Thread: remote brake boosters

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I have a classic ROLLS Royce that has no room on the firewall to mount a master cyl. The top of the firewall is completely filled w/the a/c unit.
I have to mount it in the original location - under the floor where their is no room for a booster.
I need to buy a remote booster or go to a hyd oost.
QUESTION - has anyone had any experiece w/either that can give me some ptos & cons.......Don

Hey Don,

Check out www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/remote_booster.html

This unit is safer than the old Midland unit that was popular in the '70's and early '80's because of being able to use a dual chamber master cylinder.

If their web site doesn't do enough for your questions, call Ralph at ECI. I've found him to be very helpful, and he usually has a good reason for doing things the way he does.

Also, there was an article a few months back, I think in Street Rodder about a shop in California, I think the name was Canning something or other (wow, that's helpful huh?). I looked quickly through the ones I had here at the house but couldn't find it, and a quick web search didn't turn up anything either. As I recall though (good luck there!) the unassisted master cylinder at the pedal activated a trunk mounted booster and a second MC. Probably got vacuum from either manifold plumbed to the rear, or a vacuum pump. Sorry my friend, but that's the best I can recall.
Conceptually it should work fine.

Thanks Bob, aways great to hear from you. I'll give Ralph from ECI a call tomorow. Thanks again for the reply......Don

Hello Don, I think Motorhomes had those remote boosters on them.[used-cheaper there]I have never used one. I recommend using a small vacuum one underneath as I do on all LOW street rods here in my shop. I use mainly the '90 Ford festiva Booster[6-1/2-to7"]under 100'00 at auto zone/Also you can put it[bracket] a little further back [longer reinforced rod] so it is under driver seat area -and then you can mount it so it is level with the frame bottom and maybe protruding into floorboard[cover with a hump under seat] that way it wont drag.....the 76 -78 Corvette Big dual mastercyl will fit it with a small amount of reaming of the two mount holes]

Hi again Don- I forgot to mention -I saw on article a while back in some rod book- kinda forget which one[sometimes I think we are better off doing our own thinking instead of following editors advice!]anyway in it they put one of those remote boosters in a 37 ford sedan/and the trunk was full of lines and a maze of lines everywhere else- they were pretty proud of it[ musta' got it from one of their advertisers]........in my opinion it was right up there with converting it over to a steam engine!!!!pretty busy looking and potential for a LOAD of troble on the road I would guess-plus they lost their trunk space[just my opinion]......Kenny

Choprods - thanks for your thoughts. The problem I have is the car(a Rolls Royce) is a unibody car that I am placing on a modified gm FRAME) The problem I have is the Rolls has a tunnel for the master cylinder to fit in. If I modify the tunnel(4"wide) I will not be able to use the original seats-have to cut up the floor.
Thus, I am trying to find the pros & cons of a external booster or a hydraulic boost like what is used in some Cadillacs & trucks..........Don

Ps-The top of the firewall is where they put thr a/c evaporator. I might have to remove it,use a smaller Vintage air type. However I hate t do that because the RR evaporatoe has 2 blower motors & all the duct work is insulated & wraped in leather - almost no a/c noise........Don

Hi again Don- I know a little about Rolls Royce-[did a 37 Limo] Masters of overengineering with less than average results!.....I hope you can find a booster that fits the bill-I just thought it was a mess of plumbing and wondered if it wouldn't be more future problems instead of an improvement.what does this rig weigh in at?if 3500 or so I wouldn;t be afraid to run a large bore Dual master cyl like a 1 ton suburban etc with no booster.GOOD LUCK-Kenny

Hey Kenny. you are right the remote vacuum booster looks less than desireable mounted in the trunck & I just found out that they also give a terriible feel to the brake petal. The only options left are to use a booster like GM used in their diesel cars(boost was from a pump that worked of the fan belt ( I have limited knowledge of this system) or take the a/c off the firewall & use a vintage air system.............thanks for your reply.....Don

Hey Bob & Kenny - after talking to ECI, Ralph said none of their products would provide enough boost for a large car.

I ended up buying a 85 Cad Diesel booster that works off the power steering pump - very small & easy to install. The car is still about 6 mos from being driveable - will let you all know what happens......Don

Sorry - started new thread, as I didn't find answer in this thread

Dave

Well, you mentioned the Hydro-boost; I had a Chevy dually that had one on it, and I think it is a wonderful alternative to a vacuum unit. They are smaller, very positive in their action, and as an added benefit for a hot street rod, they won't be affected by a lumpy cam and it's attendant vacuum problems. I am seriously thinking of one for my old truck when I start rebuilding it; the power steering pump will be there, so why not?!

TCI has the stuff to make it easy, it all hangs off one bracket.
The brake pedal pivot is included, and the brake pedal too,
add on any style pedal....even stock. They'll even sell you the
bracket to weld to your frame....almost too easy.

Daver.

Add on a switch and a proportioning valve, and call it a day.

Daver.

Daver - thanks - that's exactly what I'm looking for! Maybe a dumb question, but what's the switch for, and who makes it? Also what does it take to get from the brake pedal to the booster?

Do you have a link to TCI? I did some searching, and have yet to come up with what I think is the right company - I did find TCI Automotive, but they seemed to be more focused on trannies. I'm new to this, so please bear with me - maybe most folks know what TCI is all about.

That tranny support you have - where did that come from? I've got a C4 tranny in my '31 Ford Model A, and I've replacing the tired 302 with a 351 Windsor. I also picked up a C6 tranny in the deal, but was wondering how much work it was going to be to ge the C6 in it. The present bracket I have for the C4 looks exactly like the one in your pic. Can you get various drops designed in to the bracket, as I'm not sure how you work out how that all lines up through the drive train, and what heights things are at?

I'd also be interested if you have any pics of your project when you started to route wiring around that frame? Did you build that from from scratch? The work you pick up in the pics looks awsome by the way!
THanks

Dave