Thread: Quick question on brakes

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After having my project sit for nearly a year I've dusted it off and am getting started again.
'32 Ford 3W Coupe, MT Auto parts drum brakes on the front with finned Buick drums, mid 70's Maverick 8" Ford rear end with stock drums...getting ready to install brake lines...would someone verify for me, I need a 10 lb. RPV for both front and rear, correct?
2nd...do I also need a proportioning valve? and if so that would go on the line to the rear; correct?
Thanks,
Randy

yes on 10 psi valves if the master sits lower than the wheel cylinders. Proportioning valve can go in the line to the rear

I depends on where the master cylinder is mounted. On the firewall, the built in residual valves may work along with a proportioning valve set up for the rears. If it's below the floorboards, the built in resid valve has to be removed and 10# versions (Wilwoods?) with drum/drum brakes installed, one per line. A proportioning valve would also help balance the system -

Master is located in the frame, below the floor...it will be below the wheel cyls., so 2 10 Lb. RPV's and a proportioning valve will be the plan.
Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by resin addict

Master is located in the frame, below the floor...it will be below the wheel cyls., so 2 10 Lb. RPV's and a proportioning valve will be the plan.
Thanks guys!

A quick note - if those front drums are really big, you may need that prop valve in the front instead of its' normal position in the back lines - or you may need to play around with wheel cylinder sizes. The 8" Maverick/Comet rear brakes were not really very big - and again, you might have to play with sizes as I did on one car

with drums both front/rear you probably won't need porportuning valve--even at the lowest setting, it will probably reduce rear brake too much---when discs came along they needed higher pressure so everything went to power disc/drum front rear and the por valve was needed so rear wouldn't lock up--with drums all corners, regular non power brakes work fine--try it first and if you need it add it later

Adding to IC2 Daves comments---juggling wheel cylinder sizes is a very good way to balance brake systems and get something that has consistency for pedal feel and excellent stopping without going to the bandaid approach of porp valve

Thanks again!