After reading some of the other posts about brake conversions, it has me asking more questions than I had when I started. Which is a good thing.
What I want to know is it worth spending the money converting the drums on my FB to disc (presumably HR disc front end)?
What happens with the steering aspect? Do they put in a rack and pinion?
If I go the HR disc front, do I need to put a HR or EH diff in aswell?
I am not great mechanically so how much do you think I would be looking at if i got someone to do it all for me?
I am in SA.
Shaggy
FB brake conversion
Jeff,
It has a grey motor in it at the moment and I am thinking of sticking with that. I don't need the upgrade I just thought it was a good idea (I'd like to be able to stop safely, people say the drums are not the best). I have not driven the car yet because when I bought it, it was in pieces. Yes, it's still in pieces. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
It has a grey motor in it at the moment and I am thinking of sticking with that. I don't need the upgrade I just thought it was a good idea (I'd like to be able to stop safely, people say the drums are not the best). I have not driven the car yet because when I bought it, it was in pieces. Yes, it's still in pieces. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Gday Shaggy
Recond original equipment will work fine, just remember it is an
old car with old technology, it will stop ok, it just wont stop like a modern car.
To improve the braking, you could slip a complete HR front crossmember in,
you only need to change the outrigger (forward facing brace) to your FB one.
You will also need to swap your diff to a EH unit, which is a bolt in operation.
This will give you matching (compatable) brake wheel cylinders.
I have done this in my sedan, I am still running a grey motor and decided to
use a HR drum brake front because I felt that was more than adequate.
A disc front will require the addition of a brake booster only.
Hope this info helps
Cheers
Jeff
Recond original equipment will work fine, just remember it is an
old car with old technology, it will stop ok, it just wont stop like a modern car.
To improve the braking, you could slip a complete HR front crossmember in,
you only need to change the outrigger (forward facing brace) to your FB one.
You will also need to swap your diff to a EH unit, which is a bolt in operation.
This will give you matching (compatable) brake wheel cylinders.
I have done this in my sedan, I am still running a grey motor and decided to
use a HR drum brake front because I felt that was more than adequate.
A disc front will require the addition of a brake booster only.
Hope this info helps
Cheers
Jeff
I'm with Thommo on this one 
.
A properly working drum brake front end is pretty good if you drive the car as a fifty year old car.
Notice I said 'properly working" .......... there is a definate difference in braking effect between a partly working and correctly working drum setup.
If you drive it like a Quadrupple Turboed Nitrous Nissan bling bling blah blah blah ZX 1234 or whatever they call 'em , then you will be unhappy with the brakes as standard.
Disc are better than drum by the design and application but isn't an absolute necessity in my eyes and experience.
.A properly working drum brake front end is pretty good if you drive the car as a fifty year old car.
Notice I said 'properly working"
.......... there is a definate difference in braking effect between a partly working and correctly working drum setup.If you drive it like a Quadrupple Turboed Nitrous Nissan bling bling blah blah blah ZX 1234 or whatever they call 'em , then you will be unhappy with the brakes as standard.
Disc are better than drum by the design and application but isn't an absolute necessity in my eyes and experience.
I can't think what to write here so this will do.
I second that as well.
When I bought my EK I was wary of the drum brakes, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how good they stop. I've had to do a few heavy stops and they've pulled up well. If you only drive it on weekends you only need to adjust them a couple of times a year.
As FB MAD said, if you drive the car like it's meant to be driven, the brakes are more than adequate.
When I bought my EK I was wary of the drum brakes, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how good they stop. I've had to do a few heavy stops and they've pulled up well. If you only drive it on weekends you only need to adjust them a couple of times a year.
As FB MAD said, if you drive the car like it's meant to be driven, the brakes are more than adequate.