ford F1 brakes

I want to lower the front of my '51, but since I can't find any easy way to do that I'm sticking with the stock front end. Are there any easy upgrades for the stock brakes? Even a decent drum brake set-up would be fine. Also what have you guys used for a master cyl? I don't have one at all so I'm starting from scratch.

 

Engineered Components (ECI) shows a disc brake kit for 48-56 F1's and F100's in their magazine adverti*****ts. 860-872-7046. www.ecihotrodbrakes.com

 

rev,

while it's true that clarence has had a volare front and 8" ford rear since '92, i drove it from '73 through '92 on the original ford brakes. i never found anything wrong with them. as a matter of fact i'm still using the original master cylinder with the abovementioned setup. i rebuilt it once (on the minnesota state fairgrounds using borrowed tools) when the rubber cup finally gave up the ghost. it prolly was the original rubber cup that was over 45 years old.

i'd suggest you rebuild what you've got. i believe they'll work just fine.

note: the front brakes from clarence are still in use on visor's '40 ford coupe. seem to be working just fine.

suggest you pm old beet and av8 to see what they're using. i could be wrong, but i think that they are both using original brakes.

 

I have 11 inch discs on mine. But I think F-1 brakes are about the same as Ford Pickups into the 60s. Never had a problem with stock brakes......................OLDBEET

 

Since disc-brake kits are relatively inexpensive for F1s, that setup would really be the most logical step up from the stock drums.

About the only thing you'd gain from upgrading to a newer drum brake setup is that they'd probably be self-adjusting.

But whichever route you choose, go with a dual master. Good insurance. (That said, I haven't yet on my '51. Stock brakes all around. They stop fine, but I do worry about it -- dual master is my next mod.)

Dave

 

I think Sacramento Vintage(?)has a kit to convert to disc brakes and they have an adaptor to put a 67 Mustang style dual res master on that ****er. I personally find my stock F-1 brakes work just fine. Good luck.