I would like to add power brakes to my '66 F250 4X4.

Were the 4X4's ever equipped with power brakes?

My current M/C is bolted onto a bigger plate that bolts onto the firewall with 4 bolts. Are there any newer year brackets that will fit these holes? If not, what would be the best year/model truck to get the booster and the brackets off of if I need to drill my firewall?


I read somewhere that brackets wouldn't bolt onto a pre-'65 truck. Is this correct? From everything else I have found that my body is more similar to the pre-'64 trucks. Are the holes in the firewall this way too?

I will be amazed at the person who answers all of my questions.

Thanks
Daniel

 

From searching this forum I've gathered that up to 79 F-series truck boosters and brackets will bolt right up. I found one that bolts right into my '63.
If you're going from a 1-circuit to a dual master cylinder you're in for some extra brake line bending and running, but you knew that anyway.

Don't know if any 4x4's had power brakes, but you can make it happen with a little junkyarding and some ingenuity as long as your engine pulls enough vacuum to pull the brake booster (17 in hg and up is sufficient).

Good luck to you Sir.

 

I got a dual res power MC out a 72 F250 4x4 it had drum brakes at all 4 corners. I also took the proportioning valve as it is stated on others conversions that you should have that to. I think I should have grabbed a splitter for the front two brake lines but I think I can fab this up ok with some kind of fitting. I got this for my 65 F100 4x4 and when I got it home and just did a size up vac housing and brackets look like they will be just about a direct bolt in without much altering to do. I probably wont install that till summer or spring next year as it will require I run all new brake lines and dont feel like doing that outside in the winter weather. Snowing outside as I type this.

 

The bolt pattern for the firewall plate is not the same as 65 up ford booster patterns. The pedal bracket pattern that this plate bolts to changed on 2 wheel drive trucks with the new cab in 65 and the plate is no longer used.

All four wheel drives with the exception of the 66 F100 use the same firewall stamping.

CCP and a few others sells a direct fit unit. All others require modifying of the plate with additional material and re-drilling to accept the later bolt pattern or modifications to the two brackets that support the booster.

Garbz

 

So they fit without modification but they need modification to fit???

 

No after 65 ford sourced booster will directly bolt to the early firewall.

Early on top of 65 up pattern

Difference in pattern


Pretty obvious.

Garbz

 

So all I need to do to make one fit is mark and drill new holes?

 

Here is the unit from a 72 F250 4x4 all drum no disk setup.





When held up to this brake MC that is the one in my 65 and the should the same single chamber MC you have in your truck. It looked like pretty much a direct bolt in. This would be using the brackets and the longer actuator rod that you see in the pic. I think this is what Garbz is trying to point out to you. I am a little confused as to if Garbz is trying to say use the brackets or eliminate those. Looks to me that if I eliminate the brackets then the actuating rod will be to long.



Hope this helps not trying to muddy the water.

 

You need the brackets to maintain the standoff from the firewall brace on the later trucks with the new type cab 65 to 79 are very similar. The old cab you can directly mount it by re-drilling the holes and providing nuts on the inside, however the studs may interfere with the inside clutch and brake pedal mount. I have never placed a booster this way. I have always modified the plate by adding material and welding studs to accept the later brackets with nylock nuts. The Plates still then bolt to the stock 5/16th fine thread inserts provided in the pedal bracket this really prevents flex of the firewall as the factory intended with the 1/4" plate.

I use 78 79 lever type rise units that are offset up as they provide ample clearance for the valve covers and i re-drill the lever with a 9/16 bit to accept the stock later eccentric bolt for fine pedal tuning.

The brake master cylinder pattern is the same single pot to dual, weather it is a ford chevy or dodge they all have a universal pattern. I have A corvette type aluminum unit attached to the stock plate for the 64 Rat Rod Build.

The setup above is the same unit i have from my 69 F250 Highboy Crew Cab. The pattern for the bracket mounts are the same as pictured as the gold firewall is from a 72

I have a 78 lever type installed on my 64 Christine i will upload some pictures on Sunday as i will be at Good Guys tomorrow in Scottsdale and a party at Industrial Chassis in the evening.

Garbz

 

Thanks Garbz enjoy the cars, party and the warm weather if you run into Randy aka Boss9 let him know he has plenty of snowplow business to attend to up here already. HaHa.