Installting '87 Custom Delux (V10) brake booster

[brap999]

I can't seem to find a clear answer on this, but will an '87 custom deluxe (i guess it's also known as a V10?) brake booster work on my '63 C10? I'm wondering if the hole in the firewall is big enough to fit the booster.

I have a master cylinder for a brake booster equipped truck laying around from an '87 truck, but don't have the brake booster yet.

My '63 has a later model booster and mc from an unknown donor vehicle that had ABS, but i believe the MC is going bad. Since I don't know what it's from I'm thinking of just swapping in parts from a truck I am familiar with so in the future this wont be such a hassle.

[scotts62]

I have one off of a '87 in my '62 and i think i had to cut a bigger diameter hole when i smoothed the fire wall. Ill have to look to be sure.

[brap999]

scotts62 - I think you confirmed what I was afraid of. The bore size on the master cylinder is larger diameter than the stock m/c as well as the hole in the firewall, so it's leading me to believe that the part of the brake booster that connects through the firewall will also be larger than the hole in the firewall.

I may just see if a '70 something master cylinder fits this brake booster I already have, what ever it may have come out of.

[Captainfab]

It all depends on how you mount the booster to the firewall. I sell a booster bracket that makes mounting a brake booster a bolt on affair, except for lengthening the pushrod.

If the booster you currently have is a typical GM booster, then you can likely bolt on a '67 and newer master cylinder. Just which master will depend on what brake system you have. IE: drum/drum, disc/drum, or disc/disc.

[brap999]

Thanks Captainfab.

The booster I have now, which I don't know what it came out of, was just bolted to the firewall with two bolts where the original master cylinder should bolt. Unfortunately the master cylinder that is bolted to the booster is going bad, and I don't know what it all came out of. It has the ABS ports on it, so its from a late model vehicle.

I know the the m/c off the '87 Custom Deluxe that I have does not fit the brake booster, the bore (or the part that connects into the brake booster) is too large for the booster.

So I figure I either need a matching Booster for the '87 m/c, or a matching M/C for the unknown booster.

So I think I'll take your suggestion and just get a late 60's or 70's m/c and re-use the booster I have as it is still good.

BTW, my truck is drum/drum for now. Will be upgrading to discs all around sometime in the future.

[brap999]

The '87 custom deluxe brake booster did end up fitting on my '63 firewall with no modification, the bolts lined up with the bolt holes for the master cylinder, and it fit through the hole in the firewall which was where I thought the issue would be. However, it is wider and longer than the old brake booster. It fits fine with my stock 230, but those with aftermarket intakes, or possibly v8's might have clearance issues, I'm not sure.

Taking Captainfabs advice, I found a late '70's C10 master cylinder at a local autoparts store, which fit the old (but still working) brake booster. I cleaned up the old brake booster and painted it making it look brand new.

I'll be giving my father the '87 master cylinder and brake booster for his '87 custom deluxe. Since he's helped me so much with my current project it's the least I can do. His truck doesn't stop for crap anyway, so I'm sure it can't hurt.

[Captainfab]

For a drum/drum brake system, you should use a '67-'70 master cylinder.

[brap999]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

For a drum/drum brake system, you should use a '67-'70 master cylinder.

Catpainfab can you elaborate on why that is? I don't plan on keeping drums for long, just haven't gotten around to upgrading to disc/disc.

I was driving around with a more modern style master cylinder on drum/drum until it went bad, and I didn't seem to have problems. But if it could cause problems I'd like to know

[Captainfab]

It is simply the fact that the '67-'70 master cylinders are designed for a drum/drum brake system. That is not to say the disc/drum master won't work, but it just isn't the 'right' master.

Originally Posted by brap999

Catpainfab can you elaborate on why that is? I don't plan on keeping drums for long, just haven't gotten around to upgrading to disc/disc.

I was driving around with a more modern style master cylinder on drum/drum until it went bad, and I didn't seem to have problems. But if it could cause problems I'd like to know