Hey guys, kind of new to the HAMB. I have a 55 Buick Special that I am starting to build. I didn't start a build thread because its going to take me a few years to really get it going. Its been sitting since 1973, and has gotten yard driven occasionally by the previous owner and now me, but thats about it. I replaced the front and rear wheel cylinder just for safety (the original Delco actually still worked and didn't leak), I put new tires on it, had the gas tank and radiator boiled out, rebuilt the carb, rebuilt the fuel pump, and then took it for a quick run around the block. The brakes worked but didn't really seem to be able to slam the car to a stop like a car with discs would. My previous daily drivers were 79 Trans Am, 74 Olds 88, 73 Olds 88, 78 Mustang 2, 77 Trans Am, 75 Cadillac Coupe Deville and a Triumph Tr7. Ive heard the Buick had great breaking ability especially for the era, but all of my other cars just seemed to have a lot more stopping ability and I like to daily drive what ever my project is so I want to switch to front disc. The Scarebird kit seems good, the biggest issue is the master cylinder. Id like to keep it under the floor like Buick intended, plus I really like the look of the stock pedals and clean firewall. I keep reading posts where some guys got a master and booster to fit in place of the stock one and then I read about moving it to the firewall. I really want to keep it under the floor and I want dual servo brakes for safety, has anyone here pulled it off? HAMBERS seem to be a lot better and fabricating and seem to use their heads a lot more then some of the guys on the Buick forums. You guys actually make stuff work, you dont just open a catalog and if its not there you ***ume theres no other option, and I like that. So please give me some advise here Id really appreciate it.
My very first car was a '55 Century. I really can't be of any help (so long ago) but best of luck. Please posts lots of pictures. Jack
Looks like your previous daily drivers all had disc brakes so the Buick is going to feel a little different but if you are not getting good braking you may still have air in the lines. Give them a good bleeding and see if braking improves.
I really bled the hell out of them, because I thought the same thing. I first gravity bled them, then got a friend and bled them using the 2 man method. The pedal seems high and firm but it always seems like I am stomping the pedal to get it to stop. When I was in tech school, they told us drums are self energizing and basically create their own ***ist, so combined with a power brake booster I feel like if I stomp this thing I should have all 4 wheels locking up and screaming to a stop. Instead it just stops and barely even lurches forward. Ive never had it over 35mph so I cant imagine what high way speeds would be like but it seems like it would be scary and possibly dangerous.
If you guys dont know one that will fit off the top of your head, can you recommend a good company that might have something custom that I can get to work?
I don't know what your fab skills are so I am not going to suggest that you build something. look for a kit to change it out they make them. You are going to end up using a small diameter booster. As for just brakes on the old heap, you don't have to run power for a disc brake setup, you can stay manual and use a dual reservoir master if you like.
As ****** mentioned, how handy are ya'? If not up to the fabricatin' aspects of it, ( especially on brakes!), contact some brake swap spe******ts, ( Scarebird, here on the HAMB comes to mind), and see if he offers anything for this swap. If not, I believe he's been known to take folks spindles, and make discs work, with later model easy to find calipers and rotors. And mention to him, you wanna' keep all under the floor, which may well mean no power brakes. But as mentioned above, power ain't necessary. I swapped my 58 Dodge, and 59 Ford, ( both wagons), over to manual discs with excellent results!
My original plan was the scarebird setup. I like that it uses standard GM parts I can get at a local auto parts store noting exotic. its 70s Riviera Rotors with Astro van calipers. The master and booster are the whole issue. Under the floor is basically a bracket with the giant power booster and master cylinder on it and then a pedal on a pivot that comes through the floor.Almost like a model A. So I feel like I could probably just re-drill the bracket to fit whatever booster I need. I just dont know about clearance. Heres a pic I found online of course the guy has the body off so he doesnt know if it will fit once its on and of course no part #s are listed.
I see a "red X" for the pic. What kind of booster is the stock one, vacuum? Diameter? There are lots of dual diaphragm boosters in the aftermarket, of small diameters, that you can compare to yours.
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