Has anyone converted a Model A to hydraulic brakes? The brackets I see from street rod parts vendors mount the master cylinder bracket to the drivers side frame rail. It doesn't appear to leave room for the factory clutch pedal. How do you set the master cylinder up and still use the original clutch pedal and linkage?
Get a copy of "Model A Restoration Handbook" by Gordon E. Hopper. See Chapter 10, pages 74-90. This book was written decades ago and has the old fashioned way to hydraulicise a stock Model A!
People have been converting Model A's to hydraulic brakes probably since Henry first put hydraulic brakes on the '40 Ford. The 1-800-hot-rod stuff is probably intended for cars using automatic transmissions, but there's plenty of other ways to do it - like in the book as mentioned above.
http://www.mtcarproducts.com/ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124112 read thru this theread has great photos and info MT products has complete kit as does Clings AfterMarket. Clings does NOT have a web site anymore. but call them in Arizona for line sheet. Also buy 'model a ford mechanics book' vol. II by Les Andrews good section on howto.
I have heard that some guys used to mount the master cylinder outside the frame rails and use the mechanical brake cross shaft to actuate it- don't do it, scarey setup with little mechanical advantage. Courtesy of Bob Carabbio and Dick Sparks, here are a couple pix of a neat bellcrank linkage that mounts inside the cross member to tie the stock pedal to a rearward facing master cylinder. Easy to make and only one hole to drill in the crossmember
You can get a neat bracket that let's you use your stock Model A pedals with a later 39 three speed tranny at: http://www.partsformodelafords.com/store/category.cfm?Category=27&StartRow=31 Alot less hassle than trying to graft a later Ford hydraulic pedal mount.
Cool stuff were do you find his goodies? I like to know more about the spacer/trans mount in the one picture?
Bob does not sell these. He made up the prints and was nice enough to send me a copy so I could see how he had done it and do the fabrication myself.
This looks like a nice arrangement. For some reason, I can't seem to print or view the pictures at a size that isn't too big (it clips off the edge) or too small (can't read). Would it be possible to get these emailed to me or in another format? I'm [email protected]. Thanks for any help you can give me, I like this approach. Although I'm not sure how access to the reservoir works. Brian
hyd brakes ?? why change a good thing ! my mechanicals are like a suicide clutch , got to have one !! never change a good thing , improve it !! ... mine slide all four radials ! no problem ................. steve
I like the bracket, very nice. The master cylinder looks like a single reservoir, do you know of one that would fit with a dual reservoir?
Some guys put a whole F1 pickup crossmember in. Gives you late pedals and mount for a master all in one.
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