Is using a 1939 pedal ***embly the EASIEST way to put hydraulic brakes on a Ford that came with mechanical brakes?
No, unless you're making an X or K member specifically to fit it... '28-34 it's a poor fit, probably requiring more hacking than street rod parts, '35-37 apparently (never owned anything in there...) it takes more work than one would expect given the general similarity of frames in this era. EASIEST way is kit from Early V8 Garage that hooks up to original pedals and bolts in, or from Dave Wilton's Model A brake place for A's. Original pedals are realdamneasy to fit in, and these guys make the hardware for the MC. Model A kits are for basically original cars--if building a V8 one you need a crossmember anyway, so make the brace to fit whatever '39-48 pedals you find. For '32's, there's the V8 shop kit, there's MC forward on right, MC forward on left, mc behind pedals--lots of different setups have been done using stock pedals and MC.
I agree, it really all depends on what your building and what your putting in it. I think one of the easiest ways in an A if your not using a flatty and three speed is offered here: http://www.dagelsstreetrods.com/super_x_crossmember.htm. If your willing to learn a lot that you don't, a custom made crossmember and hyd setup is always a legit and very good idea.
Also, '39 pedals are now worth their weight in gold because people somehow believe in them as a universal solution kit; '40-48 and F-1 pedals are worth very little, and I don't see any reason why they could not be adapted easily by simply incorporating the little frame-to-clutch relay they require. Look at the use of a complete F-1 crossmember and pedal setup in an A by the Canadian A-V8 guy in the tech section for inspiration--that guy built a clean installation without fighting half the world on Ebay for '32 or '39 components. Non-Ford stuff also contains solutions--I once saw a pickup missing so many parts I couldn't quite ID it (I'm guessing Stude) at the junkyard with pedals and MC that looked exactly like Ford components--except that the mc was compactly attached pointing FORWARD. How many places would that fit? Unfortunately, it got melted into fresh new Daihatsus before I could glom the pedals... Firewall pedals, although I can't get used to the way they look, are a good solution to lots of problems. Traditional? People were building setups like that certainly by 1952 or so, and they rapidly became common on '32's as soon as the '52 Fords reached junkyards...and aftermarket pedals like them came on the market early on as well, and hydraulic clutch cylinders with pre-cut '39 trans brackets!
Hey dmarv, I have a complete F-1 crossmember and brake pedal ***embly like mentioned above, if that might sway you on our trade. Let me know.
The Jalopy Journal
