Pro's & con's of hydrboost

[Feel the 'Pane]

I've been showing some love to a battered 76' GMC K25 camper special & last week, picked up a 77' K35 doner w/ hydroboost. The doner has a narrow 14b DRW & D60 & I figured swapping the master cylinder was an upgrade that could be done at the same time.

Anyone want to talk me out of (or into) doing the HB swap? I tow a diesel welding machine in the mountains on occasion, & have been known to load the rack w/ 1K of steel.

Thanks for your input!

[mongocanfly]

I got hydro in my 81 c30.I love it..I reg pull 8-9000lb loaded trailers...hydroboost gets my vote..

[franken]

Got any pics of those 76 and 77 foot long trucks??

[DieselSJ]

I converted my Jeep to hydro when I did the diesel swap. I got a huge increase in braking performance. The R30 has one from the factory. Do it.

[68Timber]

I can't think of any cons to the swap. When I see guys looking to swap their rear drums to disc on vacuum-boost trucks I wonder if any of them end up with better brakes than factory hydroboost brakes. They make a full-size truck feel small and light.

[abig84]

only cons i can think of is if your belt gets wet or breaks you lose both your brakes and steering, same thing goes for blowing a line. most of my square bodies have been vacuum and have really had no complains about the vacuum set up either. had one hydroboost set up in a street truck, again no problems with it in a street rig.

[bluex]

Originally Posted by abig84

only cons i can think of is if your belt gets wet or breaks you lose both your brakes and steering, same thing goes for blowing a line. most of my square bodies have been vacuum and have really had no complains about the vacuum set up either. had one hydroboost set up in a street truck, again no problems with it in a street rig.

You don't totally lose brakes or steering, just the power assist. Both systems will still work just manually.


The only real con to the system is the lines going up to the firewall an back. It can be made to look decent just takes a little work is all

[Half Assed]

Originally Posted by abig84

only cons i can think of is if your belt gets wet or breaks you lose both your brakes and steering, same thing goes for blowing a line. most of my square bodies have been vacuum and have really had no complains about the vacuum set up either. had one hydroboost set up in a street truck, again no problems with it in a street rig.

that's why I junked the vbelt garbage and went with a serpentine belt setup off a '88-95 gmt400 truck

[Feel the 'Pane]

Originally Posted by franken

Got any pics of those 76 and 77 foot long trucks??

I live on a mountain top & barely have enough signal to make a call, much less download pics.

When I find a hosting site for pics, I'll download some truck porn.

Looks like the hydroboost is a done deal...

Thanks for all the input!

[100%Chevy]

I love my hydroboost!
When they say it will stop on a dime,it's true!And,you get change back!
Keep in mind that you will have to modify or use a hydroboost pedal assembly when converting.
Also,on my trucks,the power steering pump has 2 belts driving it.Twice as good!One is the pump only and the other is the a/c pump belt.
Mike.