Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

Tue 17 Nov 09 17:10

Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

My '71 has no booster, I'd like to fit one.

Are their kits available etc?

Do you need much more than a servo and master cylinder rod?

Last edited by Golden on Tue 17 Nov 09 17:17; edited 1 time in total. [1 %]

Tue 17 Nov 09 17:21

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

You might get more definative answers on theUS forums as those guys are well into their mods, i think i have seen the hyrda boost fitted but put a post up and see what comes back

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Corvette 1977 coupe, 350 auto (L82)
In alot of peices
Edit, even more peices!
Edit of edit, no more peices to take off !
Edit of edit of edit, Bits going back on

Tue 17 Nov 09 17:51

Cheers, I've put a post on corvetteforum.com, what US forums tend to get the best replies?

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'71 smallblock, manual.

Tue 17 Nov 09 19:09

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

There were differences between the master cylinders fitted to power- and non-power-brake cars. The diameter of the piston bore is different.

I'm not sure whether you could ignore this difference though. I guess the difference in piston diameter affects the pedal travel - more travel with the manual brakes translates into a multiplication of the pedal force to compensate for the lack of boost.

How does the master cylinder attach to the firewall? Boosters have four bolts attaching to the firewall while the m/c only has two fittings. Perhaps there's an adapter plate supporting the booster at the moment?

And how does the pedal operate a master cylinder directly? Perhaps the attachment method is different under the dashboard. Maybe the whole pedal box is different.

As you can tell, I don't know the answers to these questions but these are the areas that might be different between manual and power brakes.

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Blue-with-white-stripes 1976 manual L82 since 1995
"A stiff upper lip is always well dressed when accompanied by mountains of torque and an indomitable will." -unsprung

Tue 17 Nov 09 19:10

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

[quote="Golden";p="65056"]My '71 has no booster, I'd like to fit one.

Are their kits available etc?

Do you need much more than a servo and master cylinder rod?


[/q]
Master cylinder, servo, rod, new brake lines to next unions, vacumn line, vacumn air filter

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'68 coupe - 4 speed - 3.08 - F41 - 'slightly warm' 489 cu in - 528 bhp @ 5850 rpm - 565 ft/lbs torque (766 Newton Metres) @ 3850 rpm - (225 bhp & 465 ft/lb Torque @ 2500 rpm)

Tue 17 Nov 09 19:20

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

roscobbc wrote (View Post):Golden wrote (View Post):My '71 has no booster, I'd like to fit one.

Are their kits available etc?

Do you need much more than a servo and master cylinder rod?





Master cylinder, servo, rod, new brake lines to next unions, vacumn line, vacumn air filter

Cheers guys.

Thanks for the list, after Ben's brought it up, any idea how the servo mounts as I know the master cylinder is only two bolts?

Oh and where does the air filter go?

Last edited by Golden on Tue 17 Nov 09 19:23; edited 1 time in total. [10 %]
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'71 smallblock, manual.

Tue 17 Nov 09 19:33

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

The photo below just about shows you what the interior firewall reinforcement looks like on a '76 with a booster. There's a metal plate with four holes for the booster studs around the large central hole where the booster's rubber-sealed plunger slides in and out. (You can only see the lower two mounting holes in the photo of course.)



That plate would have to be different for a car with no booster, unless there's some sort of adapter installed between the firewall and the master cylinder.

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Blue-with-white-stripes 1976 manual L82 since 1995
"A stiff upper lip is always well dressed when accompanied by mountains of torque and an indomitable will." -unsprung

Tue 17 Nov 09 19:53

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

Cheers again Ben, I'll have to have another look at the car when I'm next over. Unfortunately the car isn't garaged with me so I can't just go and have a look

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'71 smallblock, manual.

Thu 26 Nov 09 16:15

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

There are plenty of kits available to do the conversion. By getting a full kit you will usually end up with the right parts. But if you buy them separately make sure you get the right MC with the correct piston bore. One thing you will also need to do is to change the rod pivot from the brake pedal. There are two holes you can put it in, so it will be the other one than it is in now...

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www.c3-r.com

Thu 26 Nov 09 17:49

Re: Retro fitting of brake booster/servo.

If your buying a full kit I would go the hydroboost route, it makes a huge difference to the brakes performance. I can thoroughly recommend it.

G

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1970 Small Block Coupe, 450hp Motor, March Pulleys, twin spall fans on aluminium radiator, Steeroids, Tremec T56 6 speed c/r box, Smart Struts, Sports Rotors, Hydroboost, Semi Coil over front suspension and alloy upper control arms, 18" Alloy Replica Rallye Wheels 8" front 9 1/2" rear with Pirelli Pzero's. www.graemeinglis.com