Brakes & Rearend

New member ,first post. Have a '63 convertible with original rear end(2" lower leaf springs) and front end(with 2" drop spindles). Down and dirty what is the best route for putting disk brakes in front? (buy a brand new kit or piece it together from a newer nova(don't know if this is possible?) and secondly replacing the rear end so that I can upgrade to 5 lug wheels probably still using drum brakes on back. I have been told to get a '64' thru '66 rear end from another Nova. My car is a cruiser with a little 283 & triple carbs, it is not a racer. I want the car to be safe and a daily cruiser. One last thing anybody know the best place/manufactor of aftermarket seatbelts? I will need to put 5 in the car. If anyone wants to see pictures let me know. Thanks for any help!

Joe63convert,

First of all, welcome to the site. Awesome place full of great people.

If you do a search on disc brakes or disc conversion you will likely find many posts which can help you on this topic.

I have a 63, and went with the donor route. Found a 65 in the wreckers and took the rear, as well as the spindles, steering arms, and lower control arms. From there I got a set of aftermarket caliper mounting brackets (which seem to be the most difficult parts to find from a donor) and bought all of the other parts from my local NAPA (excpet for the proportioning valve which I took off of a 73 Chevy pickup while at the wreckers). If you can't find a donor vehicle to get the spindles and steering arms, they are available through places like Chevy II Only. Unlike many of the aftermarket kits available, you will have to get the wheel cylinder mounting boss machined if going with 64-67 spindles.

Whichever way you decide to go on discs, I'd recommend getting the CPP mini subframe kit. The difference in feel and handling is unbelievable between a stock front end and after the kit is installed. You can't go wrong for the price.

As for seatbelts, they are available through any restoration companies, Like Chevy II Only as mentioned earlier for parts.

Hope this helps

I say just buy a kit, by the time you spend weeks trying to find all the parts and pieces you have just spend more time than you saved money. There are alot of nice disc brake kits avalible

If you're "rollin in the dough", I'd recommend MP Brakes for the front (http://www.mpbrakes.com/) and a John's Industries rear (http://www.9inchfactory.com/). This way, you never have to worry about upgrading or changing these parts down the road if you choose a different route. Both items would be a "do it yourself" in a weekend.

And welcome to the site.

They have been nothing but helpful with everyone and their brake kit is easy to install. Mine went on in about an hour or 2 by myself. I'm about to remove my 8.2 with 3.08's that you are welcome to. I'm in Las Vegas. A lot of people will say these are junk but its still a free 5 lug rear.

Just to clarify; you say that you have 2" dropped spindles, if so what are you using for brakes now?
Are your front drums a 4 lug or 5 lug pattern?
Just a note 62-63 spindles used smaller wheel bearings along with the 4 lug drums while 64-67's used larger wheel bearings (same as used with disc brakes) and 5 lug drums.
If your dropped spindles are designed for the larger bearings then buying a complete kit maybe a waste. Perhaps you could buy a kit less the spindles or piece it together.
Do you know who manufactured the spindles?

Just a comment on the 8.2's being junk, I torture on on a weekly basis with a 400 SB with no problems. The weakest point is the tapered stock axles. I'm running Dutchman's without any issues.

I have the same situation on my 62 convertible and this is what I've decided. I will use the CPP lower control arm kit and convert to disc brakes at the same time.
In regards to the rear, I do not want to change the stock rearend. I have heard people say you can re-drill the axle flange to a 5 lug, 4 3/4 pattern. This should be cheaper than buying new axles (assuming I can buy new 5 lug axles with the correct spline for my 8.2).
At that point, I think I still need the brakes from a 64-67 5 lug rear.
Don't mean to hijack your thread but I think suggestions for the rear could benefit both of us.

fore-speed
The '62 and '63 rears, while 10 bolts, are different from the '64-67s. I believe yours is a 8.25" jackpot rear similar in design to a Ford 9" while the others are 8.2" Salisbury rear similar to the 8.5". matter of fact, I was at a swap meet today where I saw 2 4.56 jackpot posi units for sale. I believe the jackpots from 55-64 full iszed chevys are interchangeable with the 8.25 Nova rears so they are actually easier to find than a used 8.2" posit unit, in my experience. Weak link in either rear is supposed to be the axles. I have been running 8.2 with stock axles in my car for 5 years now, knock on wood, without incident. I think this winter I need to at least upgrade to aftermarket axles if I cannot find a 12 bolt.