Chevy & GMC Vans

Which years will fit it? I am going to make a trip to the wrecking yard and see if I can get a used pair so would like to ask for the newest model year possible

My opinion is a good set of new drums are so cheap,it hardly is worth going to a junkyard and then maybe needing to have them turned.

I agree with GEJ....oh crap

Get new ones as they are fairly cheap at around $30 - $35 each. If you get a set of worn-out ones from a wrecker and you have them turned to be true for $15 each and then find they are worn too much you will be out the cost of a new set and still have to buy a set. This is one area where being cheap will not pay off.

Do a search for the big brake upgrade. While you're at the J/Y look for the 11" setup from a Roadmaster or Caprice. It's a bolt on swap. It shouldn't cost any more than a pair of new drums.

1985-2002 will fit, but please don't grab used braking surfaces or hydraulics. Brakes are the most important thing on any vehicle, best to buy new.

Even Grumpy will be getting new drums, and I'm very cheap when it comes to Grumpy.

Dean's right, I used to pay more to have drums turned than you can get them new now. gotta love china.

This is the perfect time to upgrade to 11 inch rear brakes from the 9 inchers. I got mine from a `92 Caprice taxi saloon car. The cop-cars are the same, look for green silicon radiator hoses under the hood, this is a sign of a heavy duty police or taxi package.

You could grab that alternator at the same time because it`s a 140 amp and that V8 fanblade because it has 7 blades to pull more air through the rad. The engine oil cooler and the trans cooler are worth grabbing also because they are heavy duty and huge.

Thanks! I went with the new drums but will keep your suggestion filed about the brake upgrade. If I ever decide to redo the engine I will do the brake upgrade.

anyone know what years for that caprice rear end will fit....i'm assuming the 94-96 impala rear, with disc brakes will work as well.....and straight bolt in? it's the exact same length and has same gear ratio's?

i'm trying to search for it right now at local junk yards on carpart.com

one of these?

8.5" ring gear, SW
8.5" ring gear, Sdn, drum rear brakes, 11" brakes
7.625" ring gear
8.5" ring gear, Sdn, disc rear brakes, w/o police opt
8.5" ring gear, Sdn, disc rear brakes, w/police opt
8.5" ring gear, Sdn, drum rear brakes, 9-1/2" brakes

by what i'm reading it would be option 2 or 5.....

SoCalli V8 wrote:You could grab that alternator at the same time because it`s a 140 amp and that V8 fanblade because it has 7 blades to pull more air through the rad.

I like the sounds of that alternator... bolts right up and same pulley size??

what years of HD or police package will work?

It's not the entire rear end we are talking about. It's just the brakes. The backing plate and all of the brake hardware is what you need to upgrade. This swap is well worth the effort. Once you get everything to do the swap it only takes three hours to complete. And that's not being in a big rush.

Smiliesafari wrote:It's not the entire rear end we are talking about. It's just the brakes. The backing plate and all of the brake hardware is what you need to upgrade. This swap is well worth the effort. Once you get everything to do the swap it only takes three hours to complete. And that's not being in a big rush.

ahhhh, ok.....so just grab the parts not the rear....got it......so this would be the drums then if i read correctly......do we keep the axles that we have or have to grab those as well? anyone know if the disc set up from the impala's will work? didn't i read somewhere on the old board someone had done it......

crash wrote:

SoCalli V8 wrote:You could grab that alternator at the same time because it`s a 140 amp and that V8 fanblade because it has 7 blades to pull more air through the rad.

I like the sounds of that alternator... bolts right up and same pulley size??

what years of HD or police package will work?

`91-`93 Copcars and Taxi Caprices had this package with the 350 tbi motor. I grabbed the alternator and bracket so that I would be sure that it would all bolt up to my V8. Some cars I have seen a small bolt-on bracket that allows the 140 amp alt to fit the older 100 amp bracket. I haven`t mounted it yet so I didn`t compare pulley sizes, swapping over shouldn`t be a problem, or using a larger or smaller belt.

`94 and up these cars came with the multi-point LT1 motor, look out for all `91-`95 Caprices with green coolant hoses in your wrecking yards.

For more info checkout the 9c1 forums http://www.9c1.net/forum/index.php?showforum=9

Yes, you need the drums also. And no you don't need the axles. You do need to pull the axles out of the Astro rearend to install the brake backing plates. It's not a big deal. You'll have a chance to clean out the inside of the diff, change the lube and install new axle seals.

Thanks! If I ever have to do the front brakes - with the disks - is there an upgrade I can do there also?

Thanks for all your input.