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CorvetteforumC3
CorvettesOK,
conversion to manual from power brakes.

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

OK, conversion to
manual from power brakes.

11:03
AM 6/13/2002

This should be fairly straightforward.

Obviously the old booster/master cylinder need to come off
and be replaced by a manual master cylinder and some sort of
adapter plate (possibly). The lines will have to be re-routed,
too. And the pushrod to the pedal will have to be swapped
and/or readjusted.

Does anyone who may have done this have any info to share?
I'm thinking about doing the manual brake conversion and then
attacking a conversion to manual steering. Thanks in advance.

Forgot--it's a '76 if that matters.

[Modified by The
Dude, 11:04 AM 6/13/2002]
_______

Looking for a new
pic. (Without the sandals )

James
Senior
Member

325
posts [100%]
Johnston Iowa

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

11:13
AM 6/13/2002

My 69 came with power barkes. When I built my
509 I went with a Jesell shaft mounted rocker arm system. This
required the use of tall valve covers. Well of coarse with the
tall valve covers I was unable to clear the brake power
booster. I ordered the adapter, rod, clevis, and master
cylinder for Master Power Brakes and it bolted up just fine.
Drove if for the first time the other day and brakes feel
great. Very little pedal pressure required and it will stop on
a dime. You will need to order the 2 lines that go from the
master cylinder to the porportioning block since they are
longer than the ones for power brakes.

[Modified by
James, 1:14 PM 6/13/2002]

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (James)

11:17
AM 6/13/2002

A direct bolt-in kit? How cool is that? Is
Master Power Brakes the name of the company?

I also assume the "kit" is complete with the obligatory
10-15-percent "Corvette" markup?

The hydraboost setup a couple of threads down is
interesting, too. That sounds cool except I don't think you
can ditch the power steering later with a system like
that.

[Modified by The Dude, 11:18 AM
6/13/2002]
_______

Looking for a new pic. (Without
the sandals )

James
Senior
Member

325
posts [100%]
Johnston Iowa

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

11:24
AM 6/13/2002

Here is the URL to there web-site: http://www.mpbrakes.com/

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (James)

11:31
AM 6/13/2002

Gracias. I'll look 'em over and give them a
call.
_______

Looking for a new pic. (Without the
sandals )

corvgreg
Senior
Member

588 posts [100%]
San Diego CA

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

12:09
PM 6/13/2002

Hey Jack(Dude),

What's up with the 76 beast? Jeez, I'm hassling with a
manual to power brake conversion on a 70. No fun trying to get
mount or unmount the freakin booster. I can't get the clevis
to align with the pedal yet. You must be getting radical with
the camshaft. No more racing for me...the exploding ujoint did
it for me, and the car is gone. Maybe a less radical BB or SB
vert in the future...
_______

Greg
82 Collectors Edition-LeAnn's
68-72
Convertible on want list for Greg(67 435 HP if I become
wealthy)
Restored 71 T-Top sold to very happy new owner.

Homepage: http://corvgreg.tripod.com/

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (corvgreg)

12:23
PM 6/13/2002

Hey, hey, hey.

Long story with me--I blew up an engine, had the
"pro-built" replacement wipe cam lobes and then I built the
current one myself. First passes were last
Saturday--12.70-12.90 right out of the box. I was running on
street radials, though, because I'm concerned about exploding
U-joints myself.

You oughta come out and spectate once in a
while.
_______

Looking for a new pic. (Without the
sandals )

terryrudy
Senior
Member

1117 posts [100%]
Fremont CA

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

1:26
PM 6/13/2002

Hey Jack, please add any results you find to
this post. I am thinking about this as well. Probably removing
power steering
too.
thanks!
-terry
_______

1977
Corvette L48 | 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo | Corvettefaq.com

427V8
Senior
Member

2868 posts [100%]
Twin cities, Minnesota
Mn

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

1:32
PM 6/13/2002

So Silly question;

Why are you converting to power brakes?
Are Manual
brakes really that bad?
_______

Keith
Click for info on Wilwood Caliper
brackets

Click to see my
'Mistress'

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (427V8)

1:47
PM 6/13/2002

quote:

So Silly question;

Why are you converting to power brakes?
Are Manual
brakes really that bad?

Converting FROM power TO manual. Simpler system, a little
weight savings, and no need to worry about vacuum levels to
operate them. The Master Power Brakes site looks pretty
informative but I haven't explored it enough the see exactly
what's what cost-wise, etc.

[Modified by The Dude, 1:49
PM 6/13/2002]
_______

Looking for a new pic.
(Without the sandals )

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (terryrudy)

10:42
AM 6/25/2002

Terry:
Will do--either here or via e-mail or
IM. I'll try and provide part numbers, etc.

I've already ordered new S.S. lines for the calipers, pads,
etc. The sticking point is the P/N for the master cylinder and
whether an adapter plate of some kind is required for the
firewall. Different vendors, different answers. You know the
drill...

oh, ttt.

[Modified by The Dude, 10:45 AM
6/25/2002]
_______

Looking for a new pic. (Without
the sandals )

James
Senior
Member

325
posts [100%]
Johnston Iowa

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

12:16
PM 6/25/2002

The adapter plate I got from Master Power
Brakes bolted right up where the stock power booster did. No
drilling or modifactions.
Order the Manual Master cylinder
for a car with 4 wheel disk brakes.
I think it has a
smaller bore size which increases pressure.
No problems so
far.

VBP
Junior
Member

10
posts [100%]
St. Petersburg FL

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (James)

1:27
PM 6/25/2002

The conversion to manual steering is very easy.
It only takes a rebuilt manual center-link and a manual
pitman-arm. I've seen used ones at swap-meets all the time.
Get's rid of the gaudy/heavy valve and cylinder and the
horsepower-robbing pump. Another avenue would be the
Rack&Pinion conversion which is power but you may be able
to use a manual one instead. See (www.speeddirect.com) for the
R&P conversion kit.
_______

http://www.VBandP.com/

bence13_33
Senior
Member

2303
posts [100%]
Clymer PA

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

1:35
PM 6/25/2002

Jack:
I'm also looking into ditching
my power brake setup. I'm sure this thread will be quite
useful for me too . So you have a '76 'Vette
too?
_______

'76 Flame Orange Coupe/Black Leather
Interior
All Original, 180HP
My Home Page: http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/bence454

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (bence13_33)

1:54
PM 6/25/2002

James, that's great to know since they don't
seem to want to actually answer their tech line or return
calls. I'll keep trying. Do you have part numbers for things
like the pushrod, etc? Or will they know exactly what's
required (like a kit?)

Bence, yup, it's a '76. Came from the factory with RPO 666.

[Modified by The Dude, 1:55 PM
6/25/2002]
_______

Looking for a new pic. (Without
the sandals )

James
Senior
Member

325
posts [100%]
Johnston Iowa

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

2:18
PM 6/25/2002

Ok here are the part numbers that I used for
the Adapter and Push Rod.
PN# AD2732 FIREWALL ADAPTOR
PLATE
PN# PR4721K Manual Pushrod W/Clevis (Adjustable)
I
can't remember for sure on the Master Cylinder.
It was one
of these but I will have to look to be for
sure.
MC390545M
or
MC390360M4
The difference is
one is 1 inch bore and the other is 1 1/8 inch bore.
I did
this conversion on a 1969 so I don't know for sure how that
plays in with a 1976.

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (James)

3:07
PM 6/25/2002

That's just the ticket!
Thanks very
much....
_______

Looking for a new pic. (Without the
sandals )

Kevin Mason
Senior
Member

109
posts [100%]

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (427V8)

4:52
AM 6/26/2002

You save weight and get better road feel with
manual brakes. Why I want rid of mine, as well as the power
steering.

Flareside
Senior
Member

1698 posts [100%]
Roxbury NJ

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (The Dude)

5:10
AM 6/26/2002

I guess I'm in the minority, but I don't like
manual brakes or steering. I don't have power brakes or
steering in my '68 right now. I have driven sharks with both
manual and power steering, and the power setup is nicer in
every way. Sure, manual steering feels fine on the highway
(good even!), but around town it's nowhere near as nice as
power steering. Not even close. Manual brakes are not as bad,
but they aren't exactly good either. The brakes in my pickup
truck are better

I have a both a hydroboost and a Steeroids rack to install
to fix these problems
_______

'68 big block 427/390
convertible

-Fuel injected Merlin
540
-Richmond 5-speed
-F.A.S.T. Wideband O2
EFI
-Custom Victor EFI intake that fits under the stock big
block hood!
-SpeedDirect rack and pinion
steering
-Dart 335cc/400cfm CNC
heads

The Dude
Senior
Member

4917 posts [100%]
Your Town

Re: OK, conversion
to manual from power brakes. (Kevin Mason)

9:54
AM 6/26/2002

I don't think going from power brakes to
manuals will save all that much weight, actually. The only
real sifference between the two systems is there' no booster
with the manual system and the booster really doesn't weigh
all that much. With me it's more of a simplicity thing.

Ditching the power steering, though, will yield more
significant weight savings, I think, because you're losing the
pump, bracket, cylinder and some fluid. But you really have to
have some pretty well-developed delts, pecs and traps to steer
at low speeds, expecially if you leave the 15" x 8" rims and
tires up front.
_______

Looking for a new pic.
(Without the sandals
)

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