Just got the truck back on the road yesterday after swapping in a '73 Nova rear with 3.08:1 gears, converting my SM 420 4-speed to open drive and installing the Speedway disc brake conversion kit. It's a completely different animal now! HOLY CRAP. The 3.08 gears in the rear are just about the PERFECT gear set. Obviously the speedometer is going to be off calibration now so I used the GPS speedometer in my phone to check it out. Truck does 65 MPH on the Hwy. at 2200 RPM. Still using the '57 235 that I got when kids and I built the truck. I must say it is so much easier on the engine with this gear set. The truck just motors along the road very comfortably in all gears. I'm STILL able to use 2nd gear as my primary gear to start off with at a traffic light or from a start AND the granny first is still sufficiently low to pull stumps if needed. The Speedway front disc conversion kit combined with our host's master cylinder adapter and a locally obtained '67-'73 Mustang master cylinder (front disc-rear drum) is also incredible. There were a few installation issues that had to be overcome, but nothing involving bad engineering or parts fitment. The stock steering stop on the passenger side had to be removed because it was hitting the caliper bracket, but other than that, it was pretty straightforward. NO power booster under the floor. 100% manual brakes and they work great. IMHO there is absolutely no need to run a power booster with this setup. Freaking truck stops on a DIME, straight as a pin!!! What a joy to have more modern brakes. Now I don't have to worry when the boys take it out or when my Dad wants to go for a joyride. I'm running 235/75 R15 tires so they are fairly fat. Finally solved my wheel issues by getting four steel early '70's style Chevy wheels so I can fit my '54 passenger car dog dish hubcaps back on the truck. Wheels are 15" X 7" with a 4" back space and clear the calipers AND the stock steering arms and tie rod ends in the front. I am running one and a quarter inch (1 1/4") bolt on billet spacers in the rear so the new wheels and tires don't scrape the bedsides and the track matches up front to rear perfectly. Re-used ALL of the existing brake lines, just re-formed them a little and added a short piece near the master with a union. Overall a very satisfactory upgrade while keeping the flavor of the original truck. I am tickled pink. I am certain I will be driving the truck a LOT more now. If anybody is interested, I now have a COMPLETE four-wheel Bendix brake system available if you want to get rid of your Huck (rhymes with SUCK) brakes. I have backing plates, wheel cylinders, springs, shoes...even the drums and front inner and outer bearings. Wheel cylinders, springs, shoes all were new when I built the truck with the kids and are serviceable as-is. Whoever may want them for your ride, just drop me a pm and make me an offer. I will post pics of details of the build when I get a chance. Andy
Well done Sounds great Andy, i?m also considering a rear axle swap with higher gearing, to get better top speed without revving the engine to much. Unfortunately we don?t have scrapyards here, so getting something that fits, is not that easy. It is very good, to get more fun and use out of our toys and improve on safety, too Thank you for the update...
Great job! Can't wait to see photos and a detailed run-down on how you installed everything. When my engine is done, brakes and steering are next on my list. Thanks for sharing! Damon
Glad to hear it, Andy! Just can't wait to be doing the same thing. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures about all these updates, especially the master cylinder part. I *still* need to get the proportioning valve and brake line parts before I can start the bleeding process. I'm really hoping that this summer is the one where I get back on the road. Reading about you gettin' on down the road is a great motivator! (Supposed to be nice weather this weekend, so maybe...? )
Gee, Paul.... I thought you'd be done by now. I'm anxious to see more on the master cylinder stuff too, as I've yet to decide for sure which way I'm gonna go with it. Damon
Brakes I followed Bill Hanlon's advise about the master cylinder. As previously stated, I used a '67-'73 Mustang master cylinder which is already set for front disc and rear drum so a proportioning valve was not needed. I mated the master to our host's master cylinder conversion bracket and it all went together easy-peasy. Allows use of stock brake pedal. I also did NOT fit a power booster to the master as per Bill Hanlon's advise. Therefore no worries about trying to make it fit under the floor and as Bill said, there really is no need for the power as the new setup stops the truck firmly and easily with the same or less pedal pressure as the stock setup. Bill used a front disc brake conversion kit from Buffalo Industries and was able to keep the front at 6-lugs. I put a '73 Nova rear end in which is 5 X 4.75" bolt pattern, so I could not use the Buffalo kit. I went with the Speedway kit because it was the same bolt pattern as the rear. As previously stated in another thread, I am unable to do any real heavy lifting, so the guys at my friend's shop did the rear end. I worked on the brakes and it went fairly easily. I'll get pics up sometime soon. I didn't take any during the upgrade, but I can take a few shots of the finished product in the next day or two. The truck goes down the road so well that I am loading my flathead F**d V8 engine into the back of it and hauling it to New Jersey next week to have my Hot Rod guru install the speed heads and dual pot intake on it and get it running in preparation of installing it in the Model A Hot Rod project. I'm really looking forward to the four hour round trip on the highway with the new upgrades on the truck. I have taken it for some extended local highway miles and it really is such an improvement. I think the best thing about it is that the whole "feel" of the truck is like original because I kept with the 235 I6 and SM 420 4-speed. Seriously, I'm loving it. Number one son coming over for the football games today. I can't wait for him to drive it. I want to sit in the passenger seat to see the look on his face. Andy
_Proper_ Upgrades Nice Andy ! . I'm pleased you retained the world beating 235 Stove Bolt engine ! it really is a good one . My '69 C/10 still has the original Bendix 11" X 2" drum brakes , I installed a factory vacuum booster and it stops much easier now , I'm considering up grading my front brakes to the 11" X 2-1/2" from a Suburban as NO - ONE tales those off the junkers , they all have to go to disc .
Man-child Number one son APPROVES of the upgrades. You should have seen the look on his face when he stepped on the brakes and was able to stop quickly and straight. His mouth dropped open and then he smiled from ear to ear. Big snow here today, so my long road trip hauling my flatty to Jersey is postponed till next week. Andy
What PN are you referring to? I bought the complete 4754CBK-5 when I was planning to drop in a V8, but now that I'm retaining my stock driveline I'm concerned the booster won't fit. Sounds like I'd be ok going manual if I adapt the right master cylinder to my existing pedal, but don't know what part number to order. Also not sure whether I'll keep the five lug kit for the fronts or get a six lug kit to match the stock rear. Thanks, mark.
master cylinder adapter Mark, Part # 71-984 http://www.classicparts.com/1947-54-Master-Cylinder-Adapter-Kit/productinfo/71-984/#.Ut-6e6X0C8o Andy
Also check out Master Power Brakes kit, AD1765K M/c and adapter. We installed this on the 53 we just finished and it will stand on the front bumper with drum brakes. Uses the 67-76 Corvette/ Mustang of the same era M/C.
