Power brake booster ???

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » September 30, 2008, 8:54 pm

OK, here is a question perhaps someone knows more than I do about.

I'd like to upgrade to power brakes. Currently have manual disk.

I hate the huge size of the 73-78 booster and MC. Those years had some sort of braket that stepped the booster up higher so as to clear the valve cover on a 460 (or so I am told)

The 65-66 booster also bolts to some sort of bracket on the firewall, right? It doesn't bolt directly to the firewall, right?

Anyone have pics of that bracket?

Anyone ever mate a later dual cylinder MC with the 65-66 brake booster?

I want something that does NOT stick 15 inches into my engine bay.

Ideas???

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » September 30, 2008, 9:12 pm

link
So these must be the brackets that are on the firewall. How many inches do they stand away from the firewall?

Thunderboy · Post by **Thunderboy** » September 30, 2008, 9:29 pm

CD,

I am curious - I don't care much for the power brake booster, either - why do you want power assist?

If high pedal effort is the issue, you may be able to get a different master cylinder bore diameter and an adjustable proportioning valve to work better than what you have now.

I am going to work hard on a way to avoid a power booster on my 66 F250 with the big 4-piston calipers from a dentside. I may need to play with M/C bore diameters, prop valves and even the mechanical leverage to get it right, but I think it can be done.

Of course, people have different thresholds for what is comfortable to drive. I also prefer manual steering, and I use narrow tires and the original large steering wheel to avoid it!

Drew

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » September 30, 2008, 9:36 pm

Well, I don't mind the manual brakes too much either, but since I've went to power everything else, its the last logical step......

Phil · Post by **Phil** » September 30, 2008, 9:57 pm

Here is a Torino setup FYI

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » October 1, 2008, 10:59 am

Heavyhauler wrote:Here is a Torino setup FYI

That's pretty much the same setup (although, I'm sure there's some small differences) as the one in my '76 Dentside. It leaves pretty decent clearance for the valve cover.
This one's a Camper Special, with the dual piston front calipers, in case that's how the difference is made.

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » October 1, 2008, 11:53 am

The brackets for the booster are very similar for all years, the later ones really are not stepped up to clear the engine. there are two styles, the direct rod style and the linkage style and some are big in diameter (mostly the light duty ones) and some are small (especially F250 and light duty F350). Original from 61-67 were very small comparatively but did a good job althought the 61-64 is really an odd setup the way it mounts and all. The 65-79 are interchangable with work such as changing rod length or redrilling the mounting holse slightly etc... nothing really major. If I was building a hot rod I would use a 73-79 F250 style that has the linkage as it uses a flat piece of bar for the connecting rod and it can easily be changed. There are also originals for a restoration: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0285555009 but I would leave these for teh guys that just have to have correct as they are few and far between these days. BTW this one is mine and it is pretty danged clean but teh picture makes it look worse than it is (it still had brake fluid in it when I took it off teh truck at Pick N Pull!). Hawkrod

Daplumma · Post by **Daplumma** » October 1, 2008, 1:33 pm

I used the one from my 65 Camper Special.I did have to shorten the rod.
Joe
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Fanatic · Post by **Fanatic** » October 1, 2008, 5:44 pm

I used a late 90s Ranger booster

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » October 1, 2008, 8:00 pm

Hawkrod wrote:Original from 61-67 were very small comparatively but did a good job althought the 61-64 is really an odd setup the way it mounts and all. The 65-79 are interchangable with work such as changing rod length or redrilling the mounting holse slightly etc Hawkrod

OK, so my thinking is that a unit for 65-66 with correct 65-66 firewall brakets would also be a clean bolt up inside the cab to my brake pedal.

But I want to put a dual chamber MC on there -- I think I am running a 74 one currently.

Can the "output" rod from the 65-66 MC be removed so as to lengthen or shorten it? Shorter is pretty easy. Longer would be a a bit more complicated.....

I like the 65-66 size a lot, smaller than the later ones and seems to sit a little closer to the firewall.

Or does anyone know of a way to get something even tighter to the firewall?????