalog, but then again, I've looked at many catalogs since starting this project.

Damon

 

You can come over and pull a wheel off old blue and see how the brackets compare.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, I might just do that. I'll be able to tell at a glance if there's any difference.

Damon

 

Those pictures are awesome!!!!! The fenders on those trailers look like the front fenders off the 30's sedans. I think your on the right track with the RD-119 that's what it looks like to me.

 

My point *EXACTLY*

See what I mean ? their ' Tech Support ' has NO IDEA what they're doing and obviously are NOT hands on mechanics nor Engineers....

Thanx for the pix ~

 

My51 - Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it. Looking forward to building a clone of a trailer too, but I gotta get the truck done first!

Nate - I figured the photos would better illustrate the difference in the brackets than just trying to explain it. I think I'll give Speedway a call today to see if I can arrange returning the kit. The photos on our host's website show the right kind of brackets, but the printed catalog shows the kind that won't work. I'll call them, too... just to be sure which type they're currently sending out with the kit when it's ordered.

Damon

 

Brakes

Good deal Damon ;

Be polite but firm , don't ask permission to return it , ask for the return authorization # because they didn't send you what they'd advertised .

This is YOUR project and dream ~ take no short cuts to your happiness , especially when it comes to safety ~ it's obvious those brackets were designed to be as cheap as possible to make .

 

Thanks for asking about CCP!

Damon

I bought a brake booster ( drum/drum brakes) from CCP ment for install for my 1950 truck. This install should be a snug fit wich it is`nt at all together with the Saginaw 4 speed. Used a lot of time talking to a spesific man at CCP to make shore i `should get the right booster. When i wanted to return the parts on there expends they where not intrested to take it in return and to give me the right one or my money back. Instead they suggested that i should modify the one i have and at heck with it. Thats why i dislike there acts very much. Other truck owners here at the chevy forum have likewise experiences with this compagny.

In general i allways recommend fellow truck owners to buy there parts from vendors in the USA you can count on so people get satisfied and pay for what they want to make there dream come through. Most of there parts have good quality.

Martinius.

 

I agree with Nate here!

Turn it all back to them is my view and buy the parts at O reilly`s. there easy to deal with , maybe your parts become more expencive but they ca advice you at the locall store. Our host sells the disc brake kit to but in case ask them befoer you buy anything where its made as they sell CCP parts aswell!

Martinius.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with CPP, Martinius.

I called Speedway today, they said it wouldn't be a problem to return the kit. Hope to send it back first thing in the morning.

I'm going to call our host to find out which brackets they're using. If they look like the ones from Speedway, I won't use them. I'd most likely end up going with CPP's. Then the calipers and rotors would come from O'Reilly's.

Damon

 

keep up the great work!!! It will be well worth it once your done. Thanks for the pic

 

Disc Brake Conversion

Hey Damon,

sorry to hear, that these kit didn´t work out for you. That´s what i was worried about, when i planned to convert my front brakes. Those brackets didn´t look to convincing to me, so i decided, to go for my own solution.

I know, it took a bit more time, to get it all settled, but in the end, i think, it
pays, to have over the shelf parts, instead of something special.

To keep the six bolt pattern, i used the rotors of a 1988-98 K 1500 Silverado and also the matching calipers .

If you need more info on this, look at my thread or ask questions, i would be glad, to be of any help.

Good luck for your project and keep the pictures coming

 

I used the brackets from our host. i put them on about 3 years ago been working great ever since.

Jim

 

Disc brake conversion?

Jim.
It would be of great help if you tell us what excact parts you have installed and where you purscased them ?

Thank you Martinius