'39 Dodge D11 disc brake conversion

[Trent P.]

Does anybody know if anyone makes a disc brake conversion kit for my stock '39 dodge d11 suspension? I would rather go that route if I could, instead of putting a crossmember in my car. It drives good, but I would like to put discs on it if I put a V8 in it. Someone said that some other spindles might interchange allowing me to use disc brakes.

[Dave Severson]

Do you have a pic and some measurements of the axle end and the kingpin size??? I'm not a Dodge guy, is a '39 a straight axle????

[TooMany2count]

dave they use a king pin BUT have upper & lowwer control arms....joe

disc brake kit

[Trent P.]

I haven't pulled the hubs off yet. 1939 was the first year for IFS. One guy said he heard something about spindles from a 2 wheel drive Jeep Cherokee would interchange, but he could not remember where he heard it. I saw something on the net about a guy used spindles from a "72 Monaco, but I can't find that again either.

[Mrbud]

Ply Do sell conversion kit for it to chevy spindles the 40 i bought had them already installed from them and they look great i have just bought a rack& pinion kit from them and will be mounting a chevy cav. rack this winter when i finsh getting all my parts gathered up . If you need some pix and a phone for pyl-do let me know Bud

[Trent P.]

Thanks for the info. I would very much appreciate the phone number, and website if they have one. I am also interested in your photos. What engine are you running? Did you have to cut the firewall? Did you use the original steering column? Did you have your original suspension rebuilt? If so, where did you get the kit? I called fatman fab. and they said I should use a frame stub, not a MII crossmember. This involves cutting my frame, and I don't really want to do that. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated. This will be my first attempt at this. It is not as easy to rod a Mopar, as I am sure you know. I have nothing against the other brands, but I want to stay as much Mopar as I can. Thanks again!

[Mrbud]

Trent Plydo's # is 1-304-475-3245 The kit comes either standard or dropped 3 inches which i used also they have a Disc Brake Kit to use either Gm Calipers and chrysler rotors or you can gm rotors if want i did because i used a camero rear end out of a 81 you can use a b-body chrysler product if you want to go the other way. around here for some reason they think the older chrysler parts are made out of gold. i'll try to post a couple pixs of the front end can take the front tire of so you can get a better look . it has a 74 318 out of a Dodge Dart can get bolt on kit from plydo for the engine they also have them if you want to go with a chevy motor. Havn't cut firewall yet but will have to take the humps out. have bought the stainless to do it. will do after i get the rack put in then i can take the engine back out. also if you go with a mopar motor you will need to put a truck oil pan on it for the clearance . as for the steering columun i plan on either a chevy van columun if i can find one or a flaming river if i can't. will try to attach a couple pixs if i can .The plydo people are really good to work with but no web site.

[Mrbud]

The Second picture

[Trent P.]

Thanks Mr. Bud!!! I appreciate all your trouble to help me out. You answered many of my questions. It looks like a pretty slick set-up. I may have more questions for you later on, if you don't mind. I noticed you live in Indiana also. I live just off US50 west, about 14 miles west of Bedford. I may try to post a picture of my car as it looks now, if I can figure out how to do it. Not sure it will end up on this site, if it makes it. Still haven't gotten all this computer stuff down yet.

[Mrbud]

Your Welcome will try to keep you updated as i go .Still gathering parts will start in a month or so on the rack. Still need to pick up a set of seats and columun then start Hope i helped Bud

[Mrbud]

Trent one more thing before you start read all you can find and look on amazon.com for How to Build Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge Hot Rods by Tex Smith/Rich johnson very good book. old school and older parts but you can get the sizes you need and can adapt them to some of the newer stuff Good Luck and remember to always mearsure 10 times before you cut and make sure everything is square and level !!!!! Bud.

[Shaggy's Dad]

Number one son and I are at the same point with our Dodge. We dismantled the front suspension this weekend and cleaned things up. We are using the Fatman dropped spindle uprights, Cavalier steering and Disc brake kits. Ply-Do has supplied the upper and lower shaft bushing kits. I bought "sway bar end links" supposedly for a 40 Dodge off ebay but I can't see where it would hook up. I made the mistake of getting a 2003 Cavalier PS rack. It doesn't fit. You need an 89 to 2001 which are available from AutoZone. Silke's auto Parts in Jacksonville FLA has hooked me up with NOS parts for the front suspension. We have decided to go with the Chevy hub/rotor assembly (also new from Autozone) and new calipers. We will use Chevy Camaro IROC wheels 15 x 7 with 4" backspacing if it will all fit. Chevy Nova 10 bolt 3.08 gears since its a cruiser with no overdrive on the 904 tranny.

[Trent P.]

Glad to hear you are working on something similar. Thanks for the rack tip. I called plydo, waiting on new catalog from printers to arrive. Let me know how it turns out. Good luck on your project. Photos?

[Trent P.]

Hey Shaggy's Dad, I forgot to tell you something. I just got a catalog from Kanter Auto Products and also from Pro Antique Auto Parts. Both have everything you need to rebuild your stock front suspension, from individual parts to complete rebuild kits.

[JoeRusselljr]

Well, I'm new to forums so bear with me a bit. I just purchased a 1942 Plymouth Business Coupe. It's an old story "Like I had in high school". I also want to add disc brakes and drop it down some. I have been talking to Plydo and also Lee Damon at Custom Rodder magazine. He wrote some articles on brakes and suspension for his '51 Plymouth in Rod & Custom a year or so ago. The brakes article is in the September 2004 Rod & Custom, and the suspension is on the Rod & Custom internet site. I was able to reach him by e-mailing Rod & Custom. Nice guy.

I'm trying to decide if I'm going to keep the flathead or put in a small block. Everyone has an opinion. Anyone want to express their's while I'm still in the deciding stage? The car looks pretty good and the little motor runs nice. The one I had in high school had the six and could bark the tires going into 3rd, if I hit it just right. I had 14 inch wheels and an Ansen's floor shift. Wish I could find that linkage again...