Hey fellas, im wrappin up the sheetmetal work on my apache build. I have a "vette" style manual master cylinder from speedway mounted on the framerail under the cab. Anyone have a solution for a door i can put in the cab floor to access the master if i need to...... ? Im thinking maybe a bed floor fuel door might work. But there expensive, and i dont believe there waterproof. id rather fab one, but im having troubles coming up with a design that will seal and be waterproof. Heres a pic of the brake master... Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
I just cut a piece of sheet metal and glued a piece of inner tube to it and added a couple of sheet metal screws. HRP
go to a salvage yard and check out other vintage vehicles. Many have a large round rubber plug that fits tightly. Grab the plug, measure the size of the hole. Bore a same sized hole in your floor, done!
Bob, my truck has a hole in it the floor for the stock brake setup, but the new master is a lot bigger. pretty much all the stock holes ive seen for this have been way to small to get through and open the master top Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Rock Valley has stainless steel access doors which is what I used for the M/C in my '32 Ford. My '52 Chevy has a disc/drum master which put it underneath the seat, so I have a remote reservoir on the firewall.
my 56 chevy has a rubber plug, and my 52 m37 power wagon has a plate with 2 screw locks holding it down good luck with your project
is the stock hole big enough to fill the master cylinder? if so , just fill from the top...but to take the cap off get to it from underneath yes, not very convenient i've done that on a few `40 fords with stock floors with a small hole. the original stock hole lined up with one chamber of the new dual master cylinder and then i drilled a 3/4" hole so you can fill the other chamber with a small funnel. a plastic cap then fills that hole
Another option might be too look into some of the floor mount battery access panels. They're not as large as you might think, plus recessed handels, spring loaded latch system. I'm thinking along the line of a 48-53 chev, easily available, cheap.
Why would it need to be waterproof? It's not a boat. Most cars had access plates for brake master cylinder, DeSoto and Chrysler had 2 more for trans and Fluid Drive. They had a hole in the floor with a metal plate that fit over it, held down with a Philips head screw. The hole had a stiffening ridge or flange around it and so did the plate. The plate sort of hooked into one side of the hole, the other side held down with a screw. There was nothing complicated or expensive about it. A plate with 3 or 4 screws would be easy to make but a little harder to remove.
I have seen them from several sources. Here is an up-scale one: http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ACCESS-MC Here's another: http://www.jamcosuspension.com/products/productID/701 And one from Speedway: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Master-Cylinder-Access-Door,51703.html Since I was carpeting my floor, I didn't want a door, so I used a remote resevoir on the firewall.
filling from above means pulling out carpet and when i finally get mine laying tight and flat i sure don't want to pull it up for any reason. use a syringe and some tubing from below. most people don't even disturb the brake system unless their is a leak.
Ive already used a 47 to 53 door for my battery mounted under the cab. Its too big for the master. As far as waterproof goes, i guess it doesnt have to be totally sealed, i just dont want shit coming up through the door and under the carpet. Also, if i can make something super clean, i would like to bolt it down on top of the carpet so i dont have to peel the carpet back to get at it Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Heres a pic of the battery door, little to big for the master Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Chryslers had carpet that ran from the front of the front seat, back to the back seat. The front carpet was separate. It ended at the front of the front seat and overlapped the rear carpet by 4". When you need to check the master cylinder you roll the carpet forward. To get at the other plates on the other side of the car, you roll the carpet back from the firewall. No doubt, they did away with this for a reason. I would use a remote reservoir if possible. You might want to put a removable plate in the floor with screws if you need access to change the master cylinder.
I have used breaker or fuse box lids before, they can look pretty clean if you find the right one. If you do a little snooping, there are some old ones that are nice and small.
I googled the mgb plug. Looks like itll work well. For the carpet i was thinking about using these little snap things that modern vw's use to hold floor mats in place. Ill just make small panels for the battery door and master cylinder and finish em off with a nice binding. The snaps will be underneath the panel and unseen Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
don't cut up your carpet. Simply unscrew the sill plates when you need to have access. Afterall, it won't happen often.
Sometimes, instead of just jumping for help, if you sit down and survey the situation over a cool beverage a solution for making a door will pop in your head. For the most part, these cars and what we need to do are simple. Just think about it for a bit. Like the saying, "It's not rocket science. Kids were doing this shit 60 years ago."
cut the hole the size you want get a piano hinge a small piece of steel and some weatherstrip from home depot cut the door from the piece of metal 3/4 on an inch bigger than the hole weld the piano hinge at 3 points each end and the middle,,, round the corners weld the hinge to the floor,, drilll it out for a dzeus fastener or just a phillups screw glue on some weatherstrip from home depot your done,,, i made mine out of stainless and put it down over the carpet but its in just the right place to rest my heel on when im driving so it makes for a carpet protecter /heel plate
There's all size metal access panels for valves etc. available for construction purposes. Check your local sheet metal shop (duct work,HVAC drain pans) they should have them starting @ 6"x6" on up. Flanged with small half turn smooth latches. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
They are also at most Big Box Building Supply stores. Also most drywall supply places will have them.