The Ford Barn

30-9 · 10-17-2015, 08:36 AM

Anyone have a site I can research for a kit?

I'd like to read about what one would need to do to convert 40 front drum brakes to disk.

JSeery · 10-17-2015, 08:50 AM

Might do a search on the HAMB. This is a very common conversion and there should be a lot of information on the internet as well.

40cpe · 10-17-2015, 08:54 AM

If looks matter to you, check to see if the kit you select increases the track width. This makes a difference in how the tire fits under the fender.

Ford Freak · 10-17-2015, 08:59 AM

I believe Speedway Motors sells a kit .

mrtexas · 10-17-2015, 09:03 AM

I've done it on my 36 woodie fronts. What an improvement. It is no more expensive than buying repro bendix brakes. I had to use 42 squareback spindles, a caliper adapter plate, a bearing adaptor, Ford discs and chevy calipers. I bought the calipers and rotors locally to save on shipping. Cost was about $400-$500. It does widen your front track slightly. I'm considering rear discs as well but they are pricier at $575. I'd have to get my 36 axles converted to Ford 8inch style for $800. The rear bendix brakes work great for now and I have enough cars out of service as it is!

30-9 · 10-17-2015, 09:34 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Speedway kit #?

I did check jamb but nothing for 1940 ford

mrtexas · 10-17-2015, 09:37 AM

http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early...nversions.html

You will have to get some 42 squareback spindles for a 40 as the brackets are designed for them. Kit is $160 plus cost of calipers and rotors which are very cheap at Autozone or others and the price of postage is high.

I had the same kit on my model a for a while. It is now on my 36.

https://sites.google.com/site/mrtexa...ydraulicbrakes

Ol' Ron · 10-17-2015, 10:32 AM

You might consider ECI, alittle more expensive than speed way, but if you have trouble they can answer you questions. Great to work with.
However with that said, I had allot of problems with the bearing adapters. I had trouble installing them on the first one I had to heat it to get it on. Then it had expanded .004" so the bearing wouldn't go on. Fortunately I have a lathe and machined the other one for a proper press fir and the bearing fit with alittle sanding. Others haven't had this problem so the chinaman that made mine must have had a bad day.

42merc · 10-17-2015, 11:05 AM

I recently installed a Speedway kit with the 5 1/2" bolt circle on my '40. I'm very happy with the setup. Every thing fit well. I'm using a 1/4" spacer behind the 15" F-100 wheels to clear the calipers. The spacer was sourced at Advance Auto Parts. I took advantage of the the free shipping that Speedy Bill offered.
I had already installed a disc-drum master cylinder & residual valves for the drum brakes, but I did change the front valve to a 2 lb.
Track width was a non issue.
Big difference, should have done this years ago.

Ford Freak · 10-17-2015, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30-9

Speedway kit #?

I did check jamb but nothing for 1940 ford

It is part # 910-31909 (if you want to keep 5.5 bolt circle )
They have kits for 4.5 & 4.75 bolt circles also .

www.speedwaymotors.com

mrtexas · 10-17-2015, 12:12 PM

Looks like a deal to me, about the same $$ as an ECI kit with local rotors and calipers:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Comple...2-BC,1997.html

"Wheels must have 3-7/16" center hole and have been designed for disc brake applications. Will NOT work with early Ford factory wire or steel drum brake wheels. You will need to use a later disc brake steel wheel or aftermarket wheel."

The ECI kit works with 40 wheels, don't know about this kit however. You would have to call speedway.

ECI probably told me to buy squareback spindles.

30-9 · 10-17-2015, 12:24 PM

To all thank you very much! Sorry one question - I don't see a master cyl in the kit?

42merc · 10-17-2015, 01:07 PM

Early Ford wheel centers fit the 5 1/2" kit And as I said in my earlier post the 15" Ford wheels need to be spaced out a 1/4" to clear the caliper.

No master cyl or residuals in kit.
I used a Chassis Engineering master cyl adapter.

Ol' Ron · 10-17-2015, 01:21 PM

ECI has the right MC for disk/drum and disk/disk. i installed a Spoicer 44 rear with disks

mrtexas · 10-17-2015, 02:19 PM

You can get a master cylinder cheap at the local auto parts house. Get an early mustang MC with disc/drum brakes like 68 or 69.

Ol' Ron · 10-17-2015, 02:43 PM

73 Ford Pu had a non power brake MC for disk/drum.

30-9 · 10-17-2015, 02:46 PM

Thank you I now have a new project

Fordors · 10-17-2015, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrtexas

http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early...nversions.html

You will have to get some 42 squareback spindles for a 40 as the brackets are designed for them. Kit is $160 plus cost of calipers and rotors which are very cheap at Autozone or others and the price of postage is high.

I had the same kit on my model a for a while. It is now on my 36.

https://sites.google.com/site/mrtexa...ydraulicbrakes

Other than the appearance functionally the '42-'48 spindle is the same as the '37-'41 type, I believe the OP'er's '40 spindles will work just fiine. Should there be a need for the later square backs keep in mind those king pins are 1/2" longer than those in '37-'41 spindles.

mrtexas · 10-17-2015, 04:44 PM

Well probably I needed to replace my 36 spindles with later models.

39portlander · 10-17-2015, 06:21 PM

I installed the ECI kit on my 39 pickup, coincidently it uses 77 F150 rotors.

Perfect as I have a 77 F150. The instructions were very straight forward and the Mustang master cylinder adaptor fit great to the original pedal assembly.

They work great with the MT rear Bendix kit I installed @ the same time. Good luck, you won't be disappointed. Scott

10-17-2015, 08:36 AM	#1
30-9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: MA Posts: 888	Converting drum to disk Anyone have a site I can research for a kit? I'd like to read about what one would need to do to convert 40 front drum brakes to disk. __________________ Thanks - 30-9 1939, 1940

10-17-2015, 08:50 AM	#2
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Converting drum to disk Might do a search on the HAMB. This is a very common conversion and there should be a lot of information on the internet as well.

10-17-2015, 08:54 AM	#3
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,120	Re: Converting drum to disk If looks matter to you, check to see if the kit you select increases the track width. This makes a difference in how the tire fits under the fender.

10-17-2015, 08:59 AM	#4
Ford Freak Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Pittsford NY. USA Posts: 1,249	Re: Converting drum to disk I believe Speedway Motors sells a kit .

10-17-2015, 09:03 AM	#5
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,420	Re: Converting drum to disk I've done it on my 36 woodie fronts. What an improvement. It is no more expensive than buying repro bendix brakes. I had to use 42 squareback spindles, a caliper adapter plate, a bearing adaptor, Ford discs and chevy calipers. I bought the calipers and rotors locally to save on shipping. Cost was about $400-$500. It does widen your front track slightly. I'm considering rear discs as well but they are pricier at $575. I'd have to get my 36 axles converted to Ford 8inch style for $800. The rear bendix brakes work great for now and I have enough cars out of service as it is! Last edited by mrtexas; 10-17-2015 at 09:54 AM.

10-17-2015, 09:34 AM	#6
30-9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: MA Posts: 888	Re: Converting drum to disk Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Speedway kit #? I did check jamb but nothing for 1940 ford __________________ Thanks - 30-9 1939, 1940

10-17-2015, 09:37 AM	#7
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,420	Re: Converting drum to disk http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early...nversions.html You will have to get some 42 squareback spindles for a 40 as the brackets are designed for them. Kit is $160 plus cost of calipers and rotors which are very cheap at Autozone or others and the price of postage is high. I had the same kit on my model a for a while. It is now on my 36. https://sites.google.com/site/mrtexa...ydraulicbrakes Last edited by mrtexas; 10-17-2015 at 09:56 AM.

10-17-2015, 10:32 AM	#8
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,985	Re: Converting drum to disk You might consider ECI, alittle more expensive than speed way, but if you have trouble they can answer you questions. Great to work with. However with that said, I had allot of problems with the bearing adapters. I had trouble installing them on the first one I had to heat it to get it on. Then it had expanded .004" so the bearing wouldn't go on. Fortunately I have a lathe and machined the other one for a proper press fir and the bearing fit with alittle sanding. Others haven't had this problem so the chinaman that made mine must have had a bad day.

10-17-2015, 11:05 AM	#9
42merc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buchanan, MI Posts: 697	Re: Converting drum to disk I recently installed a Speedway kit with the 5 1/2" bolt circle on my '40. I'm very happy with the setup. Every thing fit well. I'm using a 1/4" spacer behind the 15" F-100 wheels to clear the calipers. The spacer was sourced at Advance Auto Parts. I took advantage of the the free shipping that Speedy Bill offered. I had already installed a disc-drum master cylinder & residual valves for the drum brakes, but I did change the front valve to a 2 lb. Track width was a non issue. Big difference, should have done this years ago.

10-17-2015, 12:12 PM	#11
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,420	Re: Converting drum to disk Looks like a deal to me, about the same $$ as an ECI kit with local rotors and calipers: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Comple...2-BC,1997.html "Wheels must have 3-7/16" center hole and have been designed for disc brake applications. Will NOT work with early Ford factory wire or steel drum brake wheels. You will need to use a later disc brake steel wheel or aftermarket wheel." The ECI kit works with 40 wheels, don't know about this kit however. You would have to call speedway. ECI probably told me to buy squareback spindles.

10-17-2015, 12:24 PM	#12
30-9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: MA Posts: 888	Re: Converting drum to disk To all thank you very much! Sorry one question - I don't see a master cyl in the kit? __________________ Thanks - 30-9 1939, 1940 Last edited by 30-9; 10-17-2015 at 12:37 PM.

10-17-2015, 01:07 PM	#13
42merc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buchanan, MI Posts: 697	Re: Converting drum to disk Early Ford wheel centers fit the 5 1/2" kit And as I said in my earlier post the 15" Ford wheels need to be spaced out a 1/4" to clear the caliper. No master cyl or residuals in kit. I used a Chassis Engineering master cyl adapter.

10-17-2015, 01:21 PM	#14
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,985	Re: Converting drum to disk ECI has the right MC for disk/drum and disk/disk. i installed a Spoicer 44 rear with disks

10-17-2015, 02:19 PM	#15
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,420	Re: Converting drum to disk You can get a master cylinder cheap at the local auto parts house. Get an early mustang MC with disc/drum brakes like 68 or 69.

10-17-2015, 02:43 PM	#16
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,985	Re: Converting drum to disk 73 Ford Pu had a non power brake MC for disk/drum.

10-17-2015, 02:46 PM	#17
30-9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: MA Posts: 888	Re: Converting drum to disk Thank you I now have a new project __________________ Thanks - 30-9 1939, 1940

10-17-2015, 04:44 PM	#19
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,420	Re: Converting drum to disk Well probably I needed to replace my 36 spindles with later models.

10-17-2015, 06:21 PM	#20
39portlander Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suth'N Maine Posts: 2,010	Re: Converting drum to disk I installed the ECI kit on my 39 pickup, coincidently it uses 77 F150 rotors. Perfect as I have a 77 F150. The instructions were very straight forward and the Mustang master cylinder adaptor fit great to the original pedal assembly. They work great with the MT rear Bendix kit I installed @ the same time. Good luck, you won't be disappointed. Scott Last edited by 39portlander; 04-15-2018 at 06:07 PM.