Help Me Narrow My Options

[69TAPoser]

Here's what I have:

Car: '69 Firebird totally disasembled...purchased as a "project car" that was mostly disassembled. :hammer:

Front end: Just purchased GW upper and lower control arms with QA1 coilovers. Car came with what appears to be a conversion to a stock disk brake setup...but I know from the PHS docs that it did not leave the factory with disk brakes.

Rear: Ford 9" with factory disk brake setup (not sure what it came out of). Detroit locker, N case with 3.89 gears (planning on switching to 3.55). The rearend and locker came with the car (not installed).

Wheels: Will be 17" front and 17" or 18" in the rear. Style not chosen yet.

I would like to upgrade to an aftermarket brake kit (SSBC, Baer, Wilwood?) for the front and rear. The car will primarily be a street cruiser. My budget is in the "sport" Baer/Wilwood price range.

Any recommendations on front and rear brake "kits?" I am trying to keep this relatively simple.

Thanks for your input,

Phil

[67bird]

For the money I would say Touring classics. Do a search here and you will find several people that have their kits. They use readily avalible GM parts, and the customer service seems to be good. As for the rear, I would look at an explorer disc set-up, or a bear serious street. Both would be an improvement over stock drums.

[MonzaRacer]

On a ford rear the later model Exploder (Explorer) disc brakes set up works good from what i heard and does fit most 9in. Not sure but all you may have to do is whip up a set of brackets and mod some E brake cables.
Good Luck
Lee Abel
AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE

[69TAPoser]

I ended up deciding on the Wilwood kit # 140-2285BD and ordered today:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/11/wil1402285bd_w-1.jpg

Anyone else using this kit? :poke:

Phil

[Turbo Hen]

Just a heads up...the Wilwood kit is on sale @ Jegs....Pro Street kit #140-7582 for a 9" Ford

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=-1&catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=22991

[69TAPoser]

Just a heads up...the Wilwood kit is on sale @ Jegs....Pro Street kit #140-7582 for a 9" Ford

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=-1&catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=22991

Thanks! Now I just need to identify which Ford 9" it is. :hammer:

Phil

[restomodbird69]

i got the wilwood on my 9" and they look great

[69TAPoser]

Installed "most" of the kit on the front today.

However, I ran into a "snag" on step #1. The bottom bolt they show for the caliper bracket is 3" long for a 1" span???? :squint: I don't get it. If it wasn't for that 1 bolt it would be totally installed.

Anyone run into this? What am I missing? :help!:

Phil

[restomodbird69]

maybe they got a wrong bolt in the kit mine went on with no troubles,also on a 69 bird

[69TAPoser]

maybe they got a wrong bolt in the kit mine went on with no troubles,also on a 69 bird

Hmmm. Do you have the disk brake spindles (I do)? Is the lower mounting hole smaller than the upper (mine is)?

There is a shorter bolt included in the caliper bracket hardware package, but is the same diameter as the upper bolt (too big).

There is a disclaimer that mentions having to enlarge the bottom hole on earlier model spindles. It makes me wonder about the spindles that I have. According to the PHS docs, my car did not come with disk brakes, so I know there was a conversion done.

Thanks for your help,

Phil

[69TAPoser]

Okay, this was my 2nd stupid question of the week. :doh:

Got it figured out. The bottom hole isn't even threaded and I didn't have the 2nd piece of the spindle attached to the back. :pat:

The 3" bolt passes through the front and back prortions of the spindle and gets a nut on the back.

In my defense, this was not clear in the Wilwood assembly diagram. :poke:

Phil

[restomodbird69]

no question is stupid,theses things happen when we are excited to install new parts