power brake conversion stupid questions

[jreb333]

okok i know i should know this stuff but ive never messed much with power brakes so just poke a little fun at me instead of the massive amount im sure these questions deserve

i just bought my PB booster and there is a large hose coming out of the front of it. im assuming this is vaccuum? where do i connect it please?

can i use my nice manual M/C or should i rebuild and use the nasty rusty M/C that came bolted to the front of my booster?

how do i bleed my brakes of air when im done?......JUST KIDDING ON THIS LAST ONE

[FORDification]

The vacuum hookup is normally to a T screwed into the intake manifold just behind the carburetor. I tried to find a pic but I don't have a closeup of that area.

What master cylinder you use depends on what brakes you're using. If you're just adding power brakes to your existing drum brake setup, then you don't even have to remove the master cylinder to install the booster. Just disconnect the brake pedal connecting rod and the two nuts holding the MC to the firewall, then gently pull the MC out until the connecting rod clears the firewall. Remove the clip holding the rod into the end of the MC, since you won't need it....the booster will have one already. Then just slide the booster into place, bolt it up, and push the MC back into place against the booster and attach. Then attach the brake pedal pushrod. Hook up your vacuum and you're done.

On the other hand, if you're swapping to disc brakes, you cannot use your manual-brake master cylinder. You'll HAVE to use one from a disc brake application. Considering that a remanufactured MC will cost you about the same as a rebuild kit, I'd just get the rebuild....it'll save you some time and trouble.

[jreb333]

sweet. thanks for the heads up. keith knows all and better yet tells all! what did i ever do without you guys! hopefully someday i'll be able to contribute more, but for now most of my knowledge is just in pintos, lancias and porsches so hopefully as i get deeper into this truck that ive taken for granted for so long i will learn a lot more about them. you can be sure i will pass on what i learn as you guys have done for me.
thanks again

[fuzzier1]

jreb333

Where are you located in NM? I am from Farmington and just joined the site. I have just bought a 71 SWB and will be starting to fix it up in the near future.

fuzzier

[jim bruce]

This is my first posting so not sure if it is being done right. I have a 67 F250 and have decided to go with a power brake conversion rather then converting to front disc brakes. There are lots of available donner vehicles in the 4 wrecking yards in this area. (Roseburg, Oregon) Can anyone tell me what year of power brake boosters will fit my 67? Thanks in advance, jim bruce

Becasue we do not use salt on the roads in Oregon, we apparently do not have the significant rust problems other areas have inspite of our rain.

[68F250]

jreb, all I can add to Keith's advice is to check that the pushrod out of the booster is NOT pushing inside against the MC when you mate the two together. If it does, your brakes will lock up after a few pumps. The pushrod has an adjustable tip and the clearance should be checked every time you change out the mc. When I did the pb conversion, the booster had a ratty mc that I replaced with a new one, there was a difference on how long that rod should be compared to the old and new one. When you mate the mc to the booster, the two should come together and mate before the pushrod inside bottoms out with the mc piston. To check, first push in the pushrod into the booster to make sure it's at the bottom. Then carefully mate the mc to the booster and feel for any resistance as the mc mates up to the booster. If it does touch before the mc and booster touch, turn the adjusting screw in a little and try again. You don't want too much gap in the adjustment as it will add more pedal travel.

Boy, this is kind of wordy, maybe someone else can explain it better.

[FORDification]

...Can anyone tell me what year of power brake boosters will fit my 67?

Any power brake booster up through '79 will fit and work fine, as long as you use the brake pedal from a '68-'79 donor truck. (and yes, the brake pedal from a '73-'79 will be a direct replacement for your '67 pedal.) As I've just found out, the '67 pedal is a one-year-only oddity, and when installing a '68-up booster to your '67 pedal, you'll find that the booster's pushrod will be about 1/2" too long. Just grab the pedal from whatever donor truck you find and you'll be set.

The earlier boosters are fatter but not as big around. These are dual diaphram boosters which I understand are a little better than the later single diaphram units, plus give you a little more valve cover clearance....but either will work just fine.

[68F250]

jreb and jim bruce, don't forget to nab the bracket that goes between the booster and the firewall. The '73+ brake pedal rests a little lower to the floor than the earlier pedals, it's a feature.

(pssst... Keith, I think diaphragm has a g)

[FORDification]

I KNEW that! Don't ask me what I was thinking when I just whipped that up. I'll try again.

EDIT: It's fixed. Thanks Barry.