Brakes ...

[Rob73-87]

Hi ,

I have a 1984 c10 Longbed which originally came with a Diesel 6,2l.
I want to swap this engine to a 350 V8.

The problem is, the truck had no brakebooster, instead it came with GMs Hydraboost-System...

I do not trust that thing and I wonder if anybody knows whether I can use the brake booster and brake master cylinder out of my partscar (1980 C10 with 6 cyl...had been converted to a 350 V(...) ?????

I know sounds a little bit stupid.....

[D13]

If you're going to run a mean 350 with lots of cam and no vacuum, keep the hydraboost. A lot of rodders have gone to them. All you need is a power steering pump. This set up stops my 87 diesel, my 99 extended cab 3/4 ton, and my 87 2 ton (try a booster failure at 10,000 kg). As you can imagine it has to be pretty dependable to use on commercial rigs.

If you do decide to swap, be sure you have the same size brakes between the two trucks (different calipers take different M/C pistons), and they would both need to be disc/drum (could you get drum/drum in 1980?). Might jsut want a rebuilt M/C just in case. Also be sure the booster holds vacuum, they do eventually fail.

[moneyeater]

I have changed from the hydroboost unit to a conventional unit out of a ´89 Blazer and it works fine! Just be sure that it holds the vacuum and is leakfree!
If you use the powersteeringpump from the diesel you can keep the hydroboostunit and it´ll work great!

[Rob73-87]

hmm, thank you all - I think I will use the brake booster and master cyl. out of the 1980 P/U, - currently I`m rebuilding a moderate 305 small block, so there won`t be any vacuum issues...

I have another two of the 305, a 350 and a 400 small block "in stock". What would you do with them (stroker ... blower ... whatever...)

please feel free to comment....