59 Caddy Scarebird Disc Brake Conversion

[GCaddy59]

Hi folks.  I’m new to the website, I’ve enjoyed reading all the posts over the last few years, and I thought I would finally join up.  I bought my dream car, a 59 Coupe DeVille back in ‘06 from the 2nd owner, who drove the car here to the East coast in 2004 from Southern California.  I’ve become pen pals with the original owner, who bought the car brand new in downtown LA with her husband when she was 19.  I enjoy her stories about cruising on Route 66 with the car back in the 1960s.
I’m currently planning out my project to convert the front drum brakes to disc, and I will also be converting to a dual master cylinder in the process.  A couple times driving the car, it has pulled severely during braking, particularly once on the highway, so I think this is the way I need to go for safety purposes. 
I just bought the Scarebird bracket set up.  I liked the kit because you use Cadillac parts from various years that are readily available at the parts stores (calipers from a ’00 Escalade, Rotors and bearings off a 72-76, etc.)  I’ll bet there’s at least a few of you out there who have already done this to their cars.  Based on research I’ve done reading the posts in this forum, I was planning on using a 1968 booster along with the dual master for a disc brake car, and custom bending all of the lines.  I figured that I would use one of the proportioning valves that I see advertised in the Summit catalog, unless anyone has any better suggestions?   Also, with the kit, I noticed from the parts list and from the pictures that it doesn’t appear to use any backing plates.  This sounds kind of dangerous, as I would think that it can expose the inner disc rotors to grease/oil, or other road hazards.  Has anyone done this conversion and used backing plates? 
My biggest hold up in proceeding with the project is the rims.  According to the directions (and my interchange manual), I need the rims from a 1969-1976 rear wheel drive Cadillac, however the folks at Scarebird could not confirm whether my original wheel covers would fit (and stay!) on these rims.  I looked through the posts, and it looks like it has been discussed, however I couldn’t find anything conclusive.  Does anyone who’s done this conversion know what definitely works with the original wheel covers?
Any advice anyone can provide regarding this project would be much appreciated, and thanks! (And, sorry for rambling on such a long post!)

George
1959 Coupe DeVille
1960 Sedan DeVille (In pieces)
1969 Dodge Dart GT Conv 273-V8
2003 Ford F-150 STX
2010 Ford Taurus SEL

[Miguel]

Hi.
I would say if such kit does not allow the use of the original wheels and hubcaps, it is not the best choice kit.

Have not done that kit on a '59, but done on '61, '62 & '63; using 5/16" spacer for the original wheels to not rub on transplanted 1969 calipers.

Try to discern where the rubbing/contact happens in your case and if the spacer solution works and is acceptable for you.
Miguel

[GCaddy59]

Thanks for responding, Miguel.  This kit uses the original spindals without having to modify them, and I believe the original rims won't fit because of the shape of the inside of the rim, since they weren't intended for disc brakes back in '59 (I've heard that swapping to later-model 'disc' rims was required for a lot of the different conversions).  What kit did you use for your conversions?  What did you use as spacers on the rims?   Maybe I can use the same kind of spacers instead of swapping rims, that would save a lot of effort!
Thanks again,
George

[CarFreak]

Always a PITA finding the 'right' rims for 59 caps to fit. 

Pretty sure that the 69-76 RWD rims won't work.   

[GCaddy59]

That's what I was afraid of....Do you know if '69-'76 RWD rims won't work because the caps fall off, or if it's because they just won't go on?  If it's a matter of keeping them from falling off, maybe there's some rim-mod that I can try.  But I was missing one hubcap when I got the car back in '06, and through my searching, I swear I saw a later model Caddy (1980s?) riding around on '59 hubcaps! 

I took an 80 mile drive with the '59 yesterday, ran pretty good, since I just rebuilt the carb.  But, with all the labor day traffic, the few times I had to stop quick reminded me how badly I want to get this upgrade done!

[GCaddy59]

Well folks, I'm having second thoughts on using the Scarebird brackets that I purchased.  I really want to keep my original '59 hubcaps, or at least have the option of going back to them if I desire.  But, it doesn't seem that there is any rim that will allow me to both use the original '59 wheel covers and fit over the calipers/Scarebird brackets.  Per the Scarebird customer service people, no "reasonable thickness spacer will work here".  I don't have a 69-76 RWD rim to try my hub caps out on, but I've gotten pretty consistent feedback everywhere that the hubcaps will not fit, so there's no point in me bothering to order a set.

I still want to do the disc brake conversion, so does anyone know of a kit or which parts from a later model will work so that I can retain my original hubcaps?  Maybe there's a thread out there that I've missed dealing with the subject?

Thanks for your help.
George

[jw]

i read where someone said he was able to use stock rims by grinding the calipers, but can't remember what year the application was.

[kadillackid]

I have a 59 and 75 , so I thought I would do the cap test. CarFreak was right on the money,  I measured the distance across the center of the wheels and the 75 wheels are a bit smaller in size than the 59's  The 59 caps are too big to fit on the later rims, I took a pic with both caps on the ground and you can clearly see the difference ! You "may" be able to trim down the retaining tangs on the 59 caps and rebend them to fit, maybe find a crap cap to experiment with  

1975 wheel cover on left, 1959 on right

[GCaddy59]

Thanks a lot for doing the cap test!  Your picture confirms to me that the '59 caps won't work, and if I start trimming them down and then they still don't work, then I'm stuck with useless hubcaps that won't fit '75 or '59. 

Since my hubcaps won't fit and I can't keep my stock appearance, I'm actually considering abandoning my 'Scarebird' conversion project.  I just received Kanter's Fall 2010 catalog, and they're selling a complete 12" rotor conversion kit for $1,099 where they claim that 'these [new] kits allow you to use your factory stock wheels".  Has anyone seen these?  I have been meaning to call Kanter to get more info on the kit.  I think you keep your stock spindles, but I'm also curious about who is actually manufacturing the kit and what the rotors/calipers/pads the kit uses are off of.

That's a nice '59 you've got there!  What size rims are those?  Can't tell from your pic if you have a little whitewall on them or not.  Persian Sand??

[CarFreak]

I just received Kanter's Fall 2010 catalog, and they're selling a complete 12" rotor conversion kit for $1,099

Ahh, the supposed 'complete kit' from Kanter.      

I'd recommend if there is not a specific parts list, you ASK exactly what is included before handing over the credit card number. 

[jw]

i bet a hybrid rim could be welded up using a steel chevy pickup rim with the outer flange cut off and the 59 caddy flange welded on.

you'd need a big lathe and a competent welder

[kadillackid]

That's a nice '59 you've got there!  What size rims are those?  Can't tell from your pic if you have a little whitewall on them or not.  Persian Sand??

15 X 6 Radir's with thin white walls ( 235-75-15)    and Persian Sand

[EZ]

I like the wheels and thin white walls.  Nice look.

"EZ"

[GCaddy59]

I thought I'd give an upate on my 'Scarebird' disc brake conversion.  I officially decided to abandon the project, given I'd lose the option to maintain the stock 'hub cap' appearance.  I really liked the kit, since you can just buy all the parts from the local parts store.  The guys at Scarebird were really cool, I sent the kit back to them and they were super quick about refunding my money.  We've had a ton of salt on the roads here in CT for the last couple weeks, so my '59 willl be just hanging out in the garage until either spring or until we get some serious rain to wash off these roads!  I'll be getting back to the drawing board soon, I gotta find a new disc conversion kit that will allow me to keep my original wheels!  I have a couple leads, including possibly that Kanter kit, but we'll see....
-GC

[7125]

 try these guys  they are great and will make it for you  i have used them with no problem
tell them gabe send you
http://www.kore3.com/contact_info.php