D44 drum to disk swap

[6677ebman]

OK....accidentally posted this via a reply to a previous post, anyway, gonna slap a 44 (has a 30) under that '71 I just bought (needs front end work, gonna do the process of elimination thing. I have a D44 drum 3.50 LS from a '75, want to put disks on there, have a line on a '78 F150 disk 44, I just get the stuff from the knuckles out, right, my axles will work, and need tie rod end shims for the bigger F150 knuckles, right?? That's about it, right?? Plan on buying new calipers, rotors, etc....I'd be much better off doing this than spending $$ on that drum 44 (brakes, bearings, etc) .....right?? Any input is appreciated!!

 

[flousberg]

That's right, you also need new brake lines.

 

[Duke Nukem]

I did the same conversion. Yes, you can re-use your existing tie rod with the inserts.

 

[Doyle]

If you're buying calipers anyway, the 76 Thunderbird calipers will bolt up to the Big Bronco brackets, gives 15% larger piston, decide before you order the hoses, they're different.

 

[Skiddy]

I would grab the calipers for a core charge

 

[hammer]

The write up on this in the tech section is pretty good. Thats what I used.

 

[joshua]

will this swap reatain stock width?

 

[Skiddy]

will this swap reatain stock width?

Yes, but you will have a lot better brakes;D

 

[joshua]

good i want the same width dont want the tires to stick out all funny

 

[jsniper06]

I would grab the calipers for a core charge

Yes they will slap you with about a $40-50 core charge on new calipers. Grab them.

 

[6677ebman]

I'm going to swallow my pride AND save a little $$ and do the Chevy disk thing, it looks so much easier and cheaper. Anyone on here done it?? Works good??

 

[TJK74]

The chevy conversion is a pretty easy and straight forward upgrade that works great. Only thing to remember is to grind the knuckles to clear the caliper. You will need to run Warn or after market hubs which is no big deal if you already have them. To run the stock hubs you would need to run the GM outer axles, they are .25" longer than the fords and will allow you to use the stock ford hubs.
Other than that its a bolt on conversion.

 

[hammer]

I got a complete d44 hp out of a '79 bronco for $125. Took off everything I needed. Sold the radius arms and coil cups for $70, the tie rod/drag link for $50 and then sold the rest of the axle for $100. All the other parts I needed came to $320 less the $95 I made parting the axle gave me a total cost of $225. Pretty good I thought.

 

[6677ebman]

OK....going ahead with the Chevy disk swap, (as bad as I hat to!), but, it's SO much easier. Had a hard time finding the '72-'76 Chevy D44 disk spindles, but, if you look hard enough, good things will come! A guy GAVE me everything I needed off of a '74 Chevrolet 4x4. Which proportioning valve do I need?? Use the one that's on the '71 Bronco?? I also got everything from the ball joints out from a '78 Ford F150 for $40, gonna save that for my '74 (it needs a ball joint anyway) Thanks for the help, I've always just put complete '76 or '77 Bronco front ends under earlier models, never done any cross breeding. I blasted & painted the Chevy backing plates & am looking for some Ford stickers to go on there;D ;D

 

[6677ebman]

Also, it's really no cheaper (chev conversion), but it's much easier, I've got about $200 in parts right now, BUT, I'm putting all new C-bushings, tracking bar bushings, Duff steering stabilizer, new Ford rotors, Chevy calipers & pads, flex brake lines, new rear brakes (wh cyl's & shoes) I want to drive this thing with one finger & be able to stop it on a dime (already had PB) What did you guys have in the swap($$)

 

[6677ebman]

OK....you guys helped me out on this crossbreeding project, got it today, I'm very satisfied, BUT, don't really have the pedal I want, sorta have to pump it pretty good. This EB has power brakes and chevy calipers, and I have a friend in the same predicament. Is it in the master cylinder or the proportioning valve?? Any help is appreciated!! We did bleed the brakes several times, so that's not it.

 

[Kenny]

Sounds like it could be your master cylinder. Are you using the stock drum M/C, or did you get a new one? Did you bench bleed it?

 

[TJK74]

OK....you guys helped me out on this crossbreeding project, got it today, I'm very satisfied, BUT, don't really have the pedal I want, sorta have to pump it pretty good. This EB has power brakes and chevy calipers, and I have a friend in the same predicament. Is it in the master cylinder or the proportioning valve?? Any help is appreciated!! We did bleed the brakes several times, so that's not it.

It would not have much to do with the prop valve but could be the MC.
What MC are you running? Are the brakes a bit soft feeling till you pump them up?