55 Special 4 Door

[AckBob]

Ok... I am getting a bit tired of the lack of good braking power with the '55 Special. Now the question that has arisen for me would be if there is an easy way to put a power brake booster in the same position as the original master cylinder?

Thanks
Bob

[raycow]

Ok... I am getting a bit tired of the lack of good braking power with the '55 Special. Now the question that has arisen for me would be if there is an easy way to put a power brake booster in the same position as the original master cylinder?

First, please keep in mind that installing a booster does not increase your braking power. The only thing it does is to reduce the amount of foot pressure required on the brake pedal.

If you are comfortable with keeping the stock single circuit drum brakes, the easiest conversion would be the factory Buick PB setup if you can find a donor car with a complete set of parts. Lacking that, look for a remotely mounted booster like a Bendix Hydrovac or the similar product made by Midland. These are semi-universal and can be located almost any place where you have the space to mount one. You will have to re-route some of the hard lines, but you won't need to modify your present master cylinder or pedal linkage.

Ray

[AckBob]

First, please keep in mind that installing a booster does not increase your braking power. The only thing it does is to reduce the amount of foot pressure required on the brake pedal.

If you are comfortable with keeping the stock single circuit drum brakes, the easiest conversion would be the factory Buick PB setup if you can find a donor car with a complete set of parts. Lacking that, look for a remotely mounted booster like a Bendix Hydrovac or the similar product made by Midland. These are semi-universal and can be located almost any place where you have the space to mount one. You will have to re-route some of the hard lines, but you won't need to modify your present master cylinder or pedal linkage.

Ray

Is there a good conversion to disc brakes that is reasonably affordable?

[raycow]

Is there a good conversion to disc brakes that is reasonably affordable?

Have a look here:
http://www.scarebird.com/index.php?id=1

Ray

[AckBob]

Ray -- looks interesting but begs another question -- can I put in a better master cylinder/brake booster in the existing location? This scarebird conversion would also require a conversion for some sort of power brakes wouldn't it?

[telriv]

Many years ago I installed the brake shoes/all hardwre & drums from a '63 Riviera into my '55 Special. Using the original master & NO power the braking was SO much better. Since I'm a mechanic by trade/hobby to myself it was just about a bolt-in.


Tom T.

[3 Tone]

I redid the brakes on our 55 Special tudoor a few years back used all new replacement parts. Only upgrade was a 70 Nova master cyl which has the same bore as the Buick part. I mounted it in the stock place. Had to drill a couple new mounting holes, ding the floor up a bit to clear the lid bail and make a new pushrod. I also did a replumb and split the system front and rear. It firmed up the brakes a bit and made me feel a little better in traffic. I'm thinking of adding disc brakes to the front now. It's a non power system don't know if I'll add a booster or not there is not a lot of room under the floor around the x-frame.