SCAREBIRD CONVERSION PHOTO ESSAY

[moporridge]

Wow never in my life have I seen a 2 piece hub / rotor on an Aspen....and I have seen thousands of Aspens,Volares, Diplomats,etc........These were never used on these cars........If it has a chrysler logo on it then it was put there by some aftermarket vendor.....The bearings may be Aspen but the hub never was used on these cars...I have been a specialized Mopar only mechanic for half of my life and I would have noticed these right off.....This is a new piece that will obviously bolt to an aspen and but they never were used on the originals. Just because its available from 2 sources and has a Mopar logo doesn't mean they were used on the original cars....This is an awesome piece........the original hubs for D-100's are weak....not much material surrounding the outer race....After years of pounding the race will start to spin inside the hub.....This new "Aspen" hub has plenty of beef around the race........Can't wait to purchase a pair ! Thanks for the article and parts list....and parts layout..
Correct me if I'm wrong but I have never seen an Aspen with Drum brakes either...which is the only way I could see there being a part like this on an Aspen. The disc rotors were a one piece unit....

[Grodr625]

Hey Pat, chill out.

The two "liars" mentioned in my post would be my parts store and Scarebird, LLC., NOT YOU. If anything, I feel as if you're calling me out by arguing the validity of my info. Even at that, I haven't made any defensive overtures. Relax bud, it's just a truck.

I mentioned that I didn't think that there was any advantage to two entities telling the same lie. What would they have to gain? Do you suppose they did it in hopes of starting a ridiculous back-and-forth between two truck enthusiasts? Perhaps to conceal their secret stash of wheel hubs that fell from outer space?

Dodge probably built these cars with seperate hubs/rotors for awhile and then upgraded to a unit part. I don't know. Without going back in time or combing through some moldy service manuals, I never will.

I have seen the hub/rotor UNIT, meaning a solid cast hub/rotor for sale on NAPA.com. I have also NEVER seen any seperate "hubs" for sale other than those offered by Scarebird, LLC. Since I have a set in my posession and they have a Pentastar cast into the face of the part and all of the 1976 Dodge Aspen bearings and seals fit into them, what am I to believe?

Whatever the deal is, if you want to get to the bottom of it, e-mail Scarebird, LLC. As for me, I couldn't care less. These things fit and they're already mounted on the truck. I don't care if they came off the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile.

If there are those of you who are still interested in reading this post, please do so in good faith. I would have nothing to gain by misleading anyone. I have learned a lot from this web-community, and I am grateful for the knowledge and feedback. I am gathering together my parts list today for a post later on.

Cheers,

Chuck

OWNED

nice write up chuck! Can't wait to start my upgrade. Keep the pics coming!

[SomethingCrazy68]

@moporridge...
Thanks for the info. I am willing to defer to an expert in any case. I don't know about an aftermarket company using the Chrysler pentastar...sounds fishy...maybe it's a race-only/directconnection piece. Like I said...if anyone "needs" to know the origin of these units I would urge them to contact Scarebird LLC. Even if they were not OEM, I believe that the application of these hubs MUST be the early model Aspens since I found a seperate rotor for sale as well. Original equipment on an Aspen matters very little to me since I do not own one. What DOES matter is the fact that these hubs are a definite upgrade and they fit like a glove.
Today is Sunday and I am watching the ballgame. My next post will detail the fabrication and install of a new hardline that I twisted the other day.
My mistake is your gain as I plan on documenting the process for the general edufication of us all.

cheers.

chuck

[soopernaut]

The rotor part number appears to be for a 95 Crown Victoria and it seems that that Crown Victoria rotors were mentioned before when this kit first came out.

[SomethingCrazy68]

@soopernaut...
the rotors I am using for my conversion are indeed Crown Vic rotors as prescribed by Scarebird for use in this application.
Earlier on in this thread you will notice a picture of an independent rotor followed by the description of the part. The application is for 1976-80 Dodge Aspen. This rotor is marketed by Centric and is independent of a wheel hub.
I am in no position to argue with anyone regarding the origin or OEM status of either the hubs rotors or hub/rotor units. I only know what I can see with my own two eyes.
With this post I officially surrender any and all claims that I am running Aspen hubs. I am running mystery hubs that accept Aspen bearings and seals.

Rock on.

chuck

[soopernaut]

@soopernaut...
the rotors I am using for my conversion are indeed Crown Vic rotors as prescribed by Scarebird for use in this application.
Earlier on in this thread you will notice a picture of an independent rotor followed by the description of the part.

chuck

Ooops, I didn't go back far enough in the thread.

[moporridge]

@ something crazy68 ....... Yeah.....you know you could be right about that being a Mopar direct connection hub.....They made kit race cars with Aspen bodies available to dirt trackers back in the 70's.....this just might be one of those pieces...Or if Aspens were ever offered with drum brakes....I'll bet this was the hub... Its a mystery thats best left unsolved I do believe.....your probably having nightmares about hubs and rotors already :0)

[SomethingCrazy68]

I couldn't stand it any longer. I sent another e-mail to Scarebird.

Turns out these hubs are nothing so exotic as DirectConnection/race only, and NO they did not fall to earth from Outer Space with Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

According to an unnamed source at Scarebird, they are Dodge Diplomat Rotor/Hub units that have the braking surface machined off. I do not know why the last Scarebird Rep. told me they came from an Aspen. I have no idea what the truth really is either. This explanation just seems to make sense. Furthermore, it makes the cost seem a bit more justifiable. (I still think they could be a little cheaper.) I might have guessed they were originally unit hub/rotors considering the clean machine edge on the part, I just thought it had been done to fit the Ford rotor though.

Now we can all take a deep breath and bask in the warm glow that is knowledge.

I apologize for not doing this earlier and for making any contribution to the confusion regarding these parts. In my role as the author of this post I should have done more homework and made an effort to clear this up earlier. I will endeavour to rise above the mediocre as I continue this project. Hang with me, I'm almost halfway there.

Interestingly enough, and for a change of subject, I found a neat part yesterday. I twisted a small brake line the other day and had planned on doing an entry on here about flaring and bending. I was a little nervous though since I had never used a flaring tool. Well...turns out I won't need to. My parts store is selling lengths of tubing that are already wearing fittings and flares. Sweet. I only have to put an "s" bend in it and install. Sorry if you were looking forward to the flaring pics, but I'll trust an expert to do the tricky stuff when it comes to my brakes.

Tomorrow is a day off, so stay tuned for another post sometime in the evening or early Thursday AM.

Cheers,

Chuck

p.s. now I want to know why Centrik is marketing an independant rotor for 76-80 Dodge Aspens...WTF?

[SomethingCrazy68]

@supersweptline69
@wally426ci

I don't know yet and I don't know yet.

No I did not plan on a power booster. If I switch out the rear end to an 8-3/4 I will upgrade to four wheel disc and possibly add power brakes.

The prop valve placement is something I have pm'ed IROD about. I have yet to receive a reply. Stock prop valve from a Dart may work, but I am not the expert you want to consult on that. My thought is that a hydraulic system is designed to work AS A SYSTEM, and therefore all components should be compatible from an engineering standpoint. I will not offer an opinion since I would hate to tell you something that wasn't so. My prop valve was $63.00. A bargain if it does the trick. No part is a bargain that lets you down though, no matter how cheap/expensive.

I have all of the receipts. I will post final cost when I'm all finished. I shudder to think what I'm spending.

Chuck

[SomethingCrazy68]

NEWS FLASH!!

Here is a pic lifted from a post by "alwaysamopar"over in the photo gallery titled "A New Project". The job was done on a Dart Swinger with power brakes, but it's the same prop valve I will be using.

a clean install. I hope mine looks this slick.

Chuck

[wally426ci]

Great work Chuck, I will definitely be looking into this whole deal most likely next year....

[moporridge]

This was a great post and I have a spare axle that I've been meaning to get ready for my 61....this post will help with that job.....and finally I can get some well needed rest .....that Aspen hub was driving me batty ! Naww...just kidding..Thanks.....

[SomethingCrazy68]

Hey Fellas!

Poor weather, a birthday celebration (my lovely and tolerant wife) and abundant work has postponed the completion of the Scarebird project. Watch this space for an update real soon.
I got my brake line replumbed and am ready to move over to the other wheel. More pics to come.

cheers,
Chuck

Can't wait to get her back on the pavement.

[chilort]

Best money I ever spent. I was able to reuse my original hubs though.

[moparjunkie72]

Hey Pat, chill out.

The two "liars" mentioned in my post would be my parts store and Scarebird, LLC., NOT YOU. If anything, I feel as if you're calling me out by arguing the validity of my info. Even at that, I haven't made any defensive overtures. Relax bud, it's just a truck.

I mentioned that I didn't think that there was any advantage to two entities telling the same lie. What would they have to gain? Do you suppose they did it in hopes of starting a ridiculous back-and-forth between two truck enthusiasts? Perhaps to conceal their secret stash of wheel hubs that fell from outer space?

Dodge probably built these cars with seperate hubs/rotors for awhile and then upgraded to a unit part. I don't know. Without going back in time or combing through some moldy service manuals, I never will.

I have seen the hub/rotor UNIT, meaning a solid cast hub/rotor for sale on NAPA.com. I have also NEVER seen any seperate "hubs" for sale other than those offered by Scarebird, LLC. Since I have a set in my posession and they have a Pentastar cast into the face of the part and all of the 1976 Dodge Aspen bearings and seals fit into them, what am I to believe?

Whatever the deal is, if you want to get to the bottom of it, e-mail Scarebird, LLC. As for me, I couldn't care less. These things fit and they're already mounted on the truck. I don't care if they came off the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile.

If there are those of you who are still interested in reading this post, please do so in good faith. I would have nothing to gain by misleading anyone. I have learned a lot from this web-community, and I am grateful for the knowledge and feedback. I am gathering together my parts list today for a post later on.

Cheers,

Chuck

Sorry had to add my 2cents worth . The original Weinermobile was built on a 1968 d200 chassis

[SomethingCrazy68]

Hello Mopar Freaks!

Long time, no talk. Well, after the wettest spring of my life I have finally dried out the garage enough to continue working on the 68. I have the passenger side stripped to the backing plate and I shot all the mounting bolts with PB Blaster. I will allow them to sit overnight and hit them with the impact tomorrow. After that it should be smooth sailing.

Cheers.

Chuck

[SomethingCrazy68]

So, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

My 68 stops on a dime, and straight ahead.

Let me suggest that the rest of this post be specific requests for information and or photos. I have photos of the passenger side process but do you really want to see them?

What do you want to know?

chuck

[MBigDaddyM]

Looking at the photo of the supplied backing plate, there are the four holes to mount it to the spindle, the two holes to mount the caliper two, but what is the hole above and to the right of the spindle for? How thick is the backing plate and do they mention what grade of metal it is? -BD

[SomethingCrazy68]

I don't know what that hole is. That would be a great question for Scarebird LLC. I have found that they are very quick to reply to email questions.
The plates are heavy duty to be sure. I never put a device on them to measure but they are thicker than the original pie plates for drum hardware. Grade of steel is another great question for those guys.
Let me say this...I can't remember a purchase that has been quite as satisfying. The kit components are well made and the parts list was easy to assemble. The install was slick and simple as well. I would have finished a long time ago if it hadn't been for poor weather and other distractions.
Not much of an answer but maybe I can dig up some of that info when I get in front of a real computer. This update
via cell phone.
cheers,
Chuck

[CSS-Registry]

Looking at the photo of the supplied backing plate, there are the four holes to mount it to the spindle, the two holes to mount the caliper two, but what is the hole above and to the right of the spindle for? How thick is the backing plate and do they mention what grade of metal it is? -BD

that looks like a Chrysler Pentastar to me :)

Ben