Stop! Confused about updating 32 coupe front end.

[LeadFreddie]

She's not home yet but the build is well, building in my head.
I want to update the front end to juice brakes traditional style aka no mustang and disk brake combinations.

Here's what I want to use:
STOCK Axle and 53-54 passenger drums. * Steel 14 inch wheels will be used)

If anyone can fill in the blanks with parts needed to convert (and any part sources or numbers) I would be in your debt.
I tried this on HAMB and its like reading in a fog bank (or I'm thicker than I though I was)...

Thanks everyone for sharing your expertise.

[vette59jdwl]

LeadFreddie  53/54/55/56 chevy truck streight axle with hydraulic  brakes will bolt right into your 32 chevy frame how ever you want it keep your springs or go with the newer ones take that 235 you talked about, pick up a 5 speed and a rear end out of a dodge D50 six bolt keep the dodge driveshaft just in case you need parts to bolt to that rear.now you can take any 6 bolt wheels off of your sierra or silverado or go with the original wheels with wide white walls.Its a piece of cake  vette 59jdwl

   Along with the 53/54/55/56 Truck parts you could maintain the master cylinder and a lot of the 55/56 chevy parts in your build and then pawn the rest to fund your old school projects.

   Check out the spring selection below that will give you some good ideas. it is under Chevy Parts Sources   Dropped axles &  Axle reference Sites

[madmike3434]

15 " in wheels is the better choice , because there is not a lot of selection in 14" anymore.

If your going to run steelies, disc brakes would be hidden behind them and barely noticeable .

With disc brakes its about knowing your going to STOP, not when I am I going to stop.  Best conversion I ever did.

mike lynch

[ghost28]

I will look around to see if I can find the article that I copied, it's about converting your axle over with all the stuff you are talking about.

[LeadFreddie]

I will look around to see if I can find the article that I copied, it's about converting your axle over with all the stuff you are talking about.

I  want to keep it old school, drums, powerglide, 55-57 rearend..

[Rattiac]

Check out my build . If there is any other questions , I'll be happy to answer.
This was a crucial part in my build wich no info was available.

[LeadFreddie]

Check out my build . If there is any other questions , I'll be happy to answer.
This was a crucial part in my build wich no info was available.

A great thread, thanks. Enjoyed the read.
I've build a few fords over the years and others. The Model A's I built traditional, as there would have been in the 50/60's. I want to do the same with my Chev coupe. That'll mean no parts newer that ( give myself some room) say 1962.

[sixball]

Man, I'm glad you are here! That is what I am doing with my '26 Chevy roadster. The newest part is the '62 Chevy 153 4 cylinder engine. I want to stay with six lug wheels. Right now the plan is to use a '48 pickup front axle modified to sit on top of the springs. The '48 drums will work with early Chevy wire wheels. My fronts will be 19" wire spokes. Those brakes are not as good as the next style but I may be able to us the newer brakes with the older drums. I like the style of the cars on the HAMB but the style of the guys here. A lot more leeway here, you can set your own restrictions. I'm not really into the build yet, I'm building pieces.
https://picasaweb.google.com/sixpics/26ChevyRoadsterBuild?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLTucjOnozEBA&feat=directlink

[LeadFreddie]

Man, I'm glad you are here! That is what I am doing with my '26 Chevy roadster. The newest part is the '62 Chevy 153 4 cylinder engine. I want to stay with six lug wheels. Right now the plan is to use a '48 pickup front axle modified to sit on top of the springs. The '48 drums will work with early Chevy wire wheels. My fronts will be 19" wire spokes. Those brakes are not as good as the next style but I may be able to us the newer brakes with the older drums. I like the style of the cars on the HAMB but the style of the guys here. A lot more leeway here, you can set your own restrictions. I'm not really into the build yet, I'm building pieces.
https://picasaweb.google.com/sixpics/26ChevyRoadsterBuild?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLTucjOnozEBA&feat=directlink

Very cool, that'll be a cool build.

[LeadFreddie]

Heres my two A builds... Both done old school
The Plymouth sedan delivery is a 34 4 door sedan with a 327 Big Block
*(yes, a Big block RAMBLER 327)

And my 32 Chev I'll take possession of next weekend. I may have to add a year to make all parts no newer than 63 - that way I can use a Nova rear end if I need too.

[sixball]

Nice stuff.

[TFoch]

Big Block Rambler 327
Don't hear those words too often

[LeadFreddie]

Big Block Rambler 327
Don't hear those words too often

that's what made it a fun build. Coneheads car show know it all would ask me what the motor was, usually they would say it's a Ford yblock and I'd  correct them. When I'd  say 327 big block they'd  quite stontchly correct me that chevrolet 327 is a small block and that was no 327. I'd get the last laugh and say, no they didn't make a 327 big block... but rambler did. Lots of laughs for sure.
ps..would never do it again. Had to use the rambler tray and shorten the torque tube..from a 66 ambassador.  Whoa thunk it?

[Rattiac]

I 2nd the 54-55 chevy drums. There's a coupe running around here with that set-up. I also saw a 32 Buick running Volarie (something like that)  brakes.

[vette59jdwl]

Rattiac--When it comes to hubs all one has to know is the length of the spindle and the size of the inside and outside bearing. Get a HOLINGER interchange manual and compare. Most times you can match other makes of spindles to your size and use valarie on chevy spindles.I use to chose the early camero spindles because the hubs come apart in two pieces I used the inner parts made a bracket and used GM disc brakes on the front.There are many ways.I have seen where guys cut the spindles off of one make of car and had the pro welded onto there front ends I am not sure if that is legal or not any more.With the straight axles. If you check log on then scroll all the way down the page till you see CHEVY PARTS SOURCES then go down to Dropped Axles and open that up and read the width of the springs the size of the spindle and bearings and what fits what. you can come up with anything from larger manual brakes to power hydraulic brakes to disc brakes  its all there  vette59jdwl