I hope this is okay to post here. I am not affiliated with this company in any way, just wanted to share my personal experience with this new kit available for our trucks.


I bought my truck in 2010 after running across it not too far from me. It was such a clean truck and I am the third owner, I just couldn't pass it up. The only real complaint I had was that it did not have power brakes. It has factory front disc and power steering, A/C, but manual brakes. I had been looking for a conversion for a while and found nothing. When my daughter got her license and took more and more interest in the truck, I knew that it would be a lot safer with power brakes. I looked all over and called several companies with no luck. I finally called Pirate Jack and got to a guy that had what I needed. He told me that they had been working on a kit for a truck like mine, but needed someone that could install one and give them some feedback. The timing could not have been better. I gave him my CC info and he shipped me a unit. Shipping was quick and well packed and in just 2 days, I had my kit. Here is a pic of the unit:




Here are a couple of pictures of the before and after:


After:



This kit comes with new combination valve, so I knew I was going to have to extend the steel lines from the old valve on the frame. I took this opportunity to replace all of the steel lines with Nicopp lines, new rear wheel cylinders, and all new rubber lines. I ran them all the way to the new combination valve:



(I did opt to swap the bracket to mount it below the MC rather than to the side. Although it fit just fine, I personally like the look of the mount I chose better.)
I underestimated the time it would take to run and bend my own lines. I wanted them to look good and be as clean and neat as possible. It is a time consuming process to get it right, but worth the trouble.

After all this was said and done, I had some help bleeding the brakes and could not wait to take it for a drive. This is a different truck. All I can say is "WOW!!" This thing now stops on a dime. Pedal effort is light and easy, nothing like before. If you get too aggressive, it will lock up the rears. I feel safer when my wife or daughter take the truck out now, too. If you are needing a kit that will upgrade your non power brakes to a power here are a couple of links to the kits that are now available:

1972-1978 Ford Truck F-Series (F-100) Powder Coated Black Conversion Kit Disc/ Drum - Pirate Jack

1972-1978 Ford Truck F- Series (F-100) Zinc Booster Conversion Kit Disc/ Drum - Pirate Jack

This kit is a complete kit that can be installed with basic tools. It is the best modification I have made so far to my truck and has increased the safety as well as the enjoyment of driving it.

 

Looks like a nice, complete kit.
Thanks for posting your experience with the installation.
"Real world" reviews from people who have actually installed the kit can be a good source of info for someone thinking about using the kit.

 

Did you use the manual brake pedal as is?

 

wow... nice looking kit and install.

 

Is the kit necessary? I was wanting to do this too but thought all I needed was a booster. Might be putting this one off for a long time...

 

No, there's a bracket and linkage that goes between the booster and firewall. From the look of it, the kit includes the bracket.

 

Yes, it did lower the pedal a little. They offer different linkages if you need something different, but with my setup, the brake throw is shorter and you don't have to lift your leg up like before to reach the brake pedal. Before, I had to lift my foot to reach the brake, now my heel stays planted and I can rock over to the brake.





You will need the bracket too and it is included in the kit. It is bolt in. No holes to drill or modification on the firewall at all. It is complete from the brake pedal out. This kit does replace your combination valve on the frame, so you will have to extend the steel lines from the old one to the new one. Don't put it off, it makes a big difference!

 

Thanks for posting this - I had done some refreshing of my brake system last year (new booster, cylinder, shoes, pads, etc.), it works good but not great (like I remember from my previous trucks).