LUVTruck.com

Who wants a true bolt-on 5 lug disk brake conversion kit for their LUV truck for an affordable price?
If this interests you, please read on.


Hey all,
Its been a while since I've made a post on here but I have returned....
And with me, I have brought a friend of mine, a long time racer, mechanic, machinist who is just getting into the LUV truck scene (screen name: MPRE).

Mike is currently engineering a 5 lug disk brake conversion to upgrade the 6 lug drum brakes on his '74.
I have talked to him a few times over the past week and he has been spending day and night working on this thing. The guy is pretty obsessed with perfecting this setup on his LUV truck. Basically with all the time and trouble involved in this thing, he and I think it would be a waste not to share it with the rest of the LUV truck community. Mike has the means to mass produce this kit and was wondering if I could get on here and gauge the interest from you: the LUV truck community for a true bolt-on 5 lug disk brake conversion kit.

The basic kit would most likely include:
2 new vented rotors (5 lug with 4 3/4 chevy lug pattern)
2 new calipers
2 caliper mounting brackets
new inner and outer wheel bearings
new seals

Options for the kit would include:
2 new brake lines
new Master Cylinder
and probably a few other misc items.

The kit currently in development would upgrade an early LUV drum front brakes to 5 lug disk. There will also eventually be a 6 lug factory disk to 5 lug vented disk conversion kit available for the later model LUVs.

The Aerospace kit seems like a pretty nice set up for a race type application but the one currently in development is perfect for all types of use, daily driving, street, strip. Although we haven't added up final costs, the MPRE conversion kit should be a lot less expensive than the Aerospace kit. Best part is, most replacement parts would be available from your local auto parts store and the rotors can be machined anywhere.

So what do you guys think? Would you be interested in such a kit? Please pass this info along to any of your friends that might be interested in such a product and send me your questions and input. Please also give me a:
Definitely
Maybe (if the funds are available)
Not gonna happen.

This will help us figure out the demand for it and decide on production numbers.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

I just returned from the MPRE shop and the passenger side disk brake set up is DONE. Pictures should be up tonight. The drivers side will be finished shortly as it is just a mirror image of the other. Once they are both done and we have an idea of how many people are interested, we will start pricing out costs for mass production. I already have my stock disk brakes redrilled for 5 lug but I will be converting over to this MPRE kit soon as it will provide much better stopping power than the factory disk.

Also.... Who would be interested in a bolt-on Rack and Pinion steering kit for their LUV? That R&D on the prototype will start shortly using a new light weight Flaming River brand manual rack and pinion unit. I've seen the rack and its a very nice piece. Pictures of unit will probably be up in a week or two.

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1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

what about just a cheap adapter kit for S10 spindles? then you get the 5 lug.

if somebody could produce them at resonable cost and sold for decent price I think you would make a killing.

all it needs is all of the parts and little bits in one easy to produce kit.

I mean, I dont want to down cry your efforts, or your engineering.... I imagine it is top notch and top of the line!

But why go through the trouble? I mean upgrades are cheap - lowering spindles, ball joints, bearings, regular and upgrade rotors, calipers, etc etc, and are found all over the place. Look at any circle track racing catalog and all of the GM G-body spindle stuff - and how cheap high end racing stuff is, its the same spindle as the S10.

I dont know... maybe im crazy... but I havent had a problem with my spindle swaps, other than the pain it was to insure correct engineering. if the kit had already been produced... id have bought 5 already.

But yea, if you had a nice rotor system I would definitly be interested. And a few of my friends would be as well.

so Maybe (if the funds are available)

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

sounds good. but a 5 lu pattern to fit ford, jeep, and dodge wheels wud b killer. me and my buddies come across those wheels all day long but not so much the other. but still anything wud b better. good job!

dr_frankenstein56:
This kit adapts S10 rotors and calipers to stock LUV spindles which keeps cost and involvement down.
Engineering a disk brake kit isnt really that hard to do if you don't mind cutting this up and welding that on. Making it a true bolt-on kit using as many existing LUV parts as possible is what took all the engineering and time.

Adding S10 spindles to the kit bumps the cost up and messes up the whole bolt on concept of it. We are trying to keep this as affordable and as simple as possible.



new2luv:
there is more R&D going into this kit and there may be variations to it. There may be a lighter weight race version of it that uses a Wilwood universal lug or a Ford Ranger or BMW 5 lug front rotor but for now, since its a Chevy truck, it gets a Chevy lug pattern.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

Pictures of the kit prototype
I apologize now for the rough look. it hasnt been cleaned up or painted yet, i just wanted ppl to get an idea of what its going to look like.

We will have some better pictures up as soon as the frame gets media blasted and painted and the kit gets the finishing touches.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

last pic
Comments or questions appreciated.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

thats baddass whats the price?

_________________
77-luv-stock (Selling or Parting out motor blew up)

75-luv mikado-V8 350 soon

Not exactly sure on the price until I find out what the demand is and Mike gets quotes from the local flame cutting business for the first batch of caliper brackets. I will post that on here as soon as we find out how much interest there is in this product. I can tell you that the Aerospace Componets kit, the only other true bolt on kit around is $815 plus shipping according to their website. The MPRE kit will "most likely" come in AT LEAST $250 less (about $550).

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

[quote="LUVSADRAG"]dr_frankenstein56:
This kit adapts S10 rotors and calipers to stock LUV spindles which keeps cost and involvement down.
Engineering a disk brake kit isnt really that hard to do if you don't mind cutting this up and welding that on. Making it a true bolt-on kit using as many existing LUV parts as possible is what took all the engineering and time.

Adding S10 spindles to the kit bumps the cost up and messes up the whole bolt on concept of it. We are trying to keep this as affordable and as simple as possible. /quote]

oh ok ok .... yea thats kool man, i can dig that!

Thats exactly what I had in mind, something that used a way more common part is a perfect idea.

im just scared as to how long LUV ball joints will be available into the future..

But I am totally down to pick up a set!

A.j.

_________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

Does it move the wheel mounting out farther than the Luv setup?

_________________
75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

I am sure some people would want to buy the kit minus the parts they can get locally to save on shipping. I would think you could ship the rest by US postal service... If it fits in the box it ships.

_________________
75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

I knew that question was coming up soon. Mike is measuring it and will let me know whether the track width changes. I should have that info soon.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

So you would rather run around and get the other misc parts locally than just have a one stop shop, get it all in one kit? I'm just trying to get a feel for what people want and on one of the other forums I was on, I mainly got the opposite reaction. Some of the members that live out in BFE in Montana or Iowa, etc. (and even the ones that don't) say they either dont have an autoparts store down the street they can just run to or they didnt want to waste the time and gas running around to pick up the rest and wanted a one stop shop type of kit.

I had planned on checking out the flat rate USPS boxes so shipping cost shouldnt be too high.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

Not wanting to rain on anybodys parade, however with todays machining equipment, why not just make new hubs that utilize the stock rotors, with either Chevy or Ford bolt pattern. Built a few back in the late 80's, cost was outrages as each one was made singly on a lathe. Drawings from then are long gone.

Comment on brackets; it appears that the caliper rotation forces are being applied to the slider pin. The brackets can be lazer cut, however the point where the caliper slides should be machined for accuracy to take the rotational forces.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

I hate the stock calipers, mine stick in the bores if it sits for any length. Rotors and calipers are heavy, don't think it will all fit in one flat rate box, but the small parts, brackets and adapters would be killer...

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I agree i can buy the rotors , pads and calipers local and get lifetime warranty on them . Small parts adapters and brackets would be the way i'd want to go also .

-

why not just make new hubs that utilize stock rotors?. a couple reasons... 1) Nobody knows how long stock LUV rotors (and calipers) will be around for. 2) stock LUV rotors don't exactly provide what I would call great stopping power. 3) Sure machining technology has improved over the years but why do any machining at all if its not necessary. Why re-create the wheel when its already sitting on the shelf ready to use with some minor modification. Every added machining process adds just that, an additional process, not to mention additional cost.

Rotation force is being applied to the same spots as it would be if it were on an S10 truck. In fact the backing plates on an S10 are pretty flimsy compared to the 3/8" steel these plates are made of. Just the same, the plates are machined very precisely.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

Actually, the small parts is about all you can get local and and use right off the shelf. I believe all the major components, although readily available, will need some modification by a skilled machinist in order to work. Thats whats driving MPRE to offer this as a complete kit.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

That does not matter too much to me. We have had to deal with that on dropped spindles on VW's for years.
But custom machined rotors to get the whole thing done does, it leaves you hanging in the wind later down the road when it is no longer available.... I am sure it does not matter to some others... I am keeping mine till I can't drive anymore..

_________________
75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.