Power brakes for C1s

[Edward McComas]

I have read the numerous posts about disc brake conversions for C1, and I don't want to add to the confusion. One thing I am wondering about though: What about adding power brakes to a C1, and leaving every thing else the same? I have seen power brakes on some modified C1s, and it looks like the first generation Mustang power brake setup, with an extension tube to move the master cylinder away from the firewall and also make some room for the power booster. Those old Mustangs used a "bell crank" arrangement to lower the power booster in the engine compartment and still be able to engage the power booster / master cylinder.

Anyone do anything like this? How much effort was it, and was it worth the effort?

[Dale Pearman]

Re: Power brakes for C1s

Why not just buy a modern automobile?.........Or join a hot-rod group?...Or street rods?..............NCRS is not the NCIS (National Corvette Improvement Society) although one is often led to believe it is since most of the patter here is modification oriented!

Dale.

[Robert Willis]

Re: Power brakes for C1s

While I don't like to see power brakes added to a good braking system if you really want to do it you can add a Hydra-vac unit like the 57 Chevies had. They were used on a standard shift car . You could mount it under the car and run the brake line from the master cyl to it and then out to the brake junction block. You would also need a vacuum hose from the booster to the rear of the carb.

[Roy Braatz]

Re: Power brakes for C1s

OH! Ewards! your walking a thin line here. Your heading for the outer pasture called Sportsman or worse. But you wont be alone, the majority of owners Corvette are not pedigreed and still have friends.Check out how many Corvettes attended the SACC Convention and then go on line to see how many Corvette clubs you will find out there.
NCRS is by fare the worlds best Corvette organization to learn or restore correctly your Corvette. I"ve been a member from the beginning and plan to stay with them, because of the great friends I made and have. But NCRS is not the end to all concerned., only a part of owning a great Corvette.They are the only club that does not recognize any deviation from a factory delivered build Car.
You would never see fender shirts,continental tire kits, tissues box, or a compass at a Chevy Convention if they had the same standard, these were all Dealer added options. I have a %100 no repro parts dead on restored 1955 Copper Corvette, but because I have factory options like wire wheels,compass,engine heater,tissue box,R/S mirror, radiator filter,shaver,tire tracks,tool kit,gas pedal cover,also a after market green bubble top, and sins of all sins a trailer hitch for pulling our 1947 Tear Drop Trailer for parts and my wife's cloths,WELL! So where does my chariest Corvette Gras? while attending NCRS? in Sportsman or the parking lot.And that is OK (I) made the choice. So now that I may have made more enemies!
Chevrolet instruction manual for the 57 Corvette once showed a power boaster installation going back behind the left lower inner fender. Chevy's accessories manual for 1955 page 4. also shows this boaster even thou neither used one like the pic. But I added one once in a 57 and it worked great, they can still be had today , say on E-Bay. Well I hope I made a friend?

[Edward McComas]

Re: Power brakes for C1s

Thanks for the replies. I don't currently own a C1, I was just curious as to whether anyone had done this before.

Ray, I was very interested in your response, particularly the part about a Chevy instruction manual once showing the installation of a power booster. This reminds me of a conversation I had with Zora Duntov at one of the early 1990s Cypress meets. I asked Zora if he had ever considered installing a 348 engine in the 58 Corvette. He told me that they thought about it, and even did some preliminary engineering work on it, but in the end he just didn't want all of that extra weight. I have always thought that a 1958 348 tri-power "factory" car would be real neat. I even wrote an article for Vette Vues magazine many years ago entitled "Corvette that never were, but perhaps should have been". This 58 348 car was one of them.

I do agree with Dale that it is hard to improve on a system that hundreds of engineers designed and refined. My question was aimed more at a "possible" solution to this disc conversion issue. I think a lot of these people are just looking for less pedal effort. OK, now back to your regularly scheduled program (which is Corvette RESTORATION).

[Clem Z.]

Re: Power brakes for C1s

if you think they are hard to stop now you should have had one with metalic brake lining back then. mrs clem could not stop it at the end of the street stop sign. good thing back then there was no traffic in my neighborhood. once she got on to riding the brakes as soon as she left the garage to warm them up she could at least slow down for the stop sign.