The brakes on my rig really need a total overhaul. My wife can't even stop the truck. Sooo I got to looking and found that in the late 70's Ford install factory hydroboost systems on Mercury Grand Marquis' (along with other vehicles). I went to autozone and they sell the replacement parts for the whole hydroboost system. A PS pump with 2 return lines for a 400M, all the high and low pressure hoses, and the hydroboost unit itself. Using these parts would be $100's cheaper then buying someone's prefabbed conversion kit. How well do ya's think it would work out? Other then maybe having to play with making a mounting plate and adjuster rod, do you's see any other issues? Regards -Rob

 

You would have to run car wheels as the bolt patterns are different

 

all that does is replace the vacuum booster with the hydraboost setup. Don't see how that is going to improve your braking any unless your booster is bad, and if thats the case you could replace it cheaper and easier than converting to hydraboost.

 

I don't want to just fix the brakes back to normal. I want bigger better. I already have the stuff sitting in the garage to change the rear d60 to disk. Along with that conversion I wanted to go ahead and switch to hydroboost.

 

ok gotcha, check out my post up above. I'm trying to figure out the process of getting my brakes upgraded as well. Did you check out the article on the 78-79 bronco complete brake upgrade yet? Lots of good stuff there.

 

Million, you've lost me. Why would he have to change wheels if he's just swapping to a different booser/mc setup? Does he have to change rotors also?

 

From what I've been told there is no comparing a regular booster to a hydrobooster. It might sound like apples and apples but its not. I have a friend who has a hydrobooster in a cheby and his truck stops almost as well as my 06 mustang. I did however look through that article, some good stuff but I think I want to head in a little different direction. I do have a link on a man that took the booster out of a wagon style ford and swapped it into his 76 bronco if you would like the link.

 

Does he have to change rotors also?

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I am sure the Car hydrboost system requires the car calipers which would mean rotors as well.

 

Umm, question, since the hydroboost system hooks to the master cylinder that hooks into the stock brake lines, why would I need car calipers and rotors??? The calipers that came on the cars didn't change with the type of booster. Now please don't take this the wrong way, I'm just trying to make sure I clarify everything before I start buying parts.

 

It's only a consideration at this point

The other thing to consider is the Brake PPV.

They are not the same from vehicle to vehicle.

That brake system was designed and install on cars... not trucks.

There is a reason for that.


Read with me here:

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801040b7.jsp

 

Granted it was designed for a car, be it a very large car with the HD tow package. The hydroboost unit still puts out more pressure then even the f350 vac booster. As I'm to understand it, the advantage of hydroboost is more pressure with less pedal effort? The only reason I was looking at the car hydroboost was because of direct swap potential. I could also look to use the hydro unit out of a late model superduty or an excursion.

 

In Theory it should work.

I'm worried about the actual mechanics about the swap...for you.

 

lol me too, The mechanics are a big worry. I'm already in need of a PS pump. So if the one for the merc 400m would work then I'll get it anyway and block off one of the return lines till I get everything else sorted out.

 

The reason I mention calipers is because of the size of the bores vs the pressure from the braking system and that's without the PPV in the fold.

With the PPV in there is gets even more complicated

Btw,
No M after 400

It goes after 351 as in 351M

as in 351M/400 engine series

 

i did this swap on a 76 f150 , the hydoboost came from a late model f350 and IVAN also did this swap . we didnt have to change the proportioning valve and everything works out way better than the original setup on these trucks . the stuff you have to fab up is pertty simple to do . ask me or ivan if you need anything