Tech question--

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Way back in about 1992 or so,I decided to build a '68 Chevelle with a 327 for Stock.I figured that if I didn't like the combo,I could always sell it off, so I found a rather ugly sun bleached metallic blue 68 Malibu in Lancaster, in the high desert, for $500.00. It had a perfect dent free body with no rust issues at all, a black interior, but it needed the whole rebuild, which it got. As I disassembled the car, I noticed that it had factory front disc brakes with two piece rotors that had the rotor removable from the hubs.The calipers, mounts and the spindles were exactly the same as the Monte Carlo, but it had a manual master cylinder that was wider than the drum brake master cylinder. I had never seen factory manual front discs on a Chevelle up to that time, or since then. Chuck Norton told me that early Camaros about that time had a disc option like that, so since he has early Camaros,I donated all that stuff to his cause and changed the car over to drums from some parts car I had that was a suitable organ donor. Never had a bit of trouble with the drum brakes, but since that combo in Stock rarely goes over 110 at the finish, it doesn't seem to be a problem. That was five Chevelles ago, the Monte Carlo now has the exact brakes the Chevelle has, and it seems to stop OK as well despite the weight difference. I seriously doubt that the car would have any consequential problems from the conversion.

[FED 387]

In 1973 or so I decided to build a Modified Production class car--- I bought a bare bones 6 cylinder 3 speed on the column with no radio and a tinted windshield---cheapest camaro probably that Chevy ever built--less than 20000 miles little old lady traded it in on a new 1972 Nova 4 door cuz her lady friends couldn't get in the back seat--perfect interior and body just needed a good wax and buff Red with a Black interior ---Went on to put a 287 CI engine and a Nash 5 speed trans plus a Pontiac rear later tubbed the car and installed a full Moly roll cage ,swapped over for a 9 inch Ford rear with a 6:50 gear-- ran the STOCK factory DRUMS on the front and STOCK Ford 9inch DRUMS on the rear--as we progressed thru several classes finally settling on C/D/F MP and then F/MP only--- as a C car we ran speeds of 135-137 MPH never had any problems stopping but several Short shutdown area tracks would make you pay attention!!! Finally settled on F/MP and ran consistent 127 plus MPH----- so we decided to put Metallic brake shoes on the front wow you could almost "loc em up" if you jumped on them and got them hot !! but definitely helped in stopping!!!-----finally we put Semi-metallic brake shoes on the rear mostly to help with staging as the front Fully metallic shoes would not hold real well until they got hot---Never even/ever considered Discs at the time ---That car weighed as little as 2950 or as much as 3600 with driver---thats my experience ---FED 387

[Coleydog]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

Rulebook says "Must be equipped with stock production four-wheel hydraulic
brake system, or aftermarket disc brakes"

Sounds like to the letter of the rule, if you remove the OE brakes, you must install aftermarket discs.

The next obvious question would be, why?

Drums are “stock production four-wheel hydraulic break system”

[Coleydog]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

Rulebook says "Must be equipped with stock production four-wheel hydraulic
brake system, or aftermarket disc brakes"

Sounds like to the letter of the rule, if you remove the OE brakes, you must install aftermarket discs.

The next obvious question would be, why?

Drums are a “stock production four-wheel hydraulic break system”