Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Here are stock pic his pic are very complete as to work involved in the change over which also included disc brakes
Pedal ratio chart also handy to have. The guy who did this said he talked to a Packard owner who did this I assume he meant Craig

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i used American brake systems unit is made to support the packard straight pedal and and 1 to 1 throw ratio because it is an electricly operated pump with a reservoir on the firewall and the electric pump mounted on the frame. they also have disk brake conversion kits ( they sent me senior disks and i had to return them for the slightly smaller junior set . also i had so modification to the shift rod to go around the master cylinder i also usde a power brake pedal because it just fit better than the manual setup.

I have seen 55-57 Ford T-Birds with a power brake booster that is separate from the master cylinder (Moraine?). Maybe one of these could help solve the tight space problem when replacing the BTV unit.

(o[]o)

Believe JW means a Midland unit.. Similar in operation to the Bendix Hydro-vac. Believe Fords stuck with Midland remotes and and also had an underdash unit by Kelsey Hayes. Studebaker and others used the Hydro-vacs in many models of that mid 50 early 60s period.

Both need a regular master operated by the pedal which in turn activates a remote cylinder. That is tied in with and works the main master as well as an aux vacuum control setup to work the power booster. Since the pedal operated master is tied in with the main hydraulics as a backup in case the booster fails, believe pedal ratio is still a concern.

Here is the TBird version of the Midland.

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Thanks, HH56. Advantage of the Midland unit is the balky booster part can be mounted separately from the master cylinder. Also the units can be services separately.

(o[]o)

Down side is these units are for single circuit systems guess you could use two for split system

Good point.

(o[]o)

If you are considering a remote unit ABS sells a modern booster with a dual master designed to mount in the trunk or anywhere else there is space. It operates similarly to the Midland and Hydro-Vac units with a small pedal operated manual type master operating remote cylinders to activate the booster. It shows two operating cylinders so it appears to be designed for a dual brake system.

I am still intrigued by an under floor approach and if I had a parts car or something to play with without fenders in the way would look into it. Saw one universal street rod pedal & bracket with a long rod attached so the booster could be located quite some distance from the pedal.

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Send the original unit to Ross Miller when he gets back to Maryland he will rebuild it and it will work just fine-DO NOT REPEAT DO NOT SEND IT TO ANYONE ELSE (ESPECIALLY WHITE POST). Ross rebuilt mine and I havent had a problem with it since.