Hydroboost from Napa/Oreillys

[Nick_R_23]

I’m looking to ditch the vacuum booster on my ‘78 K20 in favor of hydroboost. I already have the new pedal in place. None of the local stores have a hydroboost unit in stock, so hopefully someone here bought one recently and will know this. The pictures they show on their site of the hydroboost units they are selling are “universal pictures” and some show with the rod, and some show without. None show the firewall bracket.

If I go ahead and order one of these units, will it come with the firewall bracket and pedal rod, or will I be junkyard hopping?

Do any other units from the junkyard directly fit, such as 88-98, or 99-07?

What’s the best year to order one for, and are there any differences in the 73-87 units? Appears to be a 81/82 year difference, but not much info on that.

I wouldn’t even mind ordering a new one from one of the online brake places, but I don’t want anything “universal”, or that I have to make fit. I want the OEM setup - bolt in place and connect to the pedal with no drama.

[mongocanfly]

I changed the one in my C30 a couple yrs ago...no pushrod ,retainer or brackets,..it came from oreillys..
The last one I bought came from performance online..
Not cheap but it's all new and I needed everything
.it. came with rods and brackets
https://www.performanceonline.com/about-pol/

[Nick_R_23]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I changed the one in my C30 a couple yrs ago...no pushrod ,retainer or brackets,..it came from oreillys..
The last one I bought came from performance online..
Not cheap but it's all new and I needed everything
.it. came with rods and brackets
https://www.performanceonline.com/about-pol/

Unfortunately this looks like one of those universal kits made to fit this truck. I’m looking for the OEM setup - correct bracket, rod, etc.

I forgot they made the change from flare to o-ring fittings, so good call on that. A later o-ring unit would probably work better for me, as this has an LS engine and I’m planning on running the same pump and hoses as my 2002 1500HD has. Should fit nicely. The original box currently has conversion fittings for o-ring also.

[kipps]

The change in 82 was due to switching from SAE flare fittings on the power steering lines, to Metric O-ring fittings. If you use any GM unit from 82 and up, you'll need to use adapters on your hoses to connect it with your power steering pump and steering gear.

The power steering pump has an outlet fitting in it already that can be swapped out for the newer metric fitting. This would make one of your pressure hoses a stock 82+ part number. The other pressure hose that goes from the 82+ hydroboost to the 78 steering gear, will require some adaptation to make it fit, since both ends aren't the same.

[mongocanfly]

my 81 has O-rings..

[kipps]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

my 81 has o-rings

It was somewhere in the early 80's. I was just going by an assumption based on some RockAuto research. There's no guarantee that RockAuto is correct either.

[Nick_R_23]

RockAuto looks like they may carry a complete unit, but it’s out of stock. I can’t seem to find anyone that makes an exact repro with the correct factory brackets and rod.

[fordguy40]

Just picked one up from Classic Ind. for my '80 C30. No pedal rod or brackets included.