Current Classifieds

Need right door for pinto or bobcat 1977 to 1980 station wagon
Date: 08/03/2018 09:19 am
Ford 2.3 Bellhousing C4/C5 & Torque Converter

Date: 07/08/2022 11:51 pm
Need Throttle Solenoid for 1978 Pinto Sedan 2300ccm
Date: 05/03/2024 05:37 am
Pinto Watch
Date: 06/22/2019 07:16 pm
Hood Hinge rubber boots
Date: 09/28/2018 05:49 pm
WANTED: Dash, fender, hood, gauge bezel '73 Wagon
Date: 01/18/2017 05:35 pm
1972 Pinto SCCA BS race car

Date: 10/23/2018 04:01 pm
Front Body parts needed
Date: 02/09/2018 06:09 pm
Wanted Pinto Fiberglass Body Parts
Date: 05/19/2018 04:56 pm
pinto for sale
Date: 09/11/2016 09:47 pm
1978 need kick panels and rear hatch struts and upper and lower mounts
Date: 11/29/2018 10:26 am
v8 springs
Date: 05/07/2017 04:46 pm

Author Topic: Convert to newer Disc Brakes  (Read 9879 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline LesAlbin

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 12
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Lotus Driver
    • LesAlbin

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Tenth year Anniversary Poll Voter Windows User Fifth year Anniversary Webmaster
Convert to newer Disc Brakes
« on: May 01, 2024, 03:23:25 PM »
What would be involved in converting a '72 Pinto with front discs to '74 calipers and discs?

Offline Wittsend

  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2521
  • FeedBack: +241/-0

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Mobile User Topic Starter Poll Voter 1000 Posts Linux User Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Convert to newer Disc Brakes
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2024, 11:14:27 AM »
The first answer would be MONEY. Since you got no replies I took a cursory view. Kits seem to range from about $800-$2,500. In a post on another Forum someone mentioned that the earlier spindles were smaller. Oddly the kits show 71-80 Pinto so maybe they include a new spindle??? Be aware that a lot of the kits upgrade to the 5 bolt pattern. Also a lot of these kits are for drag car brakes that are thin rotors and likely not conducive to everyday driving. Both are something to be on the look for.

My personal recollection is that there are Ford factory parts that the swap can be done with. But off hand I don't have a list. I also remember people saying the whole (welded in) cross member had to be swapped??? Everyone wants the early, thin bumper Pinto, but there was a story on this site where someone had a later 74 Pinto and they swapped over the earlier body parts and it seemed easier than working around the brake/steering rack issues of an early Pinto. Sorry I can't be more help.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 790
  • FeedBack: +139/-0
  • Soylent Green

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Linux User Windows User
Re: Convert to newer Disc Brakes
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2024, 07:03:16 PM »
What would be involved in converting a '72 Pinto with front discs to '74 calipers and discs?
To do it right, welding-in a '74-80 crossmember.
I modified some '74-80 Chevy caliper conversion brackets to work on my car with 11" rotors. It necessitated a five lug conversion and 14"+ wheels though.
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline rob289c

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 444
  • FeedBack: +7/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Signature Topic Starter
Re: Convert to newer Disc Brakes
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2024, 04:06:11 AM »
If you are going to weld in a 74-80 crossmember, you may want to consider using a Speedway or Heidt's crossmember.  Their aftermarket parts will bolt up to their crossmembers with less modification and hassle than using the stock 74-80 crossmember.  I had some issues with Speedway parts with my stock 80 crossmember. 
rob289c