What are the green parts in the bottom of the first photo?

 

Seals for the bearings.

 

I've been thinking of going with that setup. Keep us posted when you get it installed.

What are you using for A-arms? I'm thinking of going Heidt's on those to get the extra camber.

Ernie

 

Ernie,

I'm using Heidt's arms, too.
We are working on setting a new heatwave record here in Texas or I would have already had these mocked up. Man, I hope we get a break from this weather soon. 2:

 

I don't understand what is an advantage to that pricey ECI kit. It uses 11" rotors with large GM single piston calipers. You can get the complete Heidt's kit with the same calipers and much less expensive 10.5" rotors. All you gain is 1/2" in rotor diameter(1/4" radius), which isn't very much considering the tremendous price increase. The wheel offset is identical, both move the wheel out about 1/2" per side, you get aluminum hubs for a little weight savings but that doesn't amount to much of anything for a street car, and you take the risk of spinning a bearing since ALUMINUM expansion rate is considerably different then the STEEL bearing race that rides in it. Yes, race cars may use alum hubs but they inspect/change brake components at each race.
I had one of those on a car once, the hub dust cap uses an O ring for a pressure fit to keep it in place, the cap would often fall out of the hub, was a little loose, would have worked better if the cap screwed in.
I can see a Wilwood kit with their alum calipers as at least being better looking but that GM caliper is the same in either case.

 

It was as simple as 2 things:

1. 10 1/2" rotors look little to me and 11" do not.
2. Everybody I asked about their ECI brakes really liked them.

I've called and asked Heidt's and Wilwood about making a near zero offset 11 or 12" set of brakes for their spindles, but they don't seem to have much interest. Dean from HotrodsUSA.com does, but his are about $1200.00

BTW, aren't almost all Wilwood hubs for their street rod kits billet aluminum? :confused0006:

 

There is nothing wrong with aluminum hubs.

The only problem I have with the ECI kit is that reading their literature and website that you might expect a narrower track width than the standard Heidt's brake setup. You don't get that, it's the same as the standard Heidt's setup. It looks like Geoff already knows that.

 

You don't think the steel race can get loose in the aluminum hub as it heats up? Especially on a street car that could see daily service all day long.

 

Yes, I knew they moved the wheels out a little. (3/16" of an inch) but that didn't matter much to me because I'm using 6" wheels and not slamming the car.

I also had other options in mind:

1. If I decided to go to 17" wheels in the future, I could increase the disc size to 13" for the cost of a set of brackets and 2 rotors from ECI.

2. I could use the cool new Wilwood D52 calipers with this setup and have 11" brakes with Wilwood calipers and near-zero offset for a very fair $$. (Remember, the Heidt's Wilwood set pushes the wheels out 7/8")

 

"You don't think the steel race can get loose in the aluminum hub as it heats up? Especially on a street car that could see daily service all day long."

Not if the fits are properly designed. And I don't think the fit needs to be all that different from a steel hub. It must be a press fit in either one. Lots of circle track cars use similar aluminum hubs.

 

Yes, and circle track racers check brakes every race and replace as necessary.
I think the "fit" is much more criticle for a alum hub, keeping the tolerances is a must. I hope those, or any alum hub is not machined in China.
Press fit is slightly more in an alum hub then a steel one, but there's a limit to that. The alum "hole' still grows more then steel ring as heat increases, I would be concerned if driven a lot.

 

Again, I don't think it's a problem. If I get some time, I'll do a calculation to demonstrate.

Think about it on the race car deal. There is no wear, no need for maintenance on the circle track car or the driver. If the race gets loose, it's over now, I don't car how long it's been run.

A friend has these hubs on a 57 and they've been trouble free. The machine finish is beautiful just like on Geoff's photos. Too bad you can't see them.

 

Mocked up my new ECI brakes today. Everything went together as smoothly as any project I've done on this car. No problems at all, it fit together nicely the first time with the Heidt's arms and spindles.

My custom 15" steel wheels cleared nicely, but I got a pleasant surprise when my 14" vintage torq thrusts cleared perfectly, too. I was shocked that they worked, the offset is perfect with these brakes.

These torq thrusts had been on the car since the 70's and I really liked them because they have a cool vibe. Nice to know that I can run these as an option.

Anybody got a pair of vintage 15x10 torque thrusts for sale?

Now on to the rear brakes....

 

Looking like a car again. Nice work Geoff.