Technical Compound braking system?

Hey all... just realized it's been a loong time since I posted on here at all. So my latest project is a 58 Apache pickup and I'm struggling with trying to keep the firewall as clean as possible. Meaning definitely no firewall mounted brake or clutch mc's, boosters, etc. That part is easy enough bc I can just keep the stock mc configuration on the frame under the driver. But ideally I'd like to lose the stock pedal/arm protruding thru the firewall as well, not only for aesthetics but also it would free up room to run exhaust and etc. So I came up with the idea of maybe running a race style pedal setup with the mc's up under the dash, but run the brake line down to a slave cylinder that actuates the mc pushrod on the frame and basically takes the place of the stock lever arm. So I would end up with a 2-stage setup with a sealed hydraulic system from the pedal to the mc pushrod, with a separate sealed hydraulic system from the output of the mc/prop valve out to the wheels.

So my questions to you guys are- has anyone ever done anything like this or heard of it being done or attempted? And if not, does it sound like more of an ingenius idea or more just sketchy af?

 

That sounds...well, goofy. Why not just put the MC's and drop pedals under the dash and run your lines to the wheel cylinders. I like thinking "outside the box" but we are talking brakes here, the box you may end up thinking inside of is satin lined.

 

There are setups on the market to mount the MC under the dash.

 

If you put the masters under the dash I would just run the lines to the wheels...seems like complicating things for the sake of complicating things.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Some years ago @ a local meeting I saw a 1970 Torino ( I think)it had a big block ford in it,it had a wilwood master cylinder on the brakes.The valve cover barely cleared.I follow the brake line as it went forward to another master cylinder with a booster behind the grill to work the brakes.I thought this was a hell of a good idea.

 

That is a hydravac system. Google it. Used on medium to heavy duty trucks.

 

Hiding all that stuff is pretty street-roddish.... What's next, 'styled' inner fenders and a engine cover?

 

Having had one of those “under the dash” pedal set ups, which has since been removed and relocated to the firewall, I’ll never own another hydraulic reservoir of any kind I can’t pull the cap off of and refill, etc as necessary. Likewise with adding more closed systems than needed, especially on brakes. The fewer the failure points and the easier the access the better off you are. See Steve’s comment above.

 

Thanks for the replies all. Obviously the goal was to be able to keep power brakes so no matter what the setup would require a remote booster. I've never seen any kind of under dash "race" style pedal setup that allowed for even a mini booster, not that there would be room up under there anyways. But I also never knew any kind of such oem setup like the hydravac was even a thing so thanks greybeard for the heads up on that. If I decide to go ahead with anything like this I'd prefer to stick with as many oem components as possible, or at least mimic the design as closely as possible.

 

look at 55-57 thunderbird power brakes ,,
fabricator john
miss you dad

 

Check ECI they have/had trunk mounted MC and Boosters, from Cadillac I think.