All,

I have a 1965 F100 classic with manual drums. I want to change to power disk brakes. Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts has a kit with everything except new brake lines for my 65 for $1195.00. Bunch of bucks for me.


What other choices are there out there for this 1965 twin I beam truck? What I understand disk brakes were not an option on this year truck so after market kits are the only way to go (I'm guessing).

Can anyone help?

 

Im not too sure.
But have you mabye looked at later model twin ibeam Fords?
I have no clue if they would fit but mabye you could rob a junkyard find of its power brakes and swap em over?

 

I've never done this before and I'm just going on some trust here but I was told that there weren't front disk brakes available on the F100 until 1970 (or there about). Because of some upgrades that Ford made to the I beam, I’d have to get the entire I beam setup for it to work. It was suggested to use the entire frame from the 1970 and put my cab and bed on the 1970 frame rather than taking the I beam set up off.

Just speculating again but I don’t know if looking for, buying and reassembling the truck would be really any cheaper. I figure that anyone with a classic truck won’t sell for less than $1000.00? Even salvage yards will probably want near that for a salvaged classic truck. Then all I have is more old parts to clean up check out and maybe replace. However it just may be cheaper if someone close had one that wanted to get rid of it.

For the sake of time and money, is there a company selling hot rod brakes that would fit a 1965 F100 twin I beam puck up? If not then maybe I'll have to look into getting an entire frame.

 

Was wondering if this conversion is for all four wheels or just the fronts like on my 1973? If it is for just the fronts, make sure to get the dual piston calipers, price seems a little high. I'll look and my 73 and see what all you will need. I know of a couple of older than mine, I will compare and do some window shopping for you. If I find out anything, it will be Sunday before I'll have access to the Forum.

 

Thanks for your offer to help.

It would be nice to go all 4 wheels but all I'm expecting to replace are the front drums. I hadn't thought about single or dual piston calipers. I was going to be happy with some sort of power disks. If dual piston calipers come in the kit and the whole price beats the $1195.00 that Obsolete wants, then I'm there.

I looked some at Craigs list and all of the 69 thru 74 trucks in my area are going for more than $1000.00 with some over $3000.00. I could sell off all of the parts I don't use but that is much more work than I figured on plus I don't have the space to collect all of that sort of stuff.

 

I did a manual drum to power disk brake swap on a '70 Nova. I used a '73 Nova donor vehicle. Since the body style was the same I figured everything would swap right over, and it did. I don't know what years the Ford trucks changed the body styles, but you may find something that will fit if the setup was the same. Most vehicles didn't have disk brakes as an option until '70. It may be difficult to even find a truck that old in a junkyard, but you might get lucky. You should see if the balljoints or kingpins are on the i-beam or spindle, and measure the spread between the top and bottom ones to see if it will fit on yours. If the balljoint hole is smaller than the balljoint that you will be swapping in, there is a tool to make the tapered hole larger. If the hole is larger or you find it won't fit because of the previous checks then you will need to measure the i-beams and see if it will fit your truck. You may also be able to make modifications to make them fit. I think there are equal length or unequal length i-beams but don't know what years either type is on. If you are using this stock setup you will also need the master cylinder and proportioning valve. I think '65 has a single reservoir master cylinder and disk brakes will have a dual, so you will have to run some new hard lines also. There are other issues like brake pedal hook up and booster mounting but I think I have said enough for now.

 

I would go with the all new parts if it were me. The time saved alone is worth more than the 1200 it will cost. Then all the parts are new and more relaiable. Changing the rear to disc should not be that hard after that. I am making the assumption it has a 9" rear. So there are ALOT of aftermarket parts available.

 

I prefer to use factory parts whenever possible. You can change the basic parts for new and still have a reliable factory system with easily available parts that you usually don't have to special order. Unless you are doing performance upgrades that would require more braking, then aftermarket would be better. If you were looking into rear discs as well, maybe some Mustang rear discs can be used. That would again require a different master cylinder and proportioning valve.

 

Just got back into town and access to the forum, my 73 front dual piston calipers bolt onto the spindle with four bolts just the same and any drum brakes backing plate. I didn't measure bolt diameter or spacing. My option to save money would be to gather info from local junk yard as to the caliper mounting brackets, this is the key. After that, rotors are available from NAPA along with rebuilt calipers and pads. Of course, you still need the brake lines, master cylinder (different from shoes), and also the power brake booster. Hopefully you won't have to mess with the king pins and what ever. Most likely there will be a core charge added to the price for everything. Check it out, its probably doable (spelling?). Let us know.