Disc conversion questuions

[Joshpow]

My front end is literally falling apart on the bump. The driver's wheel is running off at the wheel bearing. This is as good a reason as any to get my discs under it. I have a few questions before I start.

Would the disc/drum combo work good with a manual master cylinder for drum/drum? It is an overbore high flow one for my 72.

What springs do I need to use? My truck is 302 auto and the 77 was a 460 auto. I plan to cut them a little and drop it 1.5-2 inches.

What brake hose brackets do I need. The ones from the 77 look just like the ones already on my 72.

Do I need to change the pitman arm?

Any answers would be great. I need to do this on a tight budget, so I hate to go changing and buying things I could get by without.

[fordman]

any discs will work as power or manual brakes. the springs and spring cup sshould match when you install either set. the 302 ones would work if you want to trim a little off of them for a drop in height. the 72-79 brake hose brackets are the same. the pitman arm shoul dmatch the sterring linkage you are going to use.

[FORDification]

...and no, the drum/drum master cylinder should not be used with a disc/drum setup.

However, the springs you choose to use need to be kept mated to the matching radius arms. The dentside springs with the dentside radius arms, bumpside springs with bumpside radius arms. This is due to a difference in the springs' lower pigtails and how they mate up to the lower spring cup.

Your existing Pitman arm will work as long as you have the Ford/Saginaw box (it should be cast with a D2 number.)

[DavidJoe]

JP,
DavidJoe here you were asking me about my frame graft in the Welcome Mat, I forgot to mention I've got about $120 in it all together, If this truck is'nt your daily driver then I'd reccomend this, due to downtime, or if you can afford the downtime go for it.

[Joshpow]

It's down for a while anyways. I got a 2k2 f250 that I drive daily now. What year, and how does it work out?

[DavidJoe]

It's down for a while anyways. I got a 2k2 f250 that I drive daily now. What year, and how does it work out?

JP, I used a 1984 half-ton 6-cylinder(chevy) suspension, the chassis section actually came from another truck (dually) not sure about the year (81-87) I only chose the dually because it was already missing the engine/trans, and front sheet-metal, which made it an easy grab (from the scrap-iron yard). I finally have detailed pics posted under my username DavidJoe, and Kieth helped straighten up the other username. I had decided to do this and then found this site and found at least two other people have done this very swap, I also like what Carcrafter22 has done with the Crown Vic swap, but too late for me on this project anyway. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Joshpow]

That's cool. One more question though. What motor mount or oil pan mods did you have? I really like the idea of dual a frame suspension like that.

[DavidJoe]

That's cool. One more question though. What motor mount or oil pan mods did you have? I really like the idea of dual a frame suspension like that.

Dual frame? I'm not sure what you meant by that but I cut the Ford frame off ahead of the cab, and welded on a Chevy clip, unless by dual you meant 1/2 Ford, 1/2 Chevy. Anyway as far as the oil pan, I'm installing a 4.6Liter from a '94 T-bird and it will not require any oil pan mods, I will however have to relocate the oil filter and lower radiator hose fitting. I believe that CobraF100 did this same graft prior to me doing one and the truck looks awesome, he runs a 360 or 390, and I found a link here in a forum that sent me to his pics (they are in photobucket) I had pics of his headers he had to modify, and I believe he probably put a Saginaw PS pump in.

[DavidJoe]

JP,
Yes CobraF100 has a '71or '72 short bed w/Chevy clip, and 325hotford has Chevy clipped a '62 Unibody, and a '71/'72 Long bed look at the pics in Photo gallery, I found both of these before I "clipped" mine.

[fordman]

by dual frame he may have meant that one frame fits inside of the other one. i am just guessing.