After a long winter break, I'm finally finishing up the '50 Shoebox. Sorted the 8BA Fathead out, and it's now running like a dream. Almost ready to road test... just need to repack the front bearings, grease the steering joints and flush the brakes... therein lies the problem! The previous rebuild in 2002, they put a new floor in, BUT they didn't include the access plate to the brake master! Has anyone tried to access the master from under the car to remove the cap and bleed? It would be a bit of a contortionist act, and I expect a real pain in the ass... or should I just bite the bullet and cut a hole in the floor and put a cover plate in??? It's had carpet fitted so that's almost as big a pain, but may be the best option in the long run. Any thoughts?
I don't think it is possible. From what I remember from the last time I bled the brakes on my '51, the master cylinder fill cap was very close to the floor. Unless you have something very different going on, I would suggest buying a stock replacement floor plug for your car (commonly available), locate it's position, and make the proper size hole in the floor. If you can find the proper sized hole saw, that would be best, or maybe use a sheet metal nibbler. Because of the way these cars were made, bleeding the brakes is kind of a challenge even without this kind od obstruction.
Yeah, figured as much. there's only about 2" between the top of the master and the floor. The floor is flat, so thinking I may just cut the access hole and the screw a plate over it.
Here is the reproduction master cylinder access cover: https://shoebox-central.com/1949-1950-1951-ford-master-cylinder-floor-hole-cover-plug See if it will work with your new floor.
Thanks for the link... I'll pull the carpet up and see what will work from there. I also saw some rectangular access doors... that may give better access all round.
On my 51 the master sits behind the stock access hole. I have no problem removing the lid from under the car. I'll give ya it is a little tight, but I use a mirror and a squirt can with a piece of rubber hose and pump in the fluid from the underside. It's way better for me than removing the sill plates and rolling up the Carpet to deal with fluid every couple years.
I never pull back the carpet on my '50 to get to the access hole. I unscrew the lid and use a very small bottle (about 4 oz.) to fill or top up the master cylinder. Sure a bit of a pain, but very do-able.
I ended up cutting the hole, it's now way easier to access, so glad I did it. I made up a flat 16g plate to screw back down over the hole when I'm done.
It might not be impossible to do it from underneath, but it’d be a helluva lot easier to just cut an access hole in the floor board, it’s still a pain in the ass but at least you can get to it easier. I have one in my Merc and just accessed it last week to check the brake fluid level
speaking of master cylinders etc..... is there any hanging under dash brake pedal kit with dual master cylinder that mounts on the firewall with out a booster to make it look cleaner and not bulky on firewall I can use !!!
I’ve seen them done bet and look really nice but I’m not sure who makes a kit for them. I just installed the dual master under the floor on my ‘51 and it was a really nice kit from Performance Online. I did the remote fill so I do t have to get under the car or move the floor mats to bleed the brakes. Also I wanted to keep it as factory looking under the hood as I can so that is why I didn’t fab anything for the firewall mount.
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