So I thought I would start a thread to track my upcoming project, which is upgrading the brakes in my 69 F100. I just installed I-beams from a dent, so I've got front discs now. I needed to remove the original manual drum/drum master cylinder and replace it with a vacuum booster & master cylinder from a disc/drum but I thought, instead of going that route how about a REAL upgrade! So I've got a master cylinder & hydroboost from a 2003 F450, and going to work on installing it and all the hydraulic hoses in the next week or so.

<a href="http://s1020.photobucket.com/user/crazycracker289/media/F-100/69%20F100%20Brake%20Upgrade/hydroboost%202_zpsdkzctkir.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af330/crazycracker289/F-100/69%20F100%20Brake%20Upgrade/hydroboost%202_zpsdkzctkir.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo hydroboost 2_zpsdkzctkir.jpeg"/></a>

 

Subscribed.

Do a well-documented, step-by-step how-to (pics, pics, and part numbers!!) and I'll put it in the Tech Thread compilation. Try to write and describe it as if it's an article for CarCraft, 4WOR, or Hot Rod magazine.

Show us what ya got Cracker!

 

Hey, I actually used to write for CarCraft magazine! Well to be honest, it was mostly just angry ranting letters to the editor, but they did publish one of them....

 

Hydroboost blow away all the others. I'm doing a GM hydro on mine; only because that's what the 4BT came with. Just curious, what power steering pump are you going to use? If you don't have power steering then a single return is fine. If you have power steering then I recommend a pump with a dual return reservior. I have seen where guys have problems trying to run dual returns, power steering and hydro, to single return reservoirs. If you do run a single return reservoir; I think they recommend the two returns "Y" into the single; no "T" connection.

 

The Ford C-2 PS pump, for a vehicle that had hydroboost (~1997 Ford Super Duty, for example), was plumbed for two return lines.

 

I had planned on doing that with mine, but I just kept busy, and wanted to drive it.
Stopping distance (60-0) on mine was 196ft with 4 drums, and 140ft now. Hydrobooost is the way to go.
For comparison, 140ft is the stopping distance of an 86 corvette.
Plus, they dont lock up in a panic stop.

 

If I had known (aka "planned") beforehand that I was going to undertake this upgrade I would have made sure to get a power steering pump with 2 returns, but I didn't, so when I replaced my pump 2 months ago I got the regular replacement one for my setup. I'll just use a Y in my conversion, the internet seems to be divided as to whether or not this works well, but for my application I think it would be sufficient. It's not a super high flow pump its just the stock saginaw P type.

 

That's pretty funny


In to follow along.

 

Today I'm making my plan of attack to determine how I want to mount my hydroboost to the firewall. I measured all my other stuff to get a better idea of where it physically needs to be.

Distance from firewall to brake pedal mount (center of hole)

1969 F100 manual drum master cylinder: 5.75"
1978 F100 vacuum power booster: 3.5"
2001 F450 hydroboost unit: 7.25"

So as you can see, installing the 78 vacuum booster will cause the pedal to be a little bit lower. To install the 01 F450 setup (I said 2003 previously, I was mistaken, the donor was a 2001) and have the pedal remain in the same place as before, I need brackets or spacers to hold it out 1.5 inches. The 78 brackets for the vacuum booster are 3 3/8 inches, so I don't think that is going to work, I think the easiest way will be to redrill the hydroboost flange and use spacers.

<a href="http://s1020.photobucket.com/user/crazycracker289/media/F-100/69%20F100%20Brake%20Upgrade/IMG_0281_zpsigco9nga.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af330/crazycracker289/F-100/69%20F100%20Brake%20Upgrade/IMG_0281_zpsigco9nga.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0281_zpsigco9nga.jpg"/></a>

 

I had the same measurements. I used .75" square tubing double stacked as my spacer. Still need to do finish work and enclose it, but functional.

 

I hope your setup works without problem.

However, consider that the Ford engineers spec'd PS pumps, for hydroboost systems, with TWO fluid return ports.

Bean-counters are heavily involved with the cost of components that goes on a vehicle and they can make or break what components get installed.

If the bean-counters could have trumped the engineers on the addition (more tooling) to plumb for a separate return, you'd have probably seen a Y, from the factory, plumbing the two return lines back into the PS pump reservoir.

I suspect trying to force the fluid return of two separate components into the space of only one port is likely to make one or the other (possibly both) components run hotter. --added heat equals premature death of the component(s) but, not before operational problems begin to happen.

 

Well like I said, the internet is divided over whether or not putting a Y into the line is good enough. I suspect for my application it will be fine, whereas if I had a badass sports car with 450 horsepower pushing 4 piston calipers against 13.5 inch rotors, spinning a high flow high pressure power steering pump, that maybe one return being shared might be overwhelmed. But my setup is nothing near that level. There is only 1 power line leaving the pump, and in factory setup one return line is enough. The pressure line goes to the hydroboost, then a second pressure line from the hydroboost goes down to the steering box. So it's the same amount of fluid, but divided between 2 components and returned separately.

 

I converted my 67 XL because I used the rear calipers from a 78 Town Car and the vacuum booster would not give enough assist. I have a 32 valve modular engine and am using the stock power steering pump with plastic CV reservoir, I plumbed the return through a 1/2" npt "T" fitting. I am using the original finned cooler that came with the car. So far so good.

 

For an older Saginaw style pump, this one is for a 1979 Lincoln Continental with hydroboost. 2 returns and only $49 at AZ.

Duralast/Power Steering Pump 6002 at AutoZone.com

 

Holy cow that's a lot of information. The problem with the single return line is on a few things like the style power steering being used and the style of pump. Not every one has a problem.