dtk132

Hi, Ive been looking on the brake forums for a while now, but hadnt seen much on lt1 conversions. I have a couple questions and if you could help out i would really appreciate it.Ive got an 86 camaro, down to nothing but the chassis, org a v6 with rear drums and front disk. I got the calipers from the 1993 LT-1, and the calipers wont bolt up to either my front stock spindles or my backing plates. I was reading a lot of the forums and the tech articles but they were for the LS-1 conversion and this is LT-1. Will i still have to cut the axle flanges to get on the caliper mounting brackets for the rear? and also i need the rear backing plates/caliper mounting brackets, do you know where i can get those?And for fronts, i noticed that my suspension is different then the lt1, it has the shocks inside the springs, and mine are seperate, will i need the front spindles from the 93 lt1 and will it bolt up? or can i somehow modify the stock spindles to hold them and can i modify the rear backing plates or will i need new ones? Any help i would really appreciate. Thanks,Dan

1991camcamaro

iTrader: (1)

ok i will start, you asked a bunch of questions so i will try to remember them all!

1st. 3rd gen camaros do NOT have upper control arms. (they use the struts that bolt to the front spindles) so inturn 4 gen camaros DO HAVE upper control arms. so they can NOT bolt on (i believe the words MAJOR MODDING is needed to try to fit these on a 3 gen, its not practical. waste of money and time, so the whole idea of using 4 gen spindles on a 3 gen is thrown out the window.

2nd. the use of LS1 brakes is super nice since i have these on all 4 corners of my camaro. see you have to modify the stock 3rd gen front spindles, in order to fit the LS1 brackets, calipers, and rotors. (best upgrade for the brakes, i can stop on a dime, it almost hurts to stop so fast j/k)
there is only 2 people that i know make this mod.
www.bigbrakeupgrade.com or MR Ed or ebmiller88 (he is a big time brake guru on this forum)
both are around the same price.
so once again i think the LT1 brake rotors are about 11 inch and LS1 brake rotors are 12 inch so you can guess why everone picks to install LS1 brakes,
also i dont know anyone whos got LT1 front style brakes on a 3rd gen.

3rd. rear brakes, there is a link on here somewhere to install LT1/LS1 rear brakes on a 3 gen rear end (modding is needed). ( this happened on total accident to me, i found a 4 gen rearend for about 150.00 bucks with the LT1 rear pbr disc and alburn posi 3.23 (i rebuilt it)
this is basically a bolt on upgrade ( 4th gen wheels are needed when doing this) i install the 4 gen rearend on my camaro, and then i my buddy totaled his 2000 camaro, i bought all LS1 brakes from him for 180.00 bucks.(they just fell into my lap) since i already have the 4 gen LT1 rear disc......... LS1 rear brakes are as simple as
unbolting the rear brakes and pulling the axles and bolting on LS1 backing plates and reinstall everthing, some brake line adjustment is needed.
also the 1993-1997 with out ASR is super close to the 3 gen rear for better matching of the brake system. and i dont even need a proportioning valve.
the only problem i have know is E-brake cables, Mr ED is working on this right now.

hope i answered most of your questions. if not..... ask me more detailed questions.

1991camcamaro

iTrader: (1)

i do have everything but 1 nut for both rear LT1 PBR rear disc brakes,

from a 1994 LT1
all bolts and nuts (execpt one nut missing)
both rear mounting plates.
both rear caliper brakets
both rear PBR Brake calipers
both rear disc (only had them on for about 2 weeks)
and rear used pads will need to be replaced soon.
and rear LT1 e-brake cables (new) but these cables will not work on a 3rd gen.

let me know if you want them. pm me if so

norcalz28

iTrader: (13)

LT1 brakes SUCK, that's why no one "upgrades" to them. They are just as bad as stock thirdgen brakes, with the exception of the rear PBR calipers which are fairly decent pieces of hardware. Save yourself a lot of time and energy, and spend it on tried and true brakes. You can find a number of setups that will outperform stock LT1 brakes.

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

I thought the cables from a 93 to 97 were direct bolt on for a 4th gen upgrade with a bracket mod in the trans tunnel area , why do yours not fit.

1991camcamaro

iTrader: (1)

i didnt not want to mod the trans tunnel for a ebrake cable
Mr ebmiller88 is working on a direct fit LS1 cable to go from a stock 3rd gen e-brake "T" to the LS1 brakes at the axles.

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

How much do you want for this set up.I can buy new e-brake cables. My main problem is is that I have a moser 9 inch just waiting to be picked up. I want to put a disk conversion on the moser. I have drums on my 84 Trans Am right now. If I go with the LT1 I will not have an issue with clearance runing 15 inch slicks. My understanding is is that with an LS1 set up I will have clearance issues. I wonder if the cable eb miller is making up will work with an LT1 set up on my car? They use the same ends as the LS1 do they not? Thanks for any info.

1991camcamaro

iTrader: (1)

UMMM, I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT ITS WORTH, HOW ABOUT THIS. I WILL TAKE PICTURES AND SEND THEM TO YOU, AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE WORTH AND MAKE YOU A GOOD DEAL.

LS1 CABLES WILL NOT FIT ON THESE LT1 REAR BREAKES.
ONCE AGAIN I HAVE NEW E-BRAKE CABLES FOR THIS SETUP (I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE E BRAKE SYSTEMS, I WAS WRONG BUT YOU COULD PROB... MOD THE TRANS TUNNEL AND THEY WILL WORK. I WILL INCLUDE THESE CABLES, I JUST WANT THEM OUT OF HERE TAKING UP ROOM.)

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

ok I was just checking out some pictures and yes the cable end that hooks to the front ebrake cable is different from a 93-97 . That is why that cable does not work. The cable from 90- 92 (first edition)has the proper ends to mount to a third gen up front original e-brake cable Hardware. Both styles 93-97 and 90-92 pretty well have the same end that hooks to the caliper. Now I am starting to understand. If I could find a picture of the LS1 cables I would then be able to find what the ends look like at the caliper. Just to see. On the cable eb miller is making ,the end at the e-brake cable would have to be the same anyway too fit a third gen original front cable Hardware , without any modding. I would love to see an LS1 cable just to see how it mounts to the caliper.

dtk132

Thanks for the help guys.

Im a big believer in buying the best so im with you on the ls1 swap instead of lt1.

Try and put this into my perspective though. I have a car thats down to completely nothing, i mean no engine, trans, interior, not even a windshield, and i need to get this car done by the 15th of june. Money for me is sort of an issue, i have a job making 6.50hr andi cant leave because its a family business and there is no other option of getting another job or anything like that. with family businesses your there 24/7 and it sucks.. (f retail !!)

The brakes, REALISTICALLY what would you do?? either put the back the stock setup back in ( with those drums in the back but keeping in mind thats free besides small things like new pads) or do something with those lt1 calipers that i have. I can always upgrade and WILL when more money comes around, but this car has to get done by june 15th. This car is not a race car, it will only be used for show competitions and that only, the money i would spend putting ls1 brakes in there i could have an engine with that.

Any advise i would really appreciate, im stuck right now.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Dan, I have all the parts for the rear conversion on hand so let me know what you need. Also, with the right cables the rear LT1 brakes are a direct bolt on...you need cables for your specific car. What year and model do you have?

The front brakes you got will not help you but the rear discs will work well for you. Please let me know if you have any questions. It may take a couple of days for me to get back to you, I have 50 PMs to get to tonight.

Ed

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

ED , I have sent you a few pm becuase I was undecided with which upgrade to go with. I have decided to go with the LT1 updgrade , because of clearance issues. I wnat to run 15 inch slicks ocassionally. I have an 84 trans am using LT1 brakes off of a 93-97. What cables do I need for a direct bolt up. Will the first edition style from 1992 trans am be a direct fit. I am not trying to hyjack the thread , just trying to get some info . Thanks Roger

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

WIth your '84 get some "first design" cables for a '89 or 90, just make sure they're first design. Should be P/N 94264 at Napa or something like that. They'll bolt right in and be correct.

Ed

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Or CarQuest (P/N BRK 8788, 1st design, 1434 mm). The original GM cable is discontinued (GM P/N 10164125). I had to use a Dremel to slightly enlarge the retangular slot on the caliper end of the cable to make it fit the parking brake lever. Two minutes work.

JamesC

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the replies guys , that makes life alot easier.
Roger

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

Payment Has been sent

84TranzAm

iTrader: (2)

What a great guy to deal with, These are exactly as described. Thanks again

wishihada3rdgen

I had the same question. I am considering upgrading to the LT1 front brakes. I can get the LT1 calipers, pads, and rotors for next to nothing. Are they really not any better than the stock third gen brakes? Would I need to use different brake lines and/or would I need to change anything else to make this swap work? Thanks for the help

1991camcamaro

iTrader: (1)

i do NOT know anyone that makes custom spindles for the LT1 front brakes so they can just bolt on just like the LS1,

I would just buy the LS1 brake kit its the best brake upgrade ever and its less that the LS6 upgrade.

i would not even waste anytime about trying to install LT1 front brakes,

although the disc in the rears will work, also keep in mind no body has e-brake cables for these, and LS1 rears e brakes are still in R&D.

FlippindaBird

iTrader: (10)

so LS! calipers and rotors are direct bolt ons??? like take off the third gen and bolt on the ls1 ones no other parts needed?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

No.

JamesC

norcalz28

iTrader: (13)

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

And STILL no word on the cables, sorry fellas.

Ed

FlippindaBird

iTrader: (10)

ok tyhanks james but that wasnt quite the answer i was lookin for...

what do i have to do to put ls1 brakes on my vehicle... ill need new brakes in about a month and theres a set on ebay fairly cheap right now