Excellent video. It brought back memories of all the time I spent lying on the ground with a screwdriver trying to get my brakes adjusted with that star wheel on the Bendix brakes.
Matt --- I really appreciate your 101 Series. As you know I have now the parts to convert my "28 Roadster mechanical to the early '39 hyd. This video you have told us a LOT about the hydraulic conversions what Hot Rodders did back in the days . And showed us some of the exotic setup that were out there. I do know that properly adjusted mechanical brakes like what you would find on the Model A .---- Yes , it will take you quite a bit of time to go through the procedure to adjust up the brakes -- BUT, you will lock up all four wheels and slide straight. It is rather a lengthy process ----but you will stop. Thanks Matt --GOOD VIDEO --- looking forward to you next one in your series ----- Rodney
In 1961 when I was 16, I got a 37 Ford Sedan Delivery from a junkyard. It had cable mechanical brakes. The 37 had the wide bolt pattern wheels and I wanted to put some 48 ford wheels on it. So I got some hubs and they fit fine on the back but would not on the front 37 Ford axle. I went back to the junkyard picked up a 35 Ford axle and put it in with some home made lengthen spring shackles to lower it. Problem was the 35 had rod brake actuators ....so in my 16 years old wisdom and lack of $$ I just unscrewed the rods, took the cables looped it through the adjustment connector and used cable clamps to secure the loop. They were the worse brakes I ever had! I think only the rear brakes were functioning but at 16 all I could think about was going forward not, stopping. I only had that rig for about 6 months and sold it to an older dude (26yr.old) and he did a proper juice brake setup on it! 😁
In the beginning, I had 1948 Lockheed brakes, all around, on my '32. They took WAY too long to stop. I switched to Wilson Welding Lincoln Zephyr front brakes and the car stops NOW. They supplied brake shoes that they cut from some modern car, so I ordered a second set to put away as backup.
Check out Lada Niva front brakes. 5x5.5 aluminum finned drums that cost nothing. Not Ford but works if you're on a tight budget and want something that looks cool. Cheers!
I have a good tip for the mech brakes.if I use them I found cast iron drums makes the biggest difference,night and day.with that and good adjustment they will stop a model a without a big motor just fine.great video matt. I'd like to see one on pedals,there is alot of little details that can go with that,thanks again
Wow Matt, yet another great learning video. This is a great series and I learn a lot every time you do one of these. Early Ford brakes have been some what of a mystery to me but this video cleared up a lot of my questions for sure. Thanks!
Matt: One thing you didn't mention and would be good to discuss is all the considerations related to the Master cylinders. Frequently, the mounting and engineering for actuating the master cylinder makes of breaks the functionality of a "juice brake" conversion. Might talk about how to determine the correct diameter of your master cylinder piston bore. Single or dual circuit M.C.'s. The need for residual check valves when the M.C. is below the level of the brakes. Underfloor or hanging mountings and pedal ratios. Last, the size of the brakes you should be looking for depending upon the size/weight/performance of the car you are converting. All good information here. Just need to provide a bit more.
I'd like to hear Matt talk about how to put new Lincoln brakes on a 42 Ford do they make new drums for a 42 Ford Lincoln Style I wish Matt was even more long-winded I like super detail on these things very great video
Crager used to make a disc brake conversion for early Ford. I am guessing in the 40s or 50s. I had a friend who was restoring a '46 Lincoln Continental and decided to do some experimental upgrades that didn't take away from the stock look. He wanted the Crager discs for the car, but Crager had sold everything to a company in France. He was able to get the complete conversion out of France and put them on the car. I don't know how much better they were than Ford drums.
Ignition system, patronix and the different styles of distributors, points, coils, and ways to “modernize” the systems. Different styles used and produced and ways guys hopped them up back in the day
Brakes: non powered finned drums all round. The police versions are excellent unless your a speed demon with over 4,000 lbs of hot rod, the power stuff is just not needed. And I prefer the aircraft actuator type over any.
Hi Matt. You gave out a lot of good info in this one, it all made a lot of sense. Question: That ad with the Airheart discs, what year would that have been from? I have a set like the ones in the top of the page, on solid discs with Challenger aluminium hubs. I've always wondered when they would have dated from. All the best, Mart in England.
My favorite mod I have done (although I am into old jeeps and Square body Chevy) is a front disc upgrade to early Jeep. Simplicity and a good parts house guy, everything is available.
Problem with old drum brakes they do not stop fast enough if the guy in front of you stops fast you will hit him. Be sure and give them some room follow far behind. Any drum brakes I ever had went out of adjustment very quickly.
Just wondering I bought a model a front axle that was bent but noticed it had juice brakes on it but got it home and the hubs are 5 on 41/2 pattern thinking it may be off of a 50 shoebox car ????
I have learned I have 46-48 ford brakes from this video. My issue is the drum is warped so I cant get the brake pads close enough to make the brakes work correctly. Is there a good drum I can purchase to make it better?
So why do we put brakes on vehicles? It isn’t what you think! It isn’t to stop! It is so you can go faster and maintain control. If you think about it you will realize that they put massive brakes on high performance vehicles so that they can run faster and still have control. The car in my driveway is stopped it needs no brakes, without brakes in would not drive it very fast if I drove it at all. But with brakes I will go down the interstate highway at a high rate of speed.
USE modern brakes!!!!!!!! Other people are on the road as well, If you are not FULLY restoring a car/truck to original(paint as well) then you NEED to make it as safe as possible for other drivers/pedestrians!!! Putting out dated unsafe brakes on a rust bucket then putting it on the public roads is lazy, cheap and irresponsible. Facts!
Agreed. Mechanical brakes worked great when cars didn't see much over 45-50 mph and only belong on 100% correctly restored vehicles. The 38-39 on Lockheed hydraulic brakes were a great design, properly maintained and adjusted will stop with enough power to leave face prints on a windshield.
Didn’t anyone drive 60s cars when the national speed limit was 70mph? I drove one into the 90s and the mech brakes were fine. You guys are slipping into a myopic relativism. Just because something better comes along doesn’t mean that what it replaced is automatically a death trap. Modern is relative. In decades people will say, “...can you believe what they were driving in 2022?!” People aren’t flying off the road just because they have mechanical brakes. Just do the job correctly with what you use and know why you are doing what you do.
@@836dmar I'm not saying mechanical brakes don't work or aren't just as good. I don't have the faith in that fact there are enough of us left that know how to keep them in working order. I have owned and driven many cars with mechanical brakes well over 125+ a lot of my open wheel cars were single wheel lever action mechanical, I'm just stating that I prefer the Lockheed and the mechanical brakes should be reserved for the resto guys that know how to maintain them and keep them in proper working condition.
IMO most owners are not hauling ass or tailgating others in early ford's even when hot rodded. Especially if the traditional or authentic parts are used like Matt builds. Just my opinion.
Most people with old cars really drive. They are not entitled assholes that think phone calls about nothing are more important. I had a friend that was killed by a driver , they just pulled out and ran him over on a moped. They didn't see him... this was in the city. Fuck tards with their " modern tech" mind set kills people. Insurance is also probably a huge factor as to why people drive so bad these days....
