hey guys, here is what I have.

One of the last things I need to do with this satellite before motor and trans is brakes.

This car was a power brake car as I remember that clearly back when my dad had it. Well at some point he got rid of the booster. I was looking at some pre-teardown pics and it looks like he just moved it back to the firewall. There was some kind of plate there.

to make matters worse, when I got it back from paint, I don't even have that plate. just the old master cylinder and a couple lines running to the proportioning valve.

So my questions are:

can I just stay with manual brakes? should it be a different MC than the PB one?

where can I find that plate?

is the proportioning valve the same for both?

should I just get a new MC and booster and put it back to PB?

The car is getting a 493 and will be all street friendly. Not sure on the cam yet, but nothing crazy.

also, the brake pedal has that rubber according thing still on it and the rod. Are the rods the same?

just need to get on the right path and get it done.

Thanks guys

Attached is a pic of my '72 RR (same cowl as yours). Went manual with the 4-bolt to 2-bolt adapter on the aluminum m/c (can't remember the source, sorry). Car was power discs.

You'll need to obtain the (painted) plate behind the polished adapter plate. Otherwise, you'll have a gap in the firewall between the m/c and the cabin. The power booster would have covered this hole. That's what the plate is for. The manual m/c is mounted slightly higher (IIRC), because the pedal pushrod has no linkage as it does with the power setup to increase the pushrod travel with pedal travel (in effect, lowering the pedal ratio). You can do it without the plate, but you'll have the gap, allowing hot underhood air to enter the cabin, and creating somewhat of a fire hazard inside the cabin, should a fire occur underhood.

I believe the plate is the same from B- and E-bodies, and from disc to drum m/c's. But I don't believe they are repro'ed. So a JY score is the only way. Others may chime in otherwise.

As the other poster said, make sure you have the round rubber "grommet" (for lack of a better term) to hold the pushrod in the master cylinder piston back, lest the pushrod fall out and you're left with no brake pedal...

That grommet is available from Master Brakes or Master Power Brakes (whatever the name is), I believe.

Good luck.

Just realized from looking at the pic, the gap would be above the m/c, not below. Sorry. Also, the plate is referred to, I think, as a "reinforcing plate", as it does help the firewall support the force applied to the pedal (and hence, to the firewall) on manual brake applications...

I make B/E body firewall stiffening plates.

When I did my conversion I actually used a c-body firewall plate off a 67 4door with a homemade 4 to 2 aluminum adaptor.. Its a little longer but will work just fine.

Thanks folks.

I am going to post up a pic tonight of what I have.

Any input on the valve? I really doubt my dad changed that as I think all he did is get rid of the booster. I know the car stopped as I drove it to graduation in 1988 and that was the last time it hit the road.

PM Sent.....

CC.