Technical 63 Vette drum brakes on a 56 Bel Air?

I'm trying to keep my 56 build as traditional as possible. I know a disc conversion is the way to go, but I have a line on a complete pair of Vette spindles including the steering arms and was wondering if it is possible to adapt the Vette brakes to my car, and if it is, what would it entail? Would it change ride height to use the Vette spindles? Or, would I be better off to try to adapt to the 56 spindles? Again, I know disc brakes are the best way to go, but I really don't like the way that a disc set up looks on a tri five, plus I figured that the Vette drums would be a big improvement over the stock 56 brakes anyway. I look forward to any and all opinions and comments. Thanks in advance, Jedd

 

The vette stuff will be different
Vettes up to 63used the same front end as 49-54 Chevy cars.
55 switched to a ball joint front end from king pins.

The brakes shoes themselves might be the same as 55-and later cars as in 52 Chevy changed to bendix style drum brakes.

Other then larger and smaller drums it’s basically the same brake system they used for years.

 

Good to know. I thought Vettes went to ball joints in 63. Thanks for the input. Jedd

 

Thought the brakes were thru 62.

 

quick check, it appears the brakes are the same size, 11x2". Measure the vette brakes and see if they really are.

 

the actual high performance brake option on a 55-57 [really all the way to 64]chev was the 6 lug 1/2 ton pick-up parts.Take a look at a real "black widow" 57 chevy.Still want traditional ?LOL

 

The brake components should fit but the backing plates and hubs should be different as the vette still used king pin front end.

I know the tri five Chevy stuff and I think up to 62 or 63 brake compentes will cross over and fit unless it’s heavy duty truck stuff

 

Study the RPO687 brakes. Modify your stock backing plates to resemble the vented Corvette ones. Fab up some cooling fans. Use harder linings and a 15/16" master cylinder. It would be nice if they repopped the finned brake drums, they were heat treated for use with metallic linings.

 

I believe the op is talking about standard '63 Corvette brakes, not the ZO6 stuff. Unless he wants to put $50,000 brakes on his '56, but then again maybe he does.

 

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Why not disc? Disc came in 65 on the Vette. Now it's been to long to remember. Some 25 years back my brother in-law but Vette spindle in 57 Chevy. I believe it was later (70's) lower A-frame and spindles with 4 piston calibers. So yes it can be done. Just do more research as to the exact donor year needed.

 

LOL!!! If I had $50,000 this car would be done! Twice!!!

 

To think. All the lucky guy's with Corvette front suspension in their 54 and earlier Chevy's.

 

I've heard urban legends about such conversions. But I also figured that if it could be done, someone or someone's here would know exactly what it would take to make it work.
As to the why not disc question, I just like the look of a brake drum through a spoked wheel better than a rotor and caliper. Call me crazy!

 

This is testing my memory, but I had a 64 Corvette, which had the drums on the front. I would swear the shoes looked the same as what I had on my 55 truck. I know that all the frames and running gear for the first series Corvettes were, was just a shortened 53 chassis. I have a partial copy of an old parts book and will see if I can find which parts are common. I do know that I was able to use 53 drums to convert my Cameo to the 5 stud pattern, and the backing plates did not need to be changed.
I'll look for my parts book right now.
Bob

 

All the specs that I come up with say that 11x2.5 shoes for the Vette and 11x2 for the 56.
Thank you, I appreciate your help!

 

The RPO687 brakes I pictured are 2 1/2" and use a special backing plate. Standard 50's Vette brakes I'm sure are 2". You would have to fabricate or heavily modify stock backing plates to go to 2 1/2". I think early 60's Impalas had 11" x 2 1/2" brakes??

 

I just checked the Chevy parts manual, and there were multiple sets of shoes offered for the Corvette.
The base brake shoes were the same for the 53 to 62 Corvette, and these were the same shoes offered as the 51 to 58 passenger as well as the 51 to 59 1/2 ton.
The shoes are also the same as 59 to 62 passenger and Series 10 1/2 ton. They are listed separately because of the model name change. All have the same part number.
Corvette metallic shoes came in sizes from1 3/4 to 2 1/2 in.
The 63 Corvette metallic setup was, 2 3/4 Front, and 2 in on the rear.
Backing plates
51 to 54 pass standard brake backing plates are the same number as the 53 to 62 Vette.
There are several heavy duty brake backing plates offered from 57 to 63 Pass and Corvette. There is a different part number for the left side and the right side for each offering.
I would need the specific backing plate to match the HD shoes to the HD plates.
I hope this helps. The only visable difference in the HD backing plates, seems to be the cooling vents front and rear.
There were two other oddball offerings for the 63 Corvette, a self adjusting brake option that did have a backing plate that was different from all the others, and another special performance Corvette backing plate that was 5 times the price of the HD option.
Bottom line, the regular shoes should work without changing the backing plates, and the HD shoes will require the matching backing plate.
I don't know how the GM part number would be helpful for you, but if it is helpful, I can supply them for you.
I hope this is helpful.
Bob

 

I have a line on the whole steering knuckle assy. Complete, spindle to dust cap, so if I can adapt the backing plate and hub to the stock 56 spindle, or just swap the whole assy. without changing the ride height I'm not opposed to either option.

 

Please keep us updated. I'd like to see how it works out.

 

The Impala 2 1/2 inch backing plates were the same part number as the Corvette 2 1/2 inch plates.
Bob

 

Would that mean that the spindles are the same also???
Because if they are, the lower ball joints are bigger diameter than a tri five and I would have to sleeve them down somehow, if that's even possible?

 

I did a quick search, it seems this was a common conversion before disc brake kits came out. Sleeve the lower taper for the smaller 5-6-7 ball joint. Shorten upper control arm 3/4". It would be nice to hear from someone who has done this conversion.

 

Agreed! How would one go about sleeving the lower taper?

 

A job for a machinist.

 

I will have a look. I was going to do that, but my cat jumped on my desk, and both her and the book went to the floor. I had to sooth her ruffled feelings.

NB: my book does not go beyond 63 model year.
Spindles (knuckles in the book), are the same for std and HD brakes.
53-62 Corvette, forging number 3708831, part no 3737594
55-57 Pass, forging number 3707555, part no 3713906
63- Pass and Corvette 3828580, part no 3828580

Same inner bearing ND 909552, 909602, 909702
41-54 Pass
41-59 1/2 ton
53-62 Corvette

55-57 inner bearing, ND 909040
58-60 ND 909070

61-63 Pass and Corvette Hy A-153213Y (I think these are roller bearings)
I know that guys converted from ball bearings to roller, but you would have to measure the diameters to confirm. I always stuck with ball bearings)

Outer bearing assembly:
38-54 Pass
38-59 1/2 Ton
53-62 Corvette
56-58 Pass
59-60 (except taxi)
60-61 Series 10 ND 909567, ND909667, ND 909767.

The spindle nut is the same for:
46-63 Pass, Corvette, and 1/2 ton


Bob

 

Gentlemen, before I turn in for the night, I would like to extend a sincere Thank You for everyone's effort on this situation! Once again, the knowledge of the HAMB has proven itself invaluable! What a GREAT Brotherhood to be a part of!!! I hope to continue this conversation in the morning. You guy's are Awesome! Jedd

 

55-57 pass upper control arms are common and share the same part number.
55-57 pass lower control arms are common and share the same part number.

63 Pass and Corvette upper share a common part number.
63 Pass and Corvette lower control arms share the same part number.

I can't help with the dimensions. If you had both assemblies to play with, I am willing to bet there is an easy way to do this swap. There is so much parts sharing between GM models and years, that I was able to put buick front backing plates and drums on my 47 Chev. I was able to combine the parts from my 47 Chev and the Buick donor to make it work.

Bob