Re: [Amc-list] Rebuilding my transmission and adding power brakes.

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Thomas, what "the guy" told you is sort of correct -- if you're an 
experienced fabricator and you know enough about braking systems to make 
it work SAFELY. In other words, it's nothing for a novice to attempt. I 
worked on brakes for years before I attempted any such things, and only 
then after I had a through understanding of hydraulic brakes and how 
they work.

There is one relatively easy and safe interchange though. You can use a 
66-69 Ford Torino or Fairlane power brake setup. You may have to modify 
the length of the rod from pedal to booster, and will have to use 
adapters or replace the lines from the master cylinder to the junction 
block (the lines are easy to replace -- that's the safest thing to do). 
The 66-69 Torino/Fairlane setup uses the correct 1" bore master cylinder 
and has the offset mount (raises the booster and MC for clearance) 
needed. A 7" booster with MC sells for $300 at www.mpbrakes.com (part 
#BM1510). IF YOU ORDER FROM MPBRAKES either tell them you have a 66-69 
Torino or that you have a custom built street rod and that's what was 
used. If you tell them it's for an AMC they'll say they don't have AMC 
parts. It bolts up, but by telling them it's a custom setup you're 
assuming responsibility for the way the system works, and fitting it. 
You may have to enlarge or slot (file) the mounting holes for the 
bracket, but I installed one of these in a 65-66 Rambler years ago and 
don't recall doing that. I do remember having to adjust the rod from the 
pedal to the booster, but I believe it was just getting the eccentric 
bushing in the pedal adjusted right.

If you're "rolling your own" system, you can use the booster and bracket 
from a 74-86 CJ-5 or CJ-7 with power brakes, but flip it UPSIDE DOWN. 
The CJs use the bracket to LOWER the MC to clear the hood, Ramblers use 
it to RAISE the MC to clear the engine and steering column. A 52-72 full 
size Ford bracket and booster will work also. You can't use the MC 
unless you have the big 3.1" piston Bendix (from 75-78 Matador, 76 all 
AMCs) or 71-74 Kelsey Hayes front brakes. The big Fords use a 1-1/8" 
bore MC, as does the AMCs mentioned above (for power disc brakes) -- all 
other AMC disc brake and drum brake setups use a 1" bore MC (early 70s 
cars w/non-power front discs use a 1-1/16" MC). So you have to change 
the MC. When you do that, you may have to adjust the rod between the 
booster and MC. The MC for a 66-69 Torino will fit the big Ford and CJ 
booster. AMC spec MCs fit both also.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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