Thread: Power brakes,

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How many of you with '32's have power brakes on your rides and is it a big expense to add it on?
Thanks

George,
Mine's a '33, but if you went with N&N's standard frame mount under floor MC and through the floor pedals you're going to be severely space challenged to add a booster. You can see this real quick by crawling under the driver's side and look at the way the frame x-member is placed - you have to add a booster between the frame mount and the MC, and that's going to require major surgery. This falls into the category of "Ya' shoulda' told Duane you wanted power brakes when you ordered." Adding them now would be a major hassle.

Woops, another afterthought = $$$$$
Have built over 40 32's and every 1 had PB's
So easy to do in the build
PIA after.

You might be able to adjust pedal leverage and/or master cylinder size to help pedal feel, however, the fronts do most of the stopping and it appears from your pics that the front calipers are pretty small and the back ones big--probably some imbalance issues---

I have power disc's on my '31 - and that chassis is much narrower then a '32.

There are several after market boosters available, but it might entail changing the exhaust run and maybe even the chassis mount, depending on how the car was assembled. It WILL require a different master cylinder, redoing at least two brake lines, adding a vacuum source and line(s) and with a blower, you might need a vacuum canister. There are remote boosters available, but then you need a unique place to mount it somewhere near the m/c.

All this takes is more money and time

Like I said - tight on a '31:

There is no real reason to have power brakes if your car stops adequately. My '29 had disc brakes up front and drum brakes on the rear, and I did not run a power booster. It stopped fine, and I did not have any issues with pedal pressure. I have power front brakes on my '32, and quite frankly, they don't work any better or worse that the brakes on my '29.

You may have some balance issues between front and rear, and you may need to play with the adjustment on your proportioning valve.

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Woops, another afterthought = $$$$$
Have built over 40 32's and every 1 had PB's
So easy to do in the build
PIA after.

Yeah,,this is one thing that I'm a little pissed off about.
I spent enough $$ on this Rod and all He had to do was ask Me if I wanted power brakes,,I would've said yes!!!

Thanks Guys,,IC2,,Lynn,,Jerry,Rodger,and the 34Guy..I want to take this car to a "good" rod shop in my area and have them give me their report card on the build that the guys did on my ride.
I'll keep you all posted,,I don't have any allegiance to any company!

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

You might be able to adjust pedal leverage and/or master cylinder size to help pedal feel, however, the fronts do most of the stopping and it appears from your pics that the front calipers are pretty small and the back ones big--probably some imbalance issues---

Jerry,do you think that having a blower would be reason not to have power brakes??

Well----the guys buiding your car might of thought that you wouldn't have vacume to run them---
However---your vett was supercharged and had power brakes
Your vet also had bigger calipers on the front than the back

Have you looked at the pics of the 32 build in my posts and gallery???

Jerry,,I haven't looked at the pics.
I am almost certain that my front brakes are larger that the rear.
I'll just wait till monday and have the other shop look at it but thanks for Your advice,,I really do appreciate it.
George

I put a 7in booster and corvette m/c on my 32 had plenty of room you can buy a new booster and m/c for about 2bills you may need to add a vacuum storage tank some place I have a friend that has a59 el camino with a blown sbc and had trouble stopping it he put an electric booster and m/c on it and he loves it but there a little pricy I think it was about 900.00 but is vary small and looks great he got it from a break supplier in orange ca. Ill get you the info. if you want......ted

If You can send me the info on that company in orange ca. that would be appreciated!

I believe I saw Wilwood brake calipers on your build pics---they are located down the road from you in Camarillo, Ca

Before you call them--get the diameter of your rotors front and rear, and the numbers of the calipers and also the pads---the pads used might be like race pads and need a heat build up before they work--

I have fixed braking issues and at least a half dozen rods by changing the pads----but you can then look for some brake dust issues--and/or maybe size of master cylinder bore and/or pedal leverage ratio