Hydro Boost Brake Set Up

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Buick Six-Four, Jan 20, 2021.

  1. Buick Six-Four

    Buick Six-Four Well-Known Member

    Looking for any information on hydroboost conversions for my 64 Special. Currently running a Saginaw Pump and Vacuum Braking System. Realiable? Approx Cost? Pit Falls?
     
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

  3. steve covington

    steve covington Well-Known Member

    There was an article in Car Craft, Hot Rod, or Muscle Car Review several years ago, and it was into a 64-67 Chevelle that seemed VERY easy.
    Naturally, I can't find it using a Google search
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

  5. Buick Six-Four

    Buick Six-Four Well-Known Member

    Thank you everyone.
     
  6. docgsx

    docgsx It's not a GTX

    I drive a GMC Safari van every single day with Hydro boost. It sucks. I would much rather have the standard vacuum boosted brake system or race style master cylinder that doesn’t require boosting.
     
  7. TexasT

    TexasT Texas, where are you from

    I'll go the other direction and say I also drive a k2500 suburban, k2500 pickup and my turbo regal with hydroboost brake systems. I like them. I have had to put a hydro booster on the suburban but it is over 200k miles. Went ahead and put on a new mc while it was apart.
    Not sure about powering it with the stock pump on your car but I did it with the stock pump on the regal so I would give it a try and see. There are places that overhaul pumps to get more volume out to support the hydroboost.
     
    GSX 554 and ilikebmx999 like this.
  8. 455monte

    455monte Well-Known Member

    I put it on my 67 gs400 ragtop.
    Car is 3886 lbs without driver. So it needs all the brake help it can get.
    1970 a body type discs on front and
    Stock rear type drums.
    I used a booster and lines and pump from a 1981 oldsmobile 98 that was orig a diesel car . Had to use brackets off of original 67 booster to adapt the hydraboost to firewall and modify the rod to work with my pedal.
    Probably the best upgrade ive made to the car!
     
  9. bw1339

    bw1339 Well-Known Member

    What is it you don't like?
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  10. cluxford

    cluxford Well-Known Member

    not my Buick but my Camaro. It is a full blown show car, hundred's of thousands spent on it and I still say the best thing I did to it was Hydroboost. The difference is immense.
     
  11. Buick Six-Four

    Buick Six-Four Well-Known Member

    Thank you everyone for your comments. It is appreciated.
     
  12. BillA

    BillA Well-Known Member

    For my ‘64 Skylark I used a Rockauto remanufactured Astro van hydroboost unit. Combined it with a 78 ‘vette master cylinder. Teflon lined braided hoses with steel (not aluminum) AN-fittings. With only 13” of vacuum I had to make the switch out of necessity but if you have enough vacuum I’d go with a vacuum booster.
     
  13. Buick Six-Four

    Buick Six-Four Well-Known Member

    BillA, just to confirm, did you only have 13” after you installed the hydroboost system? Or prior to switching?
     
  14. BillA

    BillA Well-Known Member

    13” before and after switching to hydroboost. The engine vacuum isn’t affected by the hydroboost system. The particular vacuum booster I was using required at least 15”. If I wanted to keep power brakes I had to go to a hydroboost setup or install a vacuum pump.
     
  15. Buick Six-Four

    Buick Six-Four Well-Known Member

    Thank you Sir
     
  16. GSX 554

    GSX 554 Gold Level Contributor

    I have the hydro-boost on my 2000 Silverado K 2500 and it has performed flawlessly its whole life . I only replaced the PS Pump because the Reservoir rusted thru and it was leaking .
     
    bhambulldog likes this.
  17. bhambulldog

    bhambulldog 1955 76-RoadmasterRiviera

    I have a 1990 F-250 Diesel. The Diesel engine has no throttle, so there’s no vacuum created by the engine. There is a belt driven vacuum pump that supplies vacuum to the brake booster and HVAC vacuum powered mixer doors .
    It all works pretty well.
     
    Buick Six-Four likes this.

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