My push rod is about 4" too short. I was thinking about cutting a 4" bolt and stick it in the master cylinder. Can anyone think why this might not be a good idea?
As long as you are driving in CA and I am in NY I see no problem with it at all. The people you potentially kill when you brake pedal jams may have an issue with it.
It is not a good idea because brakes are a safety item and you never mickey-mouse it. Get the right pushrod, or cut down a longer one.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/...type/master-cylinder-pushrod-kits?PageSize=25 Maybe try one of those or hit up a junkyard?
four inches is a lot, but I've made many brake push rods (almost every car i've built) is it a strait push? if its not you have to many things going on at one time. Use ..maybe a grd 5 or better bolt that looks right. weld ends on. i try to make them adjustable useing the treads on the bolt. If you have the skills to do this it's a no brainer
For all you naysayers.......I am currently using a bolt with a heim on the threaded end for adjustability on a manual system. I've had no problem whatsoever in 6 years. I cut the bolt to length, chucked it up in a drill and rounded the MC end on a belt sander.
Looking at your pic brings to mind a couple safety-related items. 1) lose the power booster. Given it's size, it's as likely to work as my wife's dog. Which is also small...And that may make up all you are lacking in rod length. 2) I hope that firewall is braced on the backside, because the utter lack of bracing on the engine side means that the brake master will be bending the firewall, to the point of fracturing. And you may be surprised how quickly, as well. 3) Do not try filling the master with a bolt to make up for lack of rod length, the real danger is that the pushrod might fall out, leaving you with no brakes. Cosmo
I was referring to the two-piece rod idea that is unsafe. A MC rod should be one-piece. Just want to be clear about that
Now that thing just screams traditional. Different length adjustable push rods are available. Sumit or Jegs has them, and from the pic shown, you def have one of their catalogs.
Which one is short? The one from the pedal to the booster or the one from the booster to the master. If the latter, then you've got the wrong master cylinder, if the former, Speedway has a nice kit with lots of parts for lots of adjustability.