figuring out the brakes...

[SwitchBlade327]

the power vs. non-power post got me thinking about the brake setup I wanna use on my next project. This is gonna be my first real ground up build so I'm tryign to figure out what will be best. This is one out of many posts to come.
A sedan, ford drums in back, disc brake kit on chevy spindles in the front. How should I set this up, trying to keep it as simple and cost effective as possible, but I dont' want to have to worry about my brakes holding up. Somebody school me on what I need, and what I can use.

[Fat Hack]

In addition to what you mentioned, you'll need some sort of pedal assembly, either hanging type, or up-through-the-floor type, a master cylinder for disc/drum brakes, a proportioning valve (adjustable is best), and the required residual valves, along with the steel brake line and flex hoses to plumb the system with.

A pedal/master cylinder kit compatible with the brakes you intend to use is your best bet...but you can engineer something out of OEM parts or make the stuff if you have the time, skills and determination!

Check with some other Model A owners to see what they're running and how they like it...go from there!

[SwitchBlade327]

it's gotta be an under the floor setup, this thing will be hoodless most of the time and I HATE seeing a mastercylinder sticking out. not sure what the disc's are, might be s-10 (that's what the rotors look like) but those kits are usually mixed parts so who knows. I don't have the stuff down here yet. i'm just planning so I can start thrashing as soon as it gets here. I'm gonna have parts to trade so maybe someone on here will have something.

[fatabone]

non-power under the floor is what I have in my 28 sedan and stops the car fine.
Howard

[SwitchBlade327]

I've heard form different people that non-power works fine, and from some that non-power has a hard ass pedal with disc brakes. Some more of you A guys need to tell me what your setup is...

[C9]

I used the Deuce Factory bracket and pedal on my 32 and 31 on 32 rails roadsters.
Master Cylinder (M/C) on the 32 is a Torino I believe.
It has a 7/8" bore, but the important part is the outlets point toward the frame when the M/C is oriented to the rear as they are on most hot rods.

M/C on the 32 is the aforementioned Torino and having the outlets exit toward the drivers side frame rail is a small nicety.
This M/C has a 7/8" bore.

Brakes in the back of both cars are the standard Ford drums that come on a 9" rear axle.

The 32's front discs are 68-70 Mustang and the rotor is 11" in diameter. Car stops really good, even with the proportioning valve turned way back - way back like in if it was gone I wouldn't miss it.

In fact, one of the brake companies made the observation that a propo valve is not needed on lightweight cars with the typical bigs and littles on rear and front.
The leverage from the taller tire tends to give a self-balancing effect as compared to the smaller front tire.
Even size tires, a different story.
In either event, what I'd do and what I am doing on the under construction 31 is to set up a place to mount a propo valve, split the brake line there so as to make installation of a propo valve easy later on if it was found necessary. My experience and what the brake company says I'd say you won't need it.
I would install the metering valve that goes in the front brake lines though. That's the one that applies the rear brakes a little before the front brakes come on. Makes for a better handling car under braking conditions from what I read. $70. for this metering valve at the hot rod brake companies, but it looks to be a stock item you could probably get at NAPA for less than half that.
I don't have one of these on the 32, but it's on the list and also on the list for the 31.

The M/C on the 31 is the standard 68-70 Mustang with the outlets coming out toward the trans/driveshaft.
More than likely this is very common Ford dual M/C and you shouldn't have any problems finding a new or rebuilt one.

Do your front discs look like this?
Rotor = 70-78 Camaro. (Measures 10 1/2" in diameter.)
Calipers = 82-84 Camaro.
Also used on a whole lot of other GM cars. (I have the list if needed.)

(The Mustang rotor mentioned measures 11" in diameter.
I expect about the same braking performance on both cars.

There's an extensive disc brake article at the FSRA site.
Go to Http://www.fsra.org and look for an article named "Front Stoppers."
There's also information there about using the MoPar rotors with GM calipers.
As well as a small and compact brake return spring setup.

[C9]

I forgot to mention the brake system on the 32 is non-power.
You don't need it. (Refer back to the original power brakes vs. non-power brakes post.)

The car is easy to drive in traffic and stopping is very predictable.

In fact, if you can't drive this car due to the lack of power brakes, I know where you can get a job as a weenie for the Oscar Meyer weenie wagon... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[SwitchBlade327]

I don't have them yet, herse a pic if you can tell anythign from that...