Hydroboost brakes.. Thanks CaptainFab

[72bigred]

Hi all,

Just wanted to drop some pics and thank John for an excellent product. Some have heard of these boosters while others have not, I just wanted to tell anyone that cares to listen I personally will not use any other booster any longer. I did this conversion in my SS396 due to a very large cam and zero vacuum and I have never been happier, it is far superior to any vac boost. There are some commercial sites that sell kits that cost upwards of 1k.. With what John is building its a fraction of the cost if you have been hesitant about doing the swop. I might have 150$ into my whole set up by the time I am finished and I am considering that on the high end. His products are excellent and if you have questions about how, what, where, when Captainfab can give you the details and I also have alot of exp with these systems and would be glad to help. Drop me a pm if you have any questions. Again thanks John clean easy install for the booster, or as it appears any booster.

Truck is still in its baby phase but it will be on the road in the spring, I have a collection of pics and will start a build thread soon, just wanted to have it up to where I can show some progression pretty constant.

Reid

[Captainfab]

I'm glad to see you finally got the cab back.

The hydroboost looks good on there, but it looks kinda naked without a master cylinder

Have you decided on what master you're going to use?

Thanks Reid

[72bigred]

Was going to go with a fancy willywood, yet due to a recent discovery or two I may just go with a newer stock one due to price.. Recent discovery of the wife wanting AC is going to cause a pocket book problem staying within what I want to spend total on this one so I may have to make some cuts in other places.. AC poses a some other issues due to the 292 I am going to run for her has a 194 head and has no holes for the bracket they make so might be lookin your way for some fab work soon!

Reid

[Captainfab]

Shouldn't be a problem, just let me know.

Originally Posted by 72bigred

Was going to go with a fancy willywood, yet due to a recent discovery or two I may just go with a newer stock one due to price.. Recent discovery of the wife wanting AC is going to cause a pocket book problem staying within what I want to spend total on this one so I may have to make some cuts in other places.. AC poses a some other issues due to the 292 I am going to run for her has a 194 head and has no holes for the bracket they make so might be lookin your way for some fab work soon!

Reid

[protrash64]

Nice!! I've picked up the bracket from Cap'n Fab and have the hydroboost unit just waiting for a future upgrade project. I'll subscribe to keep contact info.

[orange66fleet]

I have a question, I have just received a hydroboost unit off a 79 chevy truck and wondering if i will have to purchase the bracket to install it properly on my 65. If yes a short explaination why. Thanks

[padresag]

I believe it depends on what year that the hydraboost unit come off of. the earlier ones will bolt pretty well in place of the original m/c. mine was off a 75 or 76 suburban 4 x 4 and has just the 2 mounting holes. perhaps someone can clarify as to what year they changed the mounting. Might have been the same time as they had changed over to metrics????.
1 note of caution; do not use on 4 wheel drum brakes as if you really have to hit the pressure. you can crack brake drums.
mine was installed 27-28 years ago when the diesel went in as due to no vacuum and p/s. disc brakes were added at a later date . twice I broke brake drums , mind you both times i had a trailer on behind and once someone did a quick stop in frt of me and I had to apply brakes now and crack. did stop in time though
ron

[100%Chevy]

Maybe a little off topic,but I just pulled a hydroboost unit off a 89 motorhome.
Can it be used on a 1/2 ton truck?Or do they come in different sizes since it was a 2 ton chassie?
I know the master cylinder is too big.
Thanks,Mike.

[TR65]

Hey guys,

Is there any other down side to using hydro boost?? It is such a clean solution to replace that big ugly vacuum booster even if you have plenty of vacuum. (It seems I recall some warnings, maybe it was just the broken drum issue)

Thanks,

TR

[70 Suburban]

i thought about it it would look nice but mine came factory with it.. nice lookin though

[Captainfab]

No you don't have to have one of my brackets to install that onto your truck, you'll just need to drill some holes in your firewall.

I developed these brackets as a 100% bolt on, so no need to drill any more holes in the firewall. That and the fact that I don't really like how the '73-'87 booster mounting brackets look on these trucks.....definitely looks like it didn't come that way from the factory.

Originally Posted by orange66fleet

I have a question, I have just received a hydroboost unit off a 79 chevy truck and wondering if i will have to purchase the bracket to install it properly on my 65. If yes a short explaination why. Thanks

[Captainfab]

If it is in fact from a 2 ton truck based chassis, then it probably won't work well on a 1/2 ton. The Motorhomes I've dealt with were based on a 1 ton chassis, even some of the larger ones. In fact I have a hydroboost from an '89 motor home that is the same as a 1 ton unit, but the master appears to have a larger bore.

Originally Posted by 100%Chevy

Maybe a little off topic,but I just pulled a hydroboost unit off a 89 motorhome.
Can it be used on a 1/2 ton truck?Or do they come in different sizes since it was a 2 ton chassie?
I know the master cylinder is too big.
Thanks,Mike.

[72bigred]

Originally Posted by TR65

Hey guys,

Is there any other down side to using hydro boost?? It is such a clean solution to replace that big ugly vacuum booster even if you have plenty of vacuum. (It seems I recall some warnings, maybe it was just the broken drum issue)

Thanks,

TR

I have found no downside, the braking is amazing and even if you bust a belt or your pump fails they store up pressure so you have power assist a few more times before they just fall back on the fail safe of manual. I have yet to have this happen. These have become a nice well built booster, the aftermarket companies selling the kits put out a warning for offroad use only etc, I believe due to liability. As far as a clean install yes, as you can see I choose to mount mine upside down so the lines come ouf of the bottom of the unit but they can be mounted to your taste.

Also to second CptFab you can drill some extra holes and bolt in, in most cases. IMO although due to the booster costing 6-10$ from a pickNpull, I choose to have lines built $35 the brackets are so clean if you can get one for under 100$ jump on it. I drilled holes in the orig plate in my 68 chevelle and it of course looked terrible but worked for a long time. I finally found a guy building billet plates for them at 100$ a pop so I went for one and of course Cptfabs are clean and offer other abilities. The cost of a complete kit is upwards of 1000$.. So for us to be able to do it clean and pretty for under 150$ is great.

Reid

[Captainfab]

Which one of yours came factory with Hydroboost?

Originally Posted by 70 Suburban

i thought about it it would look nice but mine came factory with it.. nice lookin though

[70 Suburban]

nono .. it came with factory power.. not hydro.. thats why i didnt switch over

[TheDark1]

Is there a prefered model to get the hydro-boost from for our switch?

[Thealien]

Hmmm subscribed

[72bigred]

The easiest to find in the pickNpulls is the unit out of the Chev Astro van, it must be a 4 wheel drive version to have it, you can also find it in random chevy trucks, any with rigs that run diesel fuel will have it.

How I make the conversion easier rather than getting different fittings etc is I use a tube cutter and keep a section of the hose out of the pump (see pics) then I cut the fittings/tube off my hose at my ps box, take the ends into any hose shop, give them a length and they will braze them together for you.. Costs me 35$ for a pair.

[TheDark1]

Does it make a difference if it's a 3/4 or one ton? I don't want them to be so touchy that I pull an eyeball when I hit the brakes.

[72bigred]

Originally Posted by TheDark1

Does it make a difference if it's a 3/4 or one ton? I don't want them to be so touchy that I pull an eyeball when I hit the brakes.

I do not believe there is any difference between them, Napa lists them as the exact same part number NBB 527307 for either 3/4 or 1Ton. If you get one out of an astro van 4 wheel drive it will also be the same, the difference is in the length of the pushrod, but that will have to be modified anyhow.

Reid

[TheDark1]

Cool. Thanks.

[62gmc910]

watch the salvage hydroboosts for leaks around the pushrod

[72bigred]

Originally Posted by 62gmc910

watch the salvage hydroboosts for leaks around the pushrod

Yes you are exactly correct, very easy to spot. I have only seen 1 in the dozen or so I have pulled but it does happen. Also make sure you are careful with the storage container on the side, brass. Try hard not to bump it and it should not spin.

[62gmc910]

Originally Posted by 72bigred

Yes you are exactly correct, very easy to spot. I have only seen 1 in the dozen or so I have pulled but it does happen. Also make sure you are careful with the storage container on the side, brass. Try hard not to bump it and it should not spin.

I must have got more than my share of leakers '84 K30 , '82 sub 6.2, '84 sub 6.2, '75 C30 all leakers but i've had as many good ones too

[Captainfab]

Most any GM hydroboost from a C10 to C30 can work as well as the Astro van units. What you do is remove the factory mounting bracket, and the base units are all the same. However depending on the contour of the bracket, a special socket may be required to loosen the special nut. It is also helpful for tightening the nut. I have those available for rental with purchase of my brackets. The base unit will then attach to the hydroboost mounting plate that I sell.

Originally Posted by TheDark1

Is there a prefered model to get the hydro-boost from for our switch?