Drum front brake question on Kaiser?

[bjordan]

I am getting ready to buy a 1967 Kaiser M715 this afternoon but I have some concerns about the front axle. I am hoping someone here can educate me alittle. I have searched alot and have not found any anwsers.

This Kaiser is pretty much fubar as far as the body goes so I am really only interested in the drivetrain. The front is a passenger drop Dana 60 and the rear is a Full Float Dana 70. Both axles are drum brakes and that is where I need help. Is it worth getting these axles for $1000 and then converting them to disc or will I spend too much money? What is involved in the front conversion? Will the front need C's and knuckles or can I just replace the knuckles and hub assembly. Will this effect the shaft length or can I use the stock shafts? Any help would be great. I found what I need for the rear D70 it is the front that I am stuck on.

[kb1jkn]

There are a few weak links in that front end. One is the cost of converting it to disk. Second is the axle tubes are kinda thin (though with a truss I dont really see this being an issue.) The spindles are bolted into the steering knuckle and tend to loosen up and pull the threads out, and this can be fixed by machining the knuckle to accept studs. The axle is also a closed knuckle design too, though i dont really think thats all that bad. It all depends on what you want to do with it. Pretty much the cool factor is the 5.89 gears in that pig and they are very wide. Other than that, its outdated old iron in my opinion.

[CRO]

I would seek out a newer Dana 60 if I had a grand to spend...the only plus is that the gears are low..you are otherwise getting weaker coarse splined shafts and a funky closed knuckle front that can be hard to track down parts for(depending on where you live)