Folks of the HAMB, I have a 1959 Olds Dynamic 88 2 door post sedan that runs & drives great but the power brakes just gave out. Of course you lose everything with a single reservoir master... I will fix the stock brakes, but wonder who has converted one of these to disc and what parts exist to get that done? Fat Man has nothing but a new front frame section - out of the question. These full size GMs are different than same year Chevy Impalas... Any Ideas? Thanks in advance Bob - DOB
That power brake unit is in an excellent spot, NOT! I have one but have been fortunate that the brakes are fine. Went to a nearby car show two years ago and a dude comes up and says, where's the brake unit at. I told him it is under the steering shaft, and that the tube coming up is the fill tube for the treadlevac mc. He said, wow, that must be nearly impossible to work on. I told him: DON'T FIX WHAT IS NOT BROKEN! Another note: A few years back, the foreman that built my home in AZ. has a 60 super 88, and had discs up front. I believe he has the same brake unit setup that u and I have on our 59's. So the disc setups are out there, just Google and yee shall find.
I love this forum !! Thanks bowtie coupe !! I am assuming I will get rid of all the old power brake stuff and go to a firewall mounted booster - master, I will ask the folks at Scarebird. Bowtie Coupe - do you have a 33 or 34 Chevy? My 33 is a 5 window - waiting on me to start working on it... Meanwhile - thanks again Folks!
I just ordered the Scarebird brackets for my 56 Olds yesterday and I am also going to get rid of the hidden master cylinder/booster and put a modern one on the firewall. I would like to be able to work on it and check the fluid if I ever needed to.
ah, you're the Renton guy. If you have them post some pix of the stock location of the master - would like to see if our Wilwood bracket would work.
I will post some more detailed pics as soon as I start ripping into the project. The car is in my driveway and I have no room in the garage because like most of us I have more projects that I really need. The weather just started to get better so I will be going at it pretty soon. I may end up getting all the parts and starting the swap this weekend. I am doing a build thread over on http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/vintage-oldsmobiles/ and I will have full detailed pics of the brake swap. Here are the only pics of the master cylinder area I have so far. I am just now getting to know and really work on this car after having it less than a year. Mine has the factory power brakes but I am going to go with manual because I like the feel of the pedal and for the room savings. I was going to mount the new master cylinder on the firewall after I make a 16ga block off plate for the cold air box. I will get some more pics this weekend.
I have a 60 Olds and it's the same as the 59, I have installed the scarebird kit and everything has fit fine. As far as driving to test the performance that will be a while since the body is off the frame and the block is getting machined at Taylor Engines. I know of an Australian shop that machined 60 Olds(should be the same as 59) spindles to fit chevy s-10 bearings and adapted a kit from there. http://loboys.com/ Click on the pic of the grey primer 60 for info The guy that built it was helpful with some questions I had, his name is Rick Johnson. Hope this helps.
i used a kit from Tanson on a 58. i had c h topping in long beach rebuild the stock treadle vac since it was in such a weird spot. it worked great with the disk brakes.
DOB - Glad to help, if I can. Yes, that's what I wud do. I haven't seen a lot of Olds with the set up that you have, but the ones I did see also had pre-drilled firewalls for a conventional MC/Booster set up. Is that the same with yours? I trust Scarebird can get you going. My coupe is actually a '35 Standard 3W which is really a leftover '34 Standard body with a stronger frame under it. I had a '34 Master 5W previously. I like both styles, but the 3W has a slightly smoother look. The two styles appear similar, but they are miles apart in swapping parts. Once you get those brakes converted on your Olds, you can be cruisin' with it on Sat nites while you're working on your 5W coupe. Best wishes!
If I had one of those the first thing I'd do is rob a '59-'60 Chevy or Pontiac of it's brake pedal and mount and put the master on the firewall so I could use a dual chamber off a later car as a bolt-in. (conicedentally I've listed a '60 Chevy pedal unit in the classified a few times...)
Its the same down to 57 i know for sure- i will be doing the disc kit too, but i'm trying to first work an upgrade master under the floor with a remote fill. I just like the firewalls look with two bumps even if ones a dummy. I just tore mine down to start so here's a couple more pics for tinkers to think on with more room. I'm thinking it will take a pedal assembly and then a rod through the diagonal crossmember to the booster/mc with a remote fill to get around(or through) the "X" member - i have my own goofy exhaust preference that leaves some room on the drivers side. If you ran duals u would need to modify the frame and add another hole for an under floor to maybe work. Its not going to be easy no matter what. My pops put a hydra boost unit on his which mounts in the same place as the treadle vac and runs off the power steering pump- but it is it's got some issues still.
This is a great thread! I can't even find anyone else with a 59 olds! I'm fighting with my master cylinder right now. I had it completely rebuild two years ago. Cost me a small fortune, let alone finding someone who even know what it was. I'm trying to bleed the system, I replaced a wheel cylinder. Filling the f-in master is impossible. I had to make a funnel/tube devise. Do stupid!!! I'm going to be following this thread for sure. I would LOVE to just move the master cylinder to the firewall, and discs would rock! Thanks for taking the time to document all of your works above!!! Kensey
OH YAH!!! Anyone know where I can get two new rear brake drums? Would Fusic (spelling?) have them? Help! thanks
I got a 59 olds kensey! Try Kanter... but I doubt it! Wilwood makes some stuff for these 9.3" rearends as they were used for Drag racing!!!
Chaddilac, great suggestion! Kanter is showing that they sell them.......FRONT & BACK! NICE! I was super bummed yesterday, thanks.
Just an update: I have decided to stay with the drums I know that will not make a lot of sense to some of you, but I am getting wheel cylinders and the tredle vac booster - master cylinder rebuilt by White Post Restorations in Virginia. They will be stainless sleeved and get a lifetime warranty. The main reasons are that these power drums worked good before the parts wore out and for what I am using the car for they will be great. The other thing is that the pedal hang is not conventional on this car when it has the tredle vac power drum brakes - so that means totally re engineering a pedal and push rod etc... I am not going to take that kind of time right now. let alone that all of that DOUBLES the price of getting the brakes taken care of. That tredle vac came out really easy - up through the floor - just like the service manual says to do it. It was not a bad deal to work on at all!!
Oh, and by the way, I am told Kantor sells chinese made stuff that people have not been happy with - be careful.
DOB; I am new on the network but have referred to it many times for what I consider to be down home hot rod factuals. I bougfht my gal a59 Olds 98 and although it had a frame off "restoration" 5 years ago, there are certainly a few things I would like to fix. While installing longer wheel studs on the car for hooking up some Radir tri-bar 5 spokes I got a good look at the brakes and their faults. first off, I totally concur with your approach to fixing what you got and to that end, what was your final judgement on the work you got done at White Post Restorations on your master and wheel cylinders and secondly, since yea, most all the stuff from China is crap, what did you find for replacement drums?
Hi all im new to the message board. I also have a 1959 oldsmobile and have used scarebird disc brake set. And i too have a floor mount brake set up. But my firewall is already pre drilled for the firewall mount My question is is there an exact car that i can look up and get the pedal assembly and the master cylinder booster and porportioning valve. Also this is my 1959 oldsmobile
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