The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Firewall vs. Floor Mounted Brakes

Hi, I have a 1950 Chevy 1/2 pick-up and I am trying to decide on mounting the master cylinder to the firewall or under the floor. What are the advantages and disadvantages to changing to a firewall mounted? Thanks for your help.

low: first off where do you need the room, under the cab if you are putting in a V-8 if you are staying with the 6 then firewall. I decided I did not want to fill my resevior thru the floor so I closed that off and put the master cylinder under floor but put resevior on fire wall. So that is another option.

popcorn The Truth is Out There (Good luck)

I am going to be going with a small block V8. How about drive-ability? Is there any major difference in applying the brakes? I have always driven vehicles with firewall mounted brakes. Is it going to "feel" weird pushing the brakes down if I mount underneath? Just wondering. Thanks for your help.

Anybody else ever seen the firewall flex?.....not what you really want the brakes master to do!! Honest!!

low: lets put it this way I grew up with the old way and just passed on thru to the new way. Most of us have put the new brakes on and I haven't heard of any complaining. of course mine looks real purty bolted to the frame because thats about all thats on it. (LOL)

popcorn The Truth is Out There ( Good thought on the flex guys )Ben

My thoughts on this are that when I get to doing the cab area of the body on my AD panel, I would cut the floor and firewall from the front of the seats forward out of a newer donor truck and weld it into the oldie, then fabricate the body mounts. This will give me the newer style pedals and a solid floor. I have seen the MC on the firewall with a SBC V8 so I know it can be done. Am I thinking wrong?

Also, seems I have seen kits for firewall mounted MC that includes reinforcements to stiffen the structure.

Profitt is right--if u are gonna put a mastercyl on ur firewall--you need stiffening to eliminate flex of the firewall. Here's a link on a swing firewall mounted pedal Classic Truck Brakes web page Best to reasearch brake stuff thoroughly before you start hackin on firewalls and floorboards. Stopping is important.

New trucks???? NEW TRUCKS SUCK!!!!

In the 39 the firewall gas peddle flexes....don't tell me about brakes not.....New trucks are designed with folds and ribs...curves to support at structure

Old truck's firewall is flat.....lottsa flex!!!!

Tie the brake to the frame something that doesn't flex too much

sbigelow
With the master cylinder under the floor the kits are designed to work the same way the pedal on the truck works now (Assuming you have those pieces ) The pedal will go forward and down, really close to the way it works now you'll just have a different cylinder under there to hook to. You won't be pushing down. I'm going with the under floor route on my 53 just cause I want that truck to appear pretty stock. On one of my other trucks I'm planning on using a S10 Mastercylinder mounted on the fire wall as that trucks gonna be more of a running around driver. With a newer I6 (250CI) engine and auto tranny.
MONGO

Also one of the local streetrod supply places has an access door I'm planning on using on my 53(under cab brakes) This will give me a nice large door in the foorboard with a gasket to make checking and filling the resevour easier.

So where would someone get a kit to replace the original master cylinder with one that can be used with the fronts upgraded to discs?

Thanks guys. I think I am going to go with under the floor approach. I did find some nice firewall mounting brackets from www.classicperform.com/
Thier brackets create a triangle between the firewall, dash and steering column. Should eliminate any possible flexing. I think I will go with the under floor master cylinder simply to keep the engine compartment clean.