by EconoUSAparts Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:52 pm
The top one shown is the rare 67 Econo dual master cylinder which mounts exactly the same as the single bowl 61-66 style. To convert to the 67 you need the pedal and pushrod from a 67 also and the brake light switch.
What you see in the picture I just received a few days ago from Dennis of D and D Brakes in Oregon,who also makes a sweet disc conversion kit for our early Econolines. This is a prototype bracket he sent me but he has the final version brackets available and ready for purchase now. Basically they're exactly the same except with a hair shaved off one spot to allow for better clearance. I ve looked it over very closely and feel it's a real winner. NOTHING currently better on the market for sure. The bracket uses a modern day Ford Ranger master cylinder "modified to a remote fill" and will work with drum,disc,or combination disc/drum brake setups so it works for everyone. The master cylinder itself is very cheap so if it ever fails its easy to obtain and very affordable too.
The bracket is very high quality and looks awsome. No garage fabrication here. Its high quality CNC constructed. It was designed to appears as if it belongs there in the first place. No rough or square edges or welds,nice rounded edges,curved steel precision bent brackets professionally interlocked, welded and ground. I cant say enuf about its quality,strength and design. It incorporates a self lubricating bronze brake pedal bushing and a grease fitting also. The bracket is designed to use the stock 61-66 brake pedal, push rod,and boot which is highly common. D and D provides a new adjustable mechanical brake light switch along with an attaching bracket so no need for the old pressure switch, which is another great advantage.
The emergency brake assembly attaches to the bracket just like it did to the old master cylinder so it keeps it installed in the stock location which is great. The only modification to the e-brake assembly needed is to cut a small half moon arch out (roughly half the size of a nickel) near the bottom to allow for the front brake line to pass thru it,actually under it after the cut is made. It still leaves everything appearing stock to the untrained eye,even to most trained eyes I would bet.
Depending on how you route your fill lines you may want to cut out other holes to make routing easier. As it is,the lines can be shot straight out the rear but the bracket is designed with cutout holes to the passenger side to allow for lines in that direction also. You would simply cut matching holes in the e-brake bracket if you routed the lines in that direction.
The new master cylinder itself matches all the specs of the factory 67 dual so its a no brainer as a replacement. Cylinder bore and piston stroke length are identical. All you need to do is decide on disc or drum and use the appropriate residual valves in each line. Drums require a 10lb and discs a 2 lb. This will work on any of the applications you decide but if you are dead certain about discs theres another master cylinder D and D will provide at same price that fits this bracket that has a slightly smaller bore which would provide even better braking power.
Either one will work just fine on discs,the first one as stated is an exact match to the stock dual which most folks have been using for many years on their discs with no problems whatsoever. The 2nd is just one step better.
This bracket also accepts a 3rd master cylinder which is currently in use by Mike Ouellete in Nevada on his 61 pro street pickup. Its one made by ECI brakes in Conneticut and is for those who like a little flashier looking master cylinder for that extra show appeal. ECI is an excellent company and Ralph at ECI really knows his stuff inside and out when it comes to brakes. Ralph was just tickled pink with the new D and D setup when Mike talked to him. Both Dennis of D and D and myself have since talked with him and everyone is in agreement that this setup is a winner.
The new master cylinder is not a "from the factory" remote fill reservoir. Its designed to have the reservoir fill bowl on top of it. D and D have machined new fittings in place of it and tapped those to accept elbow fittings which the remote fill hoses would attach to. From there you just choose which type lines you want and which reservoir you need plus where you are locating it and you supply them yourself. There are too many different combinations available so D and D has left that up to the individual to decide.
The rear outlet line fitting on the master exits right into the e-brake post so a new banjo fitting has been installed which redirects it.
This thing is NEAT. A ton of thought,time, and research has been put into its design for well over a year. This isnt some thrown together rush job idea by any means whatsoever. I wouldnt sing its praises if I didnt truly believe it to be a great product. I ll still keep my stock 67 master's on my current vehicles that have them but I can absolutely say for sure I ll be using this new setup on my 3 current project Econos. The ease of the remote fill is a great selling point for me along with the added bonus of total availabiltiy of the new Ford master just about anywhere you would go.
Pricewise compared to the 67 and resleeving it depends. If you dont have a 67 and need to buy the whole setup its gonna be pretty pricey. $200 or so for the core and pedal,plus shipping both ways to resleeve it,then a rebuild kit and brake light,easily over $350 and you still have to clean it up and paint it all if its old and rusty like most and get new brake lines to plumb it in since it routes different than the single one. Dont forget the new pedal bushing either.
The complete D and D setup is $350 plus tax and shipping or bracket only for $175, but have fun machining your own fittings and obtaining all the other specialty pieces. After you buy the residual valves and brake lines I would think this whole install would be under $400 and its got the benefits of remote fill so no more lifting up the mat to check and add fluid.
The stock 67 or the new D and D,either is fine but the stock 67 is getting almost impossible to find anymore so this has come along at the right time. Contact D and D thru their website or I ll be glad to answer any questions. No current info about this setup is on their site yet but it will be soon.
Compared to the bracket shown on The Modern Form website this is by far a better choice. That bracket alone costs $300 and relocates the master cylinder 8" rearward which doesnt appear stock at all. Its also designed to work with a Wilwood master cylinder which costs another $130.00. Additionally it doesnt provide a new mechanical brake light switch. This setup will easily be over $500 so you decide on which is best but Im sure most will agree on D and D for quality,price,benefits,and somewhat stock appearance.
Lastly,I dont work for D and D,sell D and D parts,and Dennis isnt paying me to say this. I have conferred with Dennis over the past year about this during its design stages and thats where my involvement stops. D and D made this happen and did all the final legwork so please give them the credit and your business if you feel as I do. When something is right,it's just right,enuf said.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR LIFE,THE LIVES OF OTHERS,AND THE ABILITY TO SAFELY STOP YOUR VEHICLE
)? I think the perfect location for remote fill would be in the doghouse possibly in behind the choke knob... might that be part of the offering?
