VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc dual master cylinder for 1950 pickup

I am replacing the stock master cylinder on my 1950 Chev pickup. The rest of my system is fine. Shall I go with a dual master cylinder? The Filling Station has a "dual brake master cylinder adapter". What is that? What have others done?

Garret, I've been comtemplating a similar change for my '37 coupe. I use the car mainly for touring and I keep thinking that a broken line or failed wheel cylinder could be catastrophic in some situations. You'll have to do some minor re-piping, to separate the front & rear wheel cylinders, but it shouldn't be a big deal. I'm not familiar with the 'adapter' offered by the Filling Station, but I know the F.S. has a first class reputation on this board and among Chevy guys in general. I believe the owner of the F.S. is on this board from time to time (don't recall his board name), but if he gets wind of this post, maybe he can fill us both in on the adaptor.

-Bob

Hi Guys,

Steve from The Filling Station here. I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. First of all, the kits we offer put a dual master cylinder under the floor and use the original brake and clutch setup. They are different kits for the 1950 pickup and the 1937-54 car. The pickup kit is just the bracketing that holds a new dual master cylinder (you can purchase one from your local parts store or we can get one for you). The bracket comes with installation instructions and information on the master cylinder to purchase. The kit for the pickup is our part number NW-4754 and costs $79.95, plus freight.

The passenger car conversion is a complete setup but it requires that you provide your original master cylinder to be converted for this application. The dual master cylinder is mounted to the original master cylinder and you will still use the brake and clutch pedal shafts in the old master cylinder. This kit comes with a new dual master cylinder and it also bolts into place under the floor. Our part number on the passenger unit is EC-440 and the cost is $170.00 plus freight. (We must have your original master cylinder before we can send this unit to you)

In either vehicle, you will need to redo the plumbing as was mentioned in a previous thread. If you are using a disc & drum setup, you will require a residual pressure valve to prevent the disc brakes from overriding the drums.

Hope this was some help!

Steve

Steve, Garret here. Thanks so much for your description of the bracket that holds a new dual master cylinder. I will check further with your folks on that item. Hope things are going well for you. It was good seeing you again at our All-Cal Meet earlier this year. Garret

I consider brake upgrades and safety glass and seat belts to be a "necessary" change for today's driving and should be except from losing points when judged at a meet. :cool2:

What is the VCCA's attitude about these upgrades? :confused:

Gator, Safety glass, I am not sure about turn signals, and seat belts don't rate point deductions now. But, just think about it! how about sholder harnesses, air bags, nonskid brakes, radial tires, 5 mph bumpers, some folks think that any "safety related item" should not have points deducted. If it was not on the Chevrolet when sold, or an available Chevrolet accessory that model year then it gets point deductions for modifications, and rightly so.

Ya.......but someday the VCCA will be judging cars that came from the factory with all of that stuff and points won't be deducted then.

I would agree with MrMack, if the car/truck was never on the road with other people.

If we (VCCA) can't tell the difference between needed and not needed safety items for a vehicle it would be insulting to the IQ of the club and its' membership. :o

[QUOTE] "The passenger car conversion is a complete setup but it requires that you provide your original master cylinder to be converted for this application." QUOTE]

Steve,
Do you rebuild the master cylinder, or does a "usable as is" m/c have to be supplied? I have an extra m/c that needs to be rebuilt, but is rebuildable (i.e. not pitted).
Thanks,

-Bob

I drive down the Highways and Interstate highways every day passing and being passed by poorly maintained and poorly driven modern Autos and trucks every day that were originally equipped with every safety device known to mankind that are less safe than either of my well maintained Vintage Chevrolets. When was the last time you heard of a Vintage Chevrolet crashing into someone and the driver or passangers in the vintage Chevy being injured or killed?
...I thought so!
.....The Defense rests our case!

I have decided to rebuild my stock master cylinder. The "added safety" of the dual master cylinder I believe is not valid for me now.
But has anyone actually done the conversion on my year pickup, 1950??

Actually, MrMack, and with all due respect, I was durn near in that position just last year, myself. I maintain my cars pretty well, if I do say so myself, but unexpected things happen sometimes.

My wife & I were out for a short drive after dinner one summer evening and I was coming down a country backroad towards a "T" intersection, when I pushed on the brake pedal to slow it down and blew a wheel cylinder and the brake pedal went straight to the floor. There was a fairly new Corvette turning onto the street I was on, and I thought I was going to broadside him. I yelled to my wife to shift into second gear and I grabbed the e-brake. She did, I did and we managed to stop short of hitting the 'Vette. I drove it back home VERY slowly and used the e-brake in place of the service brakes.

When my wife & I were dating, 40 years ago, we used to "run Main St." as we called it back then, in my '57 Chevy 283 Power Pack 3-speed. I'd have my arm around here and when we raced another car, she would throw the gear shift lever and I'd work the clutch. It's funny, but 40 years later, we still worked like a team that day, just as though the intervening time had never gone by, and saved ourselves and the car.
A similar thing happened to a friend of mine, 4 or 5 years ago, in a '46 Dodge with Fluid Drive and a drive shaft e-brake. He managed to slow it down pretty well, but he did hit a small tree. Luckily, no one was hurt.

So, it can & DOES happen. I'd much rather incur the wrath of the "purists" that insist nothing be changed, than to get into an accident. There isn't much sense in risking car & life, for the sake of originality. If you're going to tour, I think it's just plain stupid not to have seat belts, dual master cylinder and stop lights that can be seen. I have the seat belts and big clip-on tail lights already. Now, I guess I'm going to go for the dual master cylinder. I love old cars, but I'd rather not die in one or worse, have my wife killed and have to live with that for the rest of my life.

Just my 2¢

-Bob

Would you really get points deducted for having a dual master cylinder?

Maybe, but personally, I really don't give two hoots about judging. I like to work on 'em & drive 'em. I'll leave the show points worry to the trailered car / museum piece crowd. I do know you'd lose a lot more points with a smashed up front end.

Drive 'em if you got 'em !!

-Bob

Big Bob, not unless you tell the judges or one of them saw what it was. Also, aren't you glad you and your wife knew what to do?

The best safety in traffic is the guy behind the wheel

My car is not a show car, but I would like to keep it as original as possible; I do like the idea of the dual master cyl.

BigBob,
My apologies. My last post came across as kind of a harsh & nasty reply to yours, but it sure wasn't intended that way.

I agree, I like to keep my car as original as possible, but still perform safely in daily traffic. I don't make any updates that can't be undone fairly easily and I always keep any original parts I do change, just in case I want it all original some day.

-Bob

Big Bob , Bowtie Bob and anyone else, It is your car and if you want a dual master cylinder and think without it you would be committing an unsafe act and endanger someone, anyone, Then do it! Just don't worry about it getting point deductions. Driving is one thing that I really enjoy and don't even think I would want it judged as to being "as sold by the original dealer" After all there is a life with the Vintage Chevrolets Club Of America without any Judging!

Why do members even ask those questions, like " If I put airbags and disc brakes and a Mustang front suspension on my 48 Convertable To make it "SAFER" will it get points deducted..........Hell yes it will, but so what?

ya mrmack...I'm with you!..


epi

No argument here.

Same goes for me. Enjoy your car....it was made to be driven!

Right, I know I'm a safe driver,

I agree (& do) with the attitude of not making changes that can't be undone (easy) just in case one day you do want it all original.

Bowtie Bob - Steve from the FS here. Sorry for the late reply. Had to attend a funeral out of town last weekend, so just got back to see what's been goin' on. To answer your question, our kit comes with a new dual master cylinder. It is mounted behind the original master cylinder as a unit.

Steve,
Sorry to hear about the funeral - never a good thing to go to.

Thanks for your reply, but I don't quite understand. Does the new dual M/C then take the place of the original one, which is then non-functional and really just a "bracket" for the dual M/C?

In any event, it looks like a good time to remove & ship my M/C off to you, since we have a foot of snow on the ground!
-Bob