66 Power Brake Conversion
I just completed a power brake conversion on our 66 this weekend and wanted to share what I learned. I purchased CaptFab's bracket, but to my disappointment ended up not using it. Nothing against the bracket - it is a high quality piece but we were leaving the drum brakes all the way around so it ended up being easier to not use it. I ended up ordering a Z-Bar set up from Summit p/n TFF-4653B and a factory power booster & m/c set up from Oreilly's p/n 50-3535. The brackets that the Summit z-bar comes with space the booster & m/c out too far so I transferred the "Z" mechanism to the brackets that came with the O'reilly's unit. The rod that goes to the brake pedal was still a little short so I used the stock rod with some 3/8-24 threads cut onto the end that originally goes into the manual m/c to connect to the z-bar. I had to cut about 1/4" off the stock rod to make it fit. It is already tapered and the perfect diameter so the 3/8-24 die threads on easily. Two holes needed to be drilled through the firewall since, to my surprise, even though the power booster was ordered for the same year truck I was working on only 2 holes of the original 4 line up. I couldn't be happier with this set-up! I replaced ALL the brake components (drums, wheel cylinders, hoses, shoes, hardware) and this truck stops as good as my other trucks with disc's in the front.
I am sure this has been posted before, but I couldn't find it anywhere and spent a lot of time looking for the right parts to make this seemingly easy swap work.
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LifeTime GM guy. Current collection...
2006 Z-71 Suburban
1985 C-10
1990 Suburban
1966 C-10 (me & dad's project)
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