I am still tossed whether to stay under the floor or go on the firewall. I was wonder if the pedal bracket and pedal from a 60 250 will work on my 53?

 

The m/c and pedals under the floor sure is a pain in the.....I really prefer the hanging pedals. My truck is mostly stock, so I left them under there.
Are you updating, rebuilding, or just want to change them?
The '60 pedals should work with a little massaging...

 

I believe the stock single bowl mc has gone bad. The last two winters all the fluid has drained out somewhere. The first time I filled it back up when it warmed up bled the brakes and drove all summer. Since it did it again I do no feel safe trying it again. So for safety reasons I want to update now to a dual bowl. I cannot afford front disc right now and I am still trying to decide whether to stay with straight axle or change it to Mustang II or something else. I am staying pretty close to stock but somethings like brakes, suspension I want to modernize. Even when I go with dics on the front I am thinking about staying with manual mc. If I decide to g with booster I will definitely go to the firewall due to ease of checking and filling the mc.

 

If you just want a dual res M/C, I think that is a fairly easy swap...there should be lots of info on here about it. Uses a mustang master I think. Honestly, if you are considering discs, go for the booster too. You will want to add it later any way. If I was making my truck modern, I would want power steering and brakes.
Most guys don't want the M/C on the firewall because of how it looks....sure makes it easier to work on though. Only my opinions.

 

Under the floor is ok if you get one with the remote fill. I didn't and it is a p.i.a.

 

I agree with Tinman, this has potential to take your truck off the road all summer if you make this more complicated than it needs to be. BUT... if it isn't the MC that's leaking, it won't fix a thing. You need to identify the culprit, and fix it.

Here is one of many threads on the Mustang dual MC

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post6909758

Personal opinion, I will probably go this route sometime, but I've never had any problems with single MC's and have had many problems with dual MC's. There is more than twice as much to go wrong with them.

 

I haven't pull all the wheels yet to check the wheel cylinders but I do not see any wetness on the back side of any of the brake shoe plates. My truck sits on a gravel drive way so if the leaking is at the mc I cannot tell either because it just will get asorbed into the ground. It is holding the fluid now since it has wamed up. I am looking at just going with dual mc at this time since I do not have the funds to add disc brakes and I am thinking of changing out the front suspension but again short funds are keeping me from it.

 

I just put the CPP MCPV master under the floor. Although I would have preferred the Firewall mounted for the easiness of working on, I still like my clean firewall. Its a 50/50 split.

And it is a pia to fill up/work on, but hopefully, I wont have to crawl under it too many times whenever the brakes are done and brake lines tight.

Patrick

 

If the M/C is dry after sitting over the winter it has a leak.

It is possible the M/C, but more likely a wheel cylinder seeping ,and you will find it when you pull the wheels and turn back the rubber on the wheel cylinder.
Mine is under the truck. It's a dual M/C with a power booster and I have front disk with a Chrysler Le Baron front suspension.

There is no reason to be concerned about the location being a issue to work on because if you build it and no leaks there is no reason to work on it, It's kinda like a window regulator, it's inside the door and a huge pain to work on. How often do you work on it?

Mine has been under the truck 4 years and only thing I have done is drain and flush the system every two years. I have a pressure bleeder and made a cap for my M/C to hook it to my bleeder. That eliminated having to try to pour fluid in the M/C. Before I did that I used a squeeze bottle with a straw like lid and just squeezed fluid in so that was not a big issue either. I hooked up the brake warning light from my Proportioning valve to a seat belt buzzer so if had a brake issue the buzzer would sound.
Either way you need to find the leak before you have a brake failure.

Just my opinion.
Larry

 

I picked up a 1983 camaro booster,m/c,pedal and hanger pretty cheap at the local pick-a-part. Fit fairly nicely

 

Like I have said I do not have the funds to put on disc brakes. So staying with drum. If I go with firewall mounted mc can a booster be used with drum?

 

You may need to find a different vehicle to pull it from. I also owned a 67 LTD that had power brakes with drums all around

 

Larryb346 do have a remote fill hooked up to yours? Do you have any pictures? Where did you hook up the brake light switch?

 

On my 53 mercury convertible (which had all drum brakes) i bought
the master cylinder & booster,& the pedal from a 88 mustang,it worked
great then i changed to disc brakes later

 

I am out of town and will be back home Saturday. I will get you pictures and also a pic of the steering box and engine mount for front end. We had talked about engine off set last winter and I forgot to get you a pic. I do not have a remote fill and don't find it to be a issue. I have had the top off my M/C twice in 4 years. I hooked the brake light switch on the pressure line running to the rear brakes and used a regular brake pressure switch and mount. I will send you a pic of it also
Larry