Hi all, I usually post in the '48-60 board but I need some information on the master cylinder used in the late '60s Ford truck. I am working on a '37 Buick that like most cars and trucks of the era has a single chamber master cylinder. It has been suggested that I could possibly use the master cylinder from a late '60 Ford unit from a truck with manual brakes with four drum brakes. I need the dimensions of the master cylinder to make sure it will fit my application so if some one could be so kind as to provide me with the numbers I'd greatly appreciate it.

Here is what I have in the Buick. I figure if the Ford MC fits I could make an L bracket and mount it backwards:

 

I have a '67 F100 with the manual drum brakes. This is a dual master cylinder, which started in '67. If you want to stay with a single master cylinder, you'll have to look at '66 and earlier.

Quick tape measure dimensions of this master cylinder are:

7 1/4" long overall from the mounting flange surface to the front, not including the pushrod.

4 1/2" high, including the cover and bail clip.

3 1/4" wide, to the surfaces of the bosses with the line ports.

The two line ports come out the driver's side (opposite of most dual master cylinders), which may be a help to your installation. By eyeball to your pictures, it could fit. You'd probably need to make up a custom pushrod, but that shouldn't be a problem.

 

I want to change out the single chamber MC for a dual chamber MC. I was told a late '60 Ford should work. I just want to make I have room to mount it. I'll have to alter my floor so I have access to the Ford MC. It's no big deal since my floor is pretty rotted out in that area.

Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

 

That sounds like a fun project (even if it isn't an old Ford truck!). Yeah, switching over to a dual system is a good idea just for safety. By eyeball, it looks like you could fit the Ford master cylinder in there without having to significantly alter the original frame parts. You'd need to make up a new adapter bracket that bolts to the original side-saddle mounting location, plus a new pushrod/link.

Make sure that you get the '67-'68 master cylinder for 2WD manual brakes. That's the one that should have about the right bore size and front/rear ratio for your application. They're still commonly available through major auto parts places.

 

I've spent enough blood and sweat on my old Ford trucks that what was spent can't be deluted by a little GM rust.


I used the dimensions you supplied and I don't think I can installed the Ford MC in the same location as the original. I've exchanged emails with another Buick owner, he has a Road Master and he had his MC mounted behind the frame angle bracket, I think I'm going to have to do it that way too. I was hoping I could do it differently because back in the '30s through the '40s Buick had design differences from year to year and even model to model in the same year. My Special has many differences from the other Buick models of the same year.

The red is the Buick MC, the blue is the Ford MC



You have to have the dimensions of the mounting bolts and the mounting flange for your MC?



Thanks again for your help.