well i tried to search this and found nothing, sorry if it ends up being a repeat. What would it take to convert the front drums to disk on my 73 High Boy (4X4 of course). it is a 8 lug (f250) ranger version. Thanks for any info.

 

yep repeat. i was told that swaping the front axle with a 78 or so with disc breaks. i havn't done it yet but it makes sence. i havent figured any better ways yet.

 

does the 78 have to be a high boy due to the frame width, or will any 78 work? thanks

 

Ford came out with the F250 4x4 disc brakes in, I believe, 1976. I did this same conversion using a 76 front end, which bolted right in. I changed the brake booster, master cylindar, porportioner, and had to buy some new brake lines for the front and add addapters to the threaded ends at the calipers and proportioner valve. The size/thread types were different so I had to adapt. You will prolly neeed a flaring tool and some kind of tube bending device to make the new brake lines, unless you can figure out a easier way to do it using the old stuff. I bought a double flaring tool at Napa and used a piece of pipe to bend the new tubing.
Also, another complication was the rod going from the brake pedle to the master cylindar had a different connection. The 76 master cylindar had an adjustable rod. I used the one from the 76, as I remember, so it would adjust to the right setting. I seem to remember doing a little fabrication there but??? It really wasn't that big of a deal to do the job but time consuming to do it right. The main thing to keep in mind that you want to make it stout as it IS your brakes.
1 Change front end
2 Change booster
3 Change master Cylindar
4 Change proportioner valve
5 Adapt threaded ends on brake lines
6 Match brake pedle rod to master cylindar
7 Stop and drink a beer if you feel frustrated
8 Have fun and dont be in a hurry

Good Luck, Tim

 

What part of Northern Nevada are you in? I think I am near by. If nearby you can take a look at mine and I can show you what I did to make mine work. Just a thought. The job was WELL worth it. When I first stepped on my new brakes to test them, I about launched through my windshield. Night and Day.
Tim

 

I did the same swap on my 75 f-250 and used a early 77 front end, the reason for using the 76-77 front ends is that they are low pinion axles like the stocker on your truck.I used the booster and master off a 74 f-250 2wd with disc brakes (they have the same 2 piston calipers as the 4wd) it will bolt right up to your stock pedals and uses the same mounting holes in the fire wall. I got lucky and bought a complete chassis and had all the parts needed but you may be able to get the p-valve out a 2wd 3/4 ton with discs and make the brake lines your self. If you can find an axle for the right price it's a great upgrade and it will even turn a little sharper

 

Thanks for the info. It looks like i may have to wait a few months, but definately sounds like it is worth it. Tim, i'm south of Carson so let me know if you want to get together and show me your rig sometime. were you able to find the parts out here or did you go to the cali junk yards?

 

I have had good luck at Picknpull in Carson City, on Hwy 50. They seem to get alot of old trucks like ours. Hit is hit and miss though. It seems they get 3 or 4 of them in then that's all you see for a while, then another run. I suppose that will happen until the well dries up. For now, I would just keep checking there as the prices are right. The picknpull in Reno is another choice. Still kind of hit and miss though.

My front end and parts came out of a donor vehicle. Actually it was my old truck from years ago. After it was stolen, used in another robbery and then set fire to destroy evidence, I recovered it from police impound. I saved some of the parts to do this conversion and they cluttered my garage for years till I finally got the hankerin to do the job. I bought the master and booster new and used my old stuff for the core. Make sure you cut the ends off of the brake lines from the donor truck at the junk yard so you just need the thread adapters.

I am also South of Carson, well actually Southwest of Carson. Markleeville. Let me know when you would like to check out the conversion. I also have a request of you. My truck has some aftermarket charging system/wiring add on junk that I would like to convert back to stock. There is a fault somewhere in this wiring or components and I give up on trying to fix it as it is. I sure could use a peek under the hood at your trucks wiring so I can see what I need to do to get it back to normal.
Tim

 

what is it about this area? my truck was already stolen once as well, and that was with my cabover on it surrounded by new cars in a casino parking lot. luckily i got it back. your more than welcome to look at my wires, i dont know how stock they are. I do know i have a short somewhere im trying to track though. the blinkers dont work and it zaps me a little everytime i get out of the truck. Ill be out of town this weekend, but we could get together after that.

 

sierra grabber, enter your e-mail address to your user cp (click on user cp on top of this page to find). Then, I think I will be able to e-mail you to schedule a meet at somewhere. Maybe CVI in Gardenerville? The moderators will delete any postings like e-mail addresses and such on the forums but you can enter it into your CP. It isn't shown but I could send an e-mail via FTE.

 

i tried last night and they switched me back and deleted my response. hopefully it works today??

 

sierra grabber, you have e-mail.

 

So I completed the conversion using a disc front end from a 76 junkyard find several years ago. Cleaned it up first and replaced all the moving parts. rotors turned, calipers cleaned and checked. New hub lockers installed. it was definitely worth the effort, It saved our life on a trip to camping when someone decided to brake check the car in front of me ...