Can / Should I Upgrade to 8" Brakes?

[oilypaws]

Hi,

I started on my brakes during the weekend. When I picked up the car prior to dismantling, standing on the brake pedal produced a slight dip to one side and a very gradual coast to a halt, so I figured maybe one wheel cylinder was not totally frozen. :p (Car had been under a hedge for several years).

As expected, all the wheel cylinders are stuck (I managed to get the piston out of one in the vice, but gave up on the others!). Also, the front drums have a noticeable lip. The pads look to have plenty of meat but there's oil all over them so I guess they need replacing too.

The front drums are 7", which surprised me as it's a 1963 with 948cc engine. I thought that would mean 8" drums.

So here's my question: Can I change the front brakes to 8" easily, and should I?

It looks like I'd have to change the drums, backing plate and everything inside, although I could probably get used parts here for backing plate, etc. Do the 8" bits just bolt on to the king pins in the same way? Any other issues?

While I'm looking at it, I could also go the whole way and get a disk brake conversion kit. Any reason to choose the Ford kit vs the Marina kit? What model Ford is it based on?

Thanks heaps for any help!

Here's a picture of the recently painted and very blue body shell which I finished painting a few weeks ago![frame][/frame]

[mike.perry]

8 in front brakes are a straight swap for 7 in brakes. I would have thought that you would have a 1098 engine in a 63 car

[chickenjohn]

Fit a new set of front wheel cylinders - this will improve the brakes enormously over the seized ones. Then you will probably find no need to upgrade to 8".

Plenty of people have been happy with the stopping power of 7" brakes for years. Much easier than changing to the bigger brakes. Get what you already have working properly before changing anything! They are the same wheel cylinders for both brake sizes.

[sirrom]

It must be a very early '63 registration. There were '63 regos in NZ with 948cc. Think they were the last of the sedan production in NZ. The vans and utes carried on until early '70s
The 8" is more than adequate unless you driving fast and doing a lot of heavy braking. I have 8" in the front of my '62 sedan but make sure you dont use a hard compound linings.

[kennatt]

you will find a massive improvement if you fit 8" ,requires bigger back plate,and the bigger snail cam adjusters , allthough I'm led to beieve that the smaller ones work but with less adjustment range and obviously shoes,cylinders are the same. 7" were adequet in the day but not today I found with a small camping trailor the 7s on mine were a bit hairy,absolutly no problem with 8s they also eliminate ,to an extent brake fade. BMC will be along soon saying to change to wolseley.He's right far ,far better but a bit rare to get hold of these days.

[bmcecosse]

Absolutely - go up to the 8" drums, the 7" front drums are useless....... -unless you can find the even better 9" drums from a Wolsleley 1500........