Brake Master Cylinder Relocation

[joeydirt]

What are the pros/cons of the various master cylinder locations?

1. Stock location under the floor
2. Firewall
3. Inside Dash

[_Ogre]

1. stock location: uses stock pedal and leaves the firewall free



2. firewall... nothing. i can't see any pros cons: you can't do this ^^^^

3. inside dash... again no pros and many cons biggest one is being hard to fill, also hard to plumb.
they are designed more for difficult situations. our trucks have many options, under dash is not one

[joeydirt]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

2. firewall... nothing. i can't see any pros cons: you can't do this ^^^^

Agreed, I thought I had seen a few though

[joeydirt]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

our trucks have many options, under dash is not one

What are the other options?

[Coupeguy2001]

Here's my firewall. Just cluttered enough to be interesting. That's my brake reservoir on the right side of the pic. I used the 3 holes from the original voltage regulator to mount it. The reservoir is mounted to a plate using a stainless steel muffler clamp, and the plate is on those three holes with longer bolts and spacers.

[Speedbumpauto]

It ALL comes down to how important a clean firewall is to your build theme. I'm kind of a freak about that kind of thing. A con to the stock? location with a booster is it can be pretty close to headers/exhaust if you are in to somewhat killer engines. That can be more of a hassle than one might believe. I've devised a clean heat shield that helps some, but some days, you REALLY got to love it. Also. The floor mount demands a hole of some sort in the nice carpet and the fight to keep it looking good and not binding a little on the pedal can be another hassle. Ain't building hot rods great!

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by joeydirt

What are the pros/cons of the various master cylinder locations?

1. Stock location under the floor
2. Firewall
3. Inside Dash

It boils down to the look you want and if your trans/exhaust fit with an under floor. Under floor need a remote fill unless you want to crawl under it each time to check/fill.

Under dash is a last resort or a hot rod thing . it can interfere with wipers, radio AC ,pretty much anything else under the dash and a PIA to fill and stinks for weeks when you over fill when bleeding it.

Boost on the firewall again is a personal preference , no remote fill, easy pedal geometry most parts can be sourced at a local parts house

I recently put one on a 50 firewall because there was no room under the floor for 5.3 engine, exhaust manifolds, pipes and a 4l65e and floor shift linkage.

[Apachemike]

I like mine on the firewall. Not in the way and I can reach everything

[qbeanie]

Installing a remote reservoir is a great idea. Is there any modifications required for the master cylinder cover?

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by qbeanie

Installing a remote reservoir is a great idea. Is there any modifications required for the master cylinder cover?

depends on what mc you use
my truk has an 03 mustang hydroboost with a remote off a nissan quest
they use the same mc adapters, you can see the remote reservoir in the pic above
some of the old corvette style mc's can't be converted to remote reservoir
many of the aftermarket mc have adapters built into the cover or sold as an add-on

[torchlight]

Here's a reminder that on Advanced Design trucks, you can put the booster/mc under the floor but outside the frame by using a through-the-frame linkage to the brake pedal. Gets the brake stuff completely out of the way of exhaust, driveline, etc. Not sure if this also works on Task Force trucks, but it worked well on my 53!

[Speedbumpauto]

That's a neat idea. Think it could have worked for me if my brain had been outside the box a little.

[markmdz]

now that's how you do it torchlight! Is that an off-the-shelf kit or did you fabricate that yourself?

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by markmdz

now that's how you do it torchlight! Is that an off-the-shelf kit or did you fabricate that yourself?

Well, neither really - the shop in Minnesota that has been working on my truck came up with this. Don't want to take credit for someone else's talented work! I tell you what, though - for as many people that like to put the mc/booster under the floor on these trucks, someone should make an off-the-shelf kit for this setup!

[markmdz]

Originally Posted by torchlight

Well, neither really - the shop in Minnesota that has been working on my truck came up with this. Don't want to take credit for someone else's talented work! I tell you what, though - for as many people that like to put the mc/booster under the floor on these trucks, someone should make an off-the-shelf kit for this setup!

That shop is definitely a "think outside the box" type of place, so my hat goes off to them for that.

Do you happen to have anymore pics of it? I'm intrigued and would like to do something similar to mine based off that design. How easily accessible is the fluid reservoir?

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by markmdz

That shop is definitely a "think outside the box" type of place, so my hat goes off to them for that.

Do you happen to have anymore pics of it? I'm intrigued and would like to do something similar to mine based off that design. How easily accessible is the fluid reservoir?

I'll post a few more pics that I found, but I can honestly say that I haven't found what I consider to be a really good picture of the portion of the linkage inside the frame.

The fluid reservoir is not in the most accessible location. Currently, you need to crawl under and fill using a mirror and one of those hand pump hose things. You could do a couple things to make this easier, however - you could make an access cover through the floor of the cab if you have interior floor upholstery that is removable. Or you could do a remote reservoir somewhere.

Probably the best shot I could find of the entire linkage. Has been painted black, though so kinda hard to see what is going on.


Here you can see exactly where the mounting bracket is on the frame.


These frame pictures actually aren't too bad for showing the setup. This setup uses the stock brake pedal arm, by the way.




This one kinda shows how the pedal arm goes up into the cab.


And here's a picture looking in from the drivers side front fender.


Hope this helps!

[Rude Dude]

I put both pedals on firewall, my 56 I used a 69-72 Chevy truck pedal on the 55 Truck I used a modified jeep pedal. ONLY BECAUSE I AM GETTING OLD AND DONT WANT TO HAVE CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK TO SERVICE IT!

[markmdz]

yep, that's a bunch 'o pics. ...interesting setup right there. ...and kudos on the steering shaft as well. Very clean install.

[yossarian19]

If you work out the remote filler, residual pressure valves, power steering / vacuum plumbing and all of that, have the space under there and don't mind crawling underneath (or have a lift) sure, mount it to the frame.
I had mine there for 600 miles or so and am now moving it where each and every OEM has put their brake systems since 1960: on the firewall.
Some folks really make a fetish out of a clean firewall and for them I can't disagree.
Me? I want to pop the hood and have everything within arms reach. The tin work hasn't been done anyway so it looks like poop, smooth or not.
Plus, how would people know I'm running hydroboost if they couldn't see it?

[roger55]

I have the CPP firewall master and their swing pedal set (automatic).

After a few minor mods, I really like it. Details are in my build thread with several photos.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by yossarian19

Some folks really make a fetish out of a clean firewall and for them I can't disagree.

that would be ogre



i did have to change out the mc once in 27,000 miles, i'd still put it under the floor

this is the original reservoir



and the nissan quest adapters in the ford mc and the back of remote reservoir

[Highsider]

Inside the frame on a 57 panel.
I mounted a small small charcoal vacuum canister near the distributor.