I have been prioritizing going fast(er) before upgrading my brakes.
I've been planning on going with a manual front disc conversion in the spring to help make slowing down a bit easier. I liked the idea of not having a booster under the hood.

But...

I just got a phone call from a friend of mine. Seems his buddy that came with him to Pink's to watch me run a couple of weeks back wants to donate a complete TH350 (mine cracked the housing the day they were at the track),

and...

also a complete front disc brake setup from a '72 Elky he's parting out including spindles, calipers, master cylinder, lines... whatever I can use.:hurray:

From searching the site it appears the '72 components should be compatible with my Buick.

What I'm wondering is... do I use '66 ball joints or '72's.. or are they the same?

Is there anything else I'll need to do to swap these to my car?
Master cylinder rod? Do I use the '66 or '72 or do I need to fab something?

Lastly, is the offset the same on the '72 as my '66?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

I just did a 72 Chevelle disc to a 66.

the conversion will set each wheel out 9/16" (weird but true---disc and drum cars have different front tracks)

I used the brake line kit, master cyl, distribution block, for a 67 Chevelle
The booster, spindles, spindles, rotors, brake line brackets (front hose - GRAB THESE - they are needed!!) for a 72.

Since you are getting stuff from an Elky ---get the lines and distribution/porportioning block as well, the longer wheelbase of the elky will be a plus for the lines as the will be closer to the right length for you Buick (2dr A-bodies have a shorter wb than the 4-dr & wagons)

DIRECT BOLT ON-----altho the hose brackets will not fit 'correctly' they will fit the hose.
The 72 hose will NOT fit in the 66 brackets.

Thanks for the help Bryan.
I hadn't thought of using '67 master cylinder and lines but that makes sense.

9/16" more offset might cause clearance issues with my 205x60x15's I'll have to check. I've been wanting to pick up some Welds and skinnies for the front, maybe now is the time.

Did you use a booster or did you go non power?

I'm not sure how much vacuum I'm making since I switched to the solid cam, it might cause a bit of an issue. I suppose I could go with a canister.

Thanks again for the info!

Yep----using a booster
-----sidenote-----had to change the pin in the booster to a long pin so it would activate the master. (get at Classic Performance Products--$5.00 for the delco moraine booster)

My car is still under construction, so I have no idea how well this will work.

The 67 distribution block is only for distribution----it is my understanding that all of the regulating is done with the master cylinder and line diameter.

O'reillys, NAPA, Advance, etc only show masters for manual or power brake cars.

AutoZone--(believe it or not) has the applications for power disc, manual disc, power drum & manual drum. These all have different part numbers, so Im pretty sure there IS a difference.

The diff in track width is b/c drum spindles are like 9/16" narrower at the wheel mounting face than both 2-piece and 1-piece cast rotor hubs per side!! (I have BOTH!!!)..

David Pozzi's Great 1st Gen Camaro site has pic's of this if you care to hunt it up.

pdq67

Thanks Paul I'll look up Pozzi's site and check out the pics.

Bryan, thanks for the additional info!

Greg, I still have my original distribution block w/bracket and short lines if you need something off of that assembly....my M/C is for a drum/drum setup, so I'm sure you won't want that. I also have quite an assortment of new brake line fittings if you need something...also have 3/16" steel line and a double brake line flaring tool available for use/making your own lines. Let me know if you need anything:yes:

Thanks Mike!

I don't own a double flaring tool, only a single.
That may come in handy if I need to custom make a line.

I might just take you up on that distribution block, etc.:yes:

I was just looking at Ground Up's website... it appears I'd need the '67 dist block bracket as well...

Is there any reason I couldn't use everything off of the '72?
I understand the hardlines and mounting brackets are different... but would the actual mechanical aspect of the proportioning valve, dist block, and master cyl all work on my '66?

Obviously I need to do some reading.:yes:

The master cylinder and prop valve should work. Unless your going to manual brakes, then you need a master cylinder but the prop valve is the same.

Thanks Brett!:thumbsup: