C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1971 power brake conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 4, 2009 | 11:08 PM
  #1  
1971 LT-1's Avatar
1971 LT-1
Thread Starter
Intermediate
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Ohio
Default 1971 power brake conversion

I'm looking to put power brakes onto a non-power original car. What should be looking out for and what parts will I need? Any help would be appreciated.

Al
Reply
Old May 4, 2009 | 11:34 PM
  #2  
Curby's Avatar
Curby
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Default

I can't help you much on the conversion, but the manual brakes on my 71 are better than the power brakes on my 72.

New calipers, hoses, fluid. and new master cylinder are all it took to get the brakes to stop the car on a dime with VERY little pedal travel.
Reply
Old May 4, 2009 | 11:43 PM
  #3  
TheSkunkWorks's Avatar
TheSkunkWorks
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Default

Besides obviously needing a booster, you'll need a different master cylinder and push rod. The fun is in properly enlarging the hole in the firewall. The booster's position requires changing which hole the push rod clevis attaches to on the brake pedal. Highly suggest you get an AIM for your year so you can get some good views of what you're trying to accomplish.


TSW
Reply
Old May 4, 2009 | 11:53 PM
  #4  
blueray72's Avatar
blueray72
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
Default

Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
Besides obviously needing a booster, you'll need a different master cylinder and push rod. The fun is in properly enlarging the hole in the firewall. The booster's position requires changing which hole the push rod clevis attaches to on the brake pedal. Highly suggest you get an AIM for your year so you can get some good views of what you're trying to accomplish.


TSW
I wonder if you have to do this for the hydro boost?
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 12:27 AM
  #5  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

I did a post on what you needed and even posted a picture a few months ago. I'll look and see if I can find it and post a link. If not, tomorrow. . . I'll do it for you over again.

Willcox.
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 12:31 AM
  #6  
TheSkunkWorks's Avatar
TheSkunkWorks
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Default

Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I did a post on what you needed and even posted a picture a few months ago. I'll look and see if I can find it and post a link. If not, tomorrow. . . I'll do it for you over again.

Willcox.
Do you sell the manual and/or PB push rods? I know some have said one or both of them have gotten hard to find.

Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 02:12 AM
  #7  
HamadUP's Avatar
HamadUP
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

I did a hydroboost conversion in my '71 with manual brakes. Best mod I've ever done to the car, simply makes it so drivable.
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 06:48 AM
  #8  
Gordonm's Avatar
Gordonm
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Default

Originally Posted by blueray72
I wonder if you have to do this for the hydro boost?
No. There is no firewall mods when you go with a Hydroboost.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 5, 2009 | 10:33 AM
  #9  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by 1971 LT-1
...what parts will I need? Any help would be appreciated....
Purchase the '71 assembly instruction manual (AIM) and compare the stock set up to the optional power brake set up. The AIM will list those parts which are the same as the non-power installation and will show the parts and original part numbers for parts the PB system requires. If memory serves, the PB installation requires a different size hole to be cut in the cowl, also in the AIM.

Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 01:36 PM
  #10  
HamadUP's Avatar
HamadUP
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by Gordonm
No. There is no firewall mods when you go with a Hydroboost.
Well, unless you'll keep the same pedal to rod leverage as the manual brakes (which is a bad idea), you have to do a minor mod. to the firewall as in this pic :

Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 02:13 PM
  #11  
Gordonm's Avatar
Gordonm
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Default

I did not have to modify anything in mine. With the proper linkage and bracket it fits without any mods.
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 02:15 PM
  #12  
blueray72's Avatar
blueray72
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
Default

.....and you're going to want to pull the drivers seat out....
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 04:35 PM
  #13  
Theiskell's Avatar
Theiskell
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Liberty Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by Gordonm
I did not have to modify anything in mine. With the proper linkage and bracket it fits without any mods.

Was your car a manual or power break originally? I had to cut my firewall like HamadUP. I have seen some adaptors that angel the HB up to allow for pedal alignment. Is that how you did yours?
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 05:24 PM
  #14  
Gordonm's Avatar
Gordonm
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Default

Mine was a manual car and it is pretty flat. I would say it is not angled. Any angle it would hit the hood.
Reply
Old May 5, 2009 | 08:05 PM
  #15  
98IndyPacer's Avatar
98IndyPacer
Racer
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 466
Likes: 71
From: West Chester PA
Default

Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I did a post on what you needed and even posted a picture a few months ago. I'll look and see if I can find it and post a link. If not, tomorrow. . . I'll do it for you over again.

Willcox.
Here is the info.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-70-vette.html
Reply
Old May 6, 2009 | 10:45 AM
  #16  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Default

Willcox: {since you don't receive PM's}
Your write-ups are appreciated. Suggestion: Create them in a word processor program so that you can save them. Then just cut-n-paste them into your posts. That way you can retain and re-send when you need, rather than have to re-create them. (since we can't always retrieve them from the CF archives)
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1971 power brake conversion





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:53 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE