Musclecars of the 1960s may have been quick off the line, but most of them didn’t stop worth a damn. The vast majority of the street machines ever built in Detroit--namely, GM’s 1964-1972 A- bodies--came equipped only with marginal drum brakes. Massive in weight for their day and front-heavy (especially with optional big-block engines), the Buick Special, Skylark, and GS; Chevy Chevelle; Olds F85, Cutlass, and 442; and Pontiac Tempest, Le Mans, and GTO really benefit by upgrading to front disc brakes, which provide superior resistance to fade, perform better in the wet, and offer a superior modulated pedal feel that contributes to smooth, sure stops. Today the aftermarket offers a plethora of mild to wild front disc-brake conversion kits, yet a persistent swap-meet addict or salvage-yard scrounger can still score his own production-based components. This story will give you some insight into swaps for any budget.
