Good or Bad idea??

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mullinax95

mullinax95

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This kit changes drum brakes over to 90 Chevy Celebrity. I see that it is cost effective. Heavy Duty pads $44.99, Calipers $54.95 each, Heavy Duty Rotors $30.00 each, Rubber brake lines I don't have price on those but it can't be to bad. 254.89 Grand total with rubber hoses at $20 each. Add the kit from Scarebird and it is $359.89

I'm not into show just good stoping brakes.


www.scarebird.com/12802/21432.html
 
The Scarebird disk conversion is a very good option to convert front drums to disks. I did it on my 1970 Dart Swinger 340 so I could keep my small bolt rally wheels and you don't have to spend a fortune on 38 year old rusty stuff that needs to be rebuilt and you don't have to change your upper control arms and spindles. Nice to work with all new parts and the Celebrity parts are very similar in look to 1973 and up Mopar disk stuff. All you have to do is re-drill the rotors to the Mopar 4 inch bolt pattern from a template they provide.

I got all my parts on eBay for a song. Check out these listings:

Rotors @ $36.95 a set
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...006QQitemZ160173152536QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Calipers @ $27.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CALI...002QQitemZ120172536391QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Disk pads @ $19.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...006QQitemZ160169173131QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Scarebird Brackets @ $95.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodg...012QQitemZ220083915589QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Total is about $180.00 bucks..............Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet :)
 
Hartman-52 said:
The Scarebird disk conversion is a very good option to convert front drums to disks. I did it on my 1970 Dart Swinger 340 so I could keep my small bolt rally wheels and you don't have to spend a fortune on 38 year old rusty stuff that needs to be rebuilt and you don't have to change your upper control arms and spindles. Nice to work with all new parts and the Celebrity parts are very similar in look to 1973 and up Mopar disk stuff. All you have to do is re-drill the rotors to the Mopar 4 inch bolt pattern from a template they provide.

I got all my parts on eBay for a song. Check out these listings:

Rotors @ $36.95 a set
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...006QQitemZ160173152536QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V


Calipers @ $27.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CALI...002QQitemZ120172536391QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Disk pads @ $19.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...006QQitemZ160169173131QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Scarebird Brackets @ $95.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodg...012QQitemZ220083915589QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Total is about $180.00 bucks..............Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet :)
Click to expand...

I think I times the rotors twice on the price that I looked up and also I went heavy duty on the everything from Advance Auto. And I think I did the same on the calipers. LOL! I'll have recheck myself.

I have the large bolt pattern now do you think that would cause any trouble if I went this route?

Did it stop better and all that?
 
I'm not sure if there is an issue with using the large bolt pattern or if the Scarebird conversion brackets will still fit. I would give them a call or e-mal them (numbers on their auction listing).

Regarding heavy duty, well as far as I'm concerned, steel is steel and eBay auctions are generally a far better bargin than direct purchases.

I have this conversion on my Dart and it stops very well just like a modern car with disk brakes. Note that these Celebrity rotors and calipers are used on Cadillacs, Lumina's, and Celebrity cars which are much heavier than a Dart.
 
Hartman-52 said:
I'm not sure if there is an issue with using the large bolt pattern or if the Scarebird conversion brackets will still fit. I would give them a call or e-mal them (numbers on their auction listing).

Regarding heavy duty, well as far as I'm concerned, steel is steel and eBay auctions are generally a far better bargin than direct purchases.

I have this conversion on my Dart and it stops very well just like a modern car with disk brakes. Note that these Celebrity rotors and calipers are used on Cadillacs, Lumina's, and Celebrity cars which are much heavier than a Dart.
Click to expand...

Did you have to find the bolts that mount the calipers? Anything I might need to know?

I sent them a email and gave them all my info.

I looked at some kits from other places and they want $900 or more and that's not the nice shiny bells and whistles kits either.
 
""" I have the large bolt pattern now do you think that would cause any trouble if I went this route?"""

You currently have large bolt pattern front drum brakes ?
OK I'm confused
 
RedFish said:
""" I have the large bolt pattern now do you think that would cause any trouble if I went this route?"""

You currently have large bolt pattern front drum brakes ?
OK I'm confused
Click to expand...

The spare that I have in the trunk will not fit the drums on the car. I measured the studs (hooking one stud and checking the center of the next) and they are 4.5". I measured the spare the same way and it measures 4".

Am I confused? I just went out and rechecked myself.
 
Are you sure you have a large bolt pattern drum brake set-up? I didn't think drum brakes were made with 5 X 4 1/2in bolt pattern. For mounting the calipers, you use the new bolts that come with the new calipers. Theck out the mounting instructions from Scarebird at this web link:
http://www.scarebird.com/12802/21432.html
 
Hartman-52 said:
Are you sure you have a large bolt pattern drum brake set-up? I didn't think drum brakes were made with 5 X 4 1/2in bolt pattern. For mounting the calipers, you use the new bolts that come with the new calipers. Theck out the mounting instructions from Scarebird at this web link:
http://www.scarebird.com/12802/21432.html
Click to expand...

Check the above post for the question on large bolt pattern. I checked my spare and it is 4" and the studs on the car are 4.5". I believe someone changed them out because the studs in the drums are welded on the backside. ???

I didn't know it the calipers came with bolts or not. Thanks.
 
blackace said:
Here is Outlaw's conversion that he did.


http://moparsa2z.com/web/archive/how_to/scarebird.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I believe I just hit a problem. The studs on the hubs have been changed over to large bolt pattern and have been tack welded on the backside. However the studs are the longer studs. If I can get the drum off the hub without destroying the studs everything will work. I don't see why I couldn't put it in a press and press the hub out of the brake drum. ??
 
Hi,
I have a 73 Plymouth Scamp that has drums up front with the 5 X 4" bolt pattern. The kit mentions up to 1972. Is there a difference with a 73?
 
timfromme said:
Hi,
I have a 73 Plymouth Scamp that has drums up front with the 5 X 4" bolt pattern. The kit mentions up to 1972. Is there a difference with a 73?
Click to expand...

Must be a difference. I looked on Scarebird ebay site and they don't list anything for 73 or later.
 
I would check with Scarebird about the 73 & later 10" drum setup. I think it's sort of accepted in the industry that the 4" pattern disappeared after 1972, but we all know different, don't we? I remember contacting a wheel manufacturer because they said their 5 on 4" wheels wouldn't fit with disk brakes. I asked what the interference problem was, & they told me that there was no problem, it was just that most of the disc brake cars have the large bolt pattern.
 
I guess I'll have to find a doner car for the front end. I already passed up 2 dusters a guy had for $500 in Portland, ME. One running and the other parts. I bought a 440 from him for $300. The cars, a 340, and another 440 he had are not listed now. I wish I had more knowledge(and $$$) before hand.
 
I believe you will find that the 73 and up drum brake is still 4" but the upper ball joint is the large one the same as the 73 up disc setup.I don't know much about it but the spindles for the 73 up drum setup are used on the "VIPER" brake conversion.
 
I found another company that has a different type kit. The price is $575.00. With this kit I won't have to have anything machined, remove the hub from the drums, or drill the rotors. Comes with the 4.5" bolt pattern(which my car is), new rotors and calipers, bearings and mounting plates. What do you think?

http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/dodge_plymouth_discbrake_conversions.html
 
I have been trying to find someone who has experience with this package, but have not had any luck. The Scarebird stuff is for the 4" bolt pattern, so for the people looking to keep their origional/4"/A body wheels that appears to be the way to go. I want to move up to 4 1/2", so the other alternate is to go the B/C/F junk yard parts, but there are some detractors going that way...the largest for me is that you still need late model A UCA's. There are after-market companies that make these, but they want $200. By the time you source and rebuild all the MOPAR parts I'm thinking that the $575 sounds fair for the Engineered Components package. I just wish I could find someone who has experience with this company.
 
Dead End Kid said:
I have been trying to find someone who has experience with this package, but have not had any luck. The Scarebird stuff is for the 4" bolt pattern, so for the people looking to keep their origional/4"/A body wheels that appears to be the way to go. I want to move up to 4 1/2", so the other alternate is to go the B/C/F junk yard parts, but there are some detractors going that way...the largest for me is that you still need late model A UCA's. There are after-market companies that make these, but they want $200. By the time you source and rebuild all the MOPAR parts I'm thinking that the $575 sounds fair for the Engineered Components package. I just wish I could find someone who has experience with this company.
Click to expand...


I got a friend that wants to sell me Mopar spindles, and rotors to convert it to disk brakes but I would have to get the calipers. But all the things that you have to do get the stuff on a A body it seems that the Engineered Components package is just easier to do.

I might just go ahead and get the kit and then I could tell you about it! LOL!
 
mullinax95 said:
Thanks.

I believe I just hit a problem. The studs on the hubs have been changed over to large bolt pattern and have been tack welded on the backside. However the studs are the longer studs. If I can get the drum off the hub without destroying the studs everything will work. I don't see why I couldn't put it in a press and press the hub out of the brake drum. ??
Click to expand...


find a holesaw that will fit over the stud, a drill press and a bit of gear oil to lube the holesaw. couple minutes apiece and theres no damage to the studs.
 
Dead End Kid said:
I have been trying to find someone who has experience with this package, but have not had any luck. The Scarebird stuff is for the 4" bolt pattern, so for the people looking to keep their origional/4"/A body wheels that appears to be the way to go. I want to move up to 4 1/2", so the other alternate is to go the B/C/F junk yard parts, but there are some detractors going that way...the largest for me is that you still need late model A UCA's. There are after-market companies that make these, but they want $200. By the time you source and rebuild all the MOPAR parts I'm thinking that the $575 sounds fair for the Engineered Components package. I just wish I could find someone who has experience with this company.
Click to expand...


I've been looking around and found that they sell to rods and customs also. They might do more business with them rather than muscle cars.

http://www.curtsrodandcustom.com/eci.html
http://www.hotrodssuperstore.com/encominc.html
 
The one issue that could be confirmed by a phone call is what/how does the brake flex-line connect? I'm guessing that the calipers are probably have some wierd thread/fitting. This could probably be cleared up with a phone call, but I keep hoping someone will chime in with real world experience and give any other "whoops" that might be hidden.
 
Dead End Kid said:
The one issue that could be confirmed by a phone call is what/how does the brake flex-line connect? I'm guessing that the calipers are probably have some wierd thread/fitting. This could probably be cleared up with a phone call, but I keep hoping someone will chime in with real world experience and give any other "whoops" that might be hidden.
Click to expand...

I went ahead and placed my order yesterday to ECI. I got the kit without getting the hoses from them. I might should have since you mentioned it but I'm hoping to pick them up at NAPA when I get my disk brake master cylinder. Wait and see I bet I should have ordered those hoses! LOL! They are regular GM hoses with the correct mounting head on one end. The link below shows the hoses near the bottom. I also went ahead and got the crossed drilled rotors which was $50.00 ea extra. They have went up on thier prices because I thought they was $40.00 each since that's what it shows on the site. But he said that have recently went up.
http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/discbrake_kit_components.html
 
I know it goes without saying, but you will be my hero if you give a fair and balanced report on what you think of the package....Good luck...you know I'm rooting for you.
 
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