59 Chevy Apache – Power Booster / Master Cylinder Installation

This is my 1st Blog! So bear with me as I try to put this together.  I’ve been working on my 59 Apache for the last couple days finally. I don’t get to work on it all the time you know. Sometimes more pressing things get in the way, you know, important things! However, I’ve had to spend some time on the bracket assembly which holds the power booster/master cylinder (pb/mc) in place. Most of you won’t have a clue what I’m talking about, but as time goes on, you’ll recognize some parts.  On these old trucks, the pb/mc is beneath the drivers floorboard and is not the most accessible component to get to. Mainly when it comes to checking the brake fluid, could be an inconvenient task!

Let’s get started! ; )

In this blog, I’m showing the way I had to move the pb/mc back 6″ away from its original mounting. Why you ask? This will make checking the brake fluid much easier! Easier, not easy.  Pictures will really be helpful at this point!

This first photo, that is a little flap made by someone (not me!) to access the master cylinder which would be under the drivers seat. Very sloppy indeed! Plus, the ridge in which the access was made greatly reduced the integrity of the floorboard resulting in the floor flexing terribly, plus was right where the seat rail would go making this access useless!

Here I removed the piece of crap flap ; ) now you tell me if you could get this cap off to see if the brake fluid is adequate.  No, it is not.

Ok, time to pull out the mig welder and weld this access hole shut! I’ll make a new access plate later on. But after welding this shut, the floor was very solid, and made dne’ a happy girl! ; )

You see that black bracket below, I made it. Impressed? lol It was quite a bit of work, and thanks to some scrap iron I had laying around, I was able to fabricate this cheaply.  The original bracket is just in front, or to the right of the black bracket.  The power booster was originally mounted there, but this new bracket will put the booster/mc back so the mc will be easily accessed in the new access panel I’m going to make, someday.

This is how it was when I got the truck. ugly. These trucks came with manual brakes and a single cylinder master cylinder. You knew that, right?

Pic below: This is not quite the finished product by any means. Still ugly! Notice now the top of the master cylinder will be better accessed, away from that ridge seen in the earlier photo. No, that’s not how the brake pedal will be.

I still have to take it all back down, clean up the frame, paint it all, then re-assemble. This happens a lot! put it together, take it apart, put it together again, take it apart again, you get the idea. I know this must be quite boring to most, and the blog will get more interesting as time goes on.

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Hi, I’m back on track working on the brakes! If you remember the bracket that I made in the earlier posts?  I changed my mind on that idea!That part that I worked on so diligently~ is now scrap metal and good for .08 cents per pound! ha ha! ; )

The move of the brake booster/master cylinder back several inches was a marvelous idea, until I spoke with Justin@Scottshotrods! Of course talking to him ALWAYS costs a few hundred dollars in parts! lol

Here, I’m finally getting the cross member for the transmission fitted! Messing with that heavy transmission is a PITA, it’s heavy, but fortunately, My Little Mule II made the job much easier and safer!

What’s the cross member have to do with the brakes? The cross member was interfering with the possible mounting of the power booster. Remember, these trucks did not come with a power booster for the brakes!

The master cylinder; I’m finally getting around to playing with it! Playing has a new meaning for me these days! ; )  Notice the master cylinder lid? the two fitting on the top of it? There will be two lines coming from it leading up to a reservoir on the firewall where brake fluid level can be checked! Pretty slick!(I’ll post photos of the reservoir soon). I won’t have to make a hole in the floorboard of my truck to reach the top of the master cylinder! Woo hoo!

Here’s the master cylinder/power booster back in its original position! ha ha. Yesterday I was actually bleeding the brakes, but! The brake lines I purchased which were pre-made with the fitting on the ends are great,  but don’t respond well to re-flaring! This brake tubing bends easily, and if one can use the lengths they come it, then they’re great! so I get to re-do some of the brake lines, but this time I’ll be using steel brakes lines~ a  little harder to work with, but I have had great success double flaring steel lines.

After the master cylinder is done, and I have brakes, I can get the transmission out-of-the-way to have more room to work! The tranny cross member is fitted to its permanent location and will be ready to bolt up when I install next time for a permanent placement! How exciting! ; )

I’ll be back~ don’t go away! or come back later? ; )  dne’