Can someone gimme a brake?

Howdy! I am working on a 1940 Ford Deluxe Business Coupe. I am sooo close to having it on the road, but I can't get the brakes to build pressure. I have replaced the vacuum booster and M/C, bled the system and it will build pressure with the engine off. So, I started the engine and now the system will not build pressure. Can someone help me out? The car has discs in the front and drums in the back with a Wilwood proportioning valve. I appreciate any assistance.

 

Do you have the master cylinder under the floor? If you do, do you have a residual pressure valve in the line coming out of the master cyl to the front brakes? You will need one. Since the master cyl is below the wheel cyl/caliper you need somethig to prevent the fluid from draining back to the master cyl.

 

Easy mistate to make.....make sure you have the bleeder screw at the top of the caliper...!!!!....easy to put them on backwards ( opposite side) like I did a few years back and my 85 year old mechanic had a good laugh when he saw it...had a pedal for one brake pedal push...then nada....a lesson, trust me....NEVER forgotten.

 

check to make sure you have "full throw" of the master cylinder. there should be play when the pedal all the way up and it should push the master fully when pushed down. also check rear brake adjustment.

 

Also adjust your rear brakes before bleeding. I had trouble getting pressure after a major brake overhaul until I did.

Rich

 

Thank you all for your help. It worked. I drove the car for the very first time today.

 

what worked?

 

Hi had the same trouple with a 36 coupe 6 years ago sold it for that reason .My new 36 prouplum solved contach master power brakes get there prp valve i can lock my brakes up at 35 mph and slide all for it stopes so hard .Be the best money youll ever spend.

 

Bleeding the brakes with the bleeder valve on top. It solved the problem immediately. And I drove the car today.

 

so,you swapped calipers to the other side?

 

Tbone....your welcome.

 

Not quite. I went with some advice from an old-timer, hotrodder. He told me to bleed the calipers with the bleeder valve on top and then put them back. It worked like a charm. It is a great mix of advice from 68Vette, all of you and my buddy, Dick! The key here is that the car is now on the road! Thanks again!