vacuum switch out to hydraulic power assist

[TimUK]

C10 71 350.
Very low vacuum causing vacuum brake assist to be inadequate on long steep downhill driveway with s turns.
Bought the hydratech actuator. 90-120 days to receive from date of order but a nice US unit. Running a Concept One pulley system so had to change out PS pump and add a remote reservoir. Mounted the reservoir where the old radiator expansion tank was. Bought cylindrical metal expansion tank and mounted it between the grill and radiator support. Made new hydraulic lines. Did not make one fitting properly on the high pressure line and squirted PS fluid everywhere in the engine bay. Lots of smoke from it landing on the exhaust. Noticed the short from plug wire to header. Bought shorter plug and ceramic cap. Accel had both the shorter header plugs and the ceramic cap/wire.
Started testing yesterday outside my house. Short runs and hard breaking. Then the adventure down the hill. Said goodbye to the wife and told her to come look for me if I was not back in ten minutes.....
All went well. Could stop on the steep hill and lock wheels if necessary. Could not do that before making every trip down the hill an adventure.
Lessons learned:
1. Stainless braided lines tear up your finger tips and are cause swearing out loud.
2. These changes always cost more than you planned.
3. Having great tread on the tires does not mean they are safe to drive on. Whilst wheels were off, the date date stamp was three digits....that means a minimum of 20 years old. Bought new tires.
4. Improvements like this project are very satisfying!
Cheers
Tim

[Rust_never_sleeps]

is your motor cammed?

[TimUK]

Yes. According to the info from the engine builder its a 1104 466 lift. Heads are LT1 #3927186.

[Steeveedee]

Nothing like weak brakes on a steep hill to cause high blood pressure. Good thing you got it fixed!

[TimUK]

Went for a drive yesterday to drop off screen door trashed by my dog. Hot day in Livermore. All good there and back. The braking takes a bit to get used to.
Hydradtech says it can take up to 500 miles to get the microbubbles out of the system.

[PbFut]

Your description of the project is so dead on. I don't play golf but I bet those guys get the same feeling as us. Frustrating as hell but at the end of a good round so satisfying. Liked the braided line comment. Same here until I figured out some tape and a Dremal cut off wheel makes a very clean cut. Don't go all the way through so you don't contaminate the tube, and finish with razor blade. Way less stray wires to poke in the fitting.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by TimUK

Yes. According to the info from the engine builder its a 1104 466 lift. Heads are LT1 #3927186.

yeah, so not enough vacuum for a happy booster
hydro systems look cool, just a bit of initial work

Hotter the rest of the week, joy

[Orange Crate]

So did the dog get to ride along when taking the screen door in? If so then he/she is much smarter than you give him/her credit for!

[TimUK]

Actually he did! The gal at the screen shop asked me if I still had the dog.....
Heavy duty mesh going in this time. Maybe electrified.........but for sure the wife will walk into it and then things will be bad!

[Orange Crate]

Your dog went to great lengths just to get a ride in the truck, most of us do the same thing....I think I would cook that guy a T bone