I got a 71, and it's got drum brakes. I have a 76 parts car with disc brakes. What will I have to use to change it over?
I did the same thing with my 73 drum brake set up! The only thing i had to change was the spindles, the drum brake spindle is not going to have the caliper mounts that are needed to do the swap! I hope this is hepful! pintoman1
For your 71, it would be best to get 71-73 disc spindles. The 74 and later spindles are an inch or two taller between the ball joints which would mess up the 71 front suspension geometry. Another difference is that the 74-80 spindle's hole for the tie rod end is larger than in the 71-73.
Installing 76 spindles on a 71 is not a direct parts swap. It would require considerable fabrication. I believe a couple people here have done it and the search function may locate the threads if they do not chime in.
Quote from: oldkayaker on November 30, 2008, 06:15:21 AM
For your 71, it would be best to get 71-73 disc spindles. The 74 and later spindles are an inch or two taller between the ball joints which would mess up the 71 front suspension geometry. Another difference is that the 74-80 spindle's hole for the tie rod end is larger than in the 71-73.
Installing 76 spindles on a 71 is not a direct parts swap. It would require considerable fabrication. I believe a couple people here have done it and the search function may locate the threads if they do not chime in.
Could I just change the tie rod ends? And if I swapped the control arms (if they can be swapped) would that correct the geometry? I will swap the whole front end if I have to. (And if it's possible.)
The tie rod coming out of the rack going to the tie rod end is smaller on the 71-72 than the later years, so the rod end would need to be a custom item. The A-arm lengths and mounting points have different dimensions between the early and late model Pinto's, so they will not bolt up with out fabrication. I have read that people here have swapped cross members to get the later suspension on the early models, but that is a lot of cutting and welding.
A correction to my post above. The 73 rack unit is unique to that year. The 73 tie rod is large like the later models. I am not sure what else is unique to the 73 suspension.
So my best bet would be to just try and find early spindals and rotors. Where could I find them?
Are the early rotors available in 5 bolt pattern?
BTW, This is in a race car that will have a 460/521 ci big block. So you can understand why i want to get rid of the drum brakes!
The easiest and potentially the best performance option to your question would be Wilwood's Dynalite Pro-Series kit, sold here: http://tinyurl.com/6679m5 (http://tinyurl.com/6679m5)
5 lug, 4 piston calipers, 10.75" rotors.
The caliper brackets are drilled for both disc and drum spindles (I have them on my 71 w/ drum spindles).
They aren't cheap, but there's no fabwork needed. New stock style rotors for early Pinto are pretty steep even in 4-lug (126 plus shipping each side at Rock Auto). I'm not sure if you can get them in 5 lug.
The tradeoff is that you must run 15" wheels or larger with the Wilwoods, but even the car lowered more than an inch, my tires have never rubbed.
I have 71 for $70.00 each side + ship. Fred :)
Quote from: Fred Morgan on December 04, 2008, 05:40:53 PM
I have 71 for $70.00 each side + ship. Fred :)
That sounds good to me! Does that include rotors, calipers, spindals etc? Or do they fit on the same spindals as the drums?
Where are you located?
Includes everthing to do conversion also with brake pads. Near Parker Arizona. Fred :)
Cool. If you can, I'd like to get a shipping cost to C1A 4W5, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Thanks
Ship to Prince Edward 35lbs. is $70.10 each side. If I break it down to under 20lbs. max I can go international flat-rate box at $23.95 each 4 boxes $95.80 total as to 2 boxes $140.20 total. Hey this is getting complicated so let me know if anything what you want to do. Thanks Fred :)