2nd gen F-body-manual brakes/steering?

[Robert Swartz]

Now before everyone piles on and says convert it to Aeromotive/Wilwood/Strange brakes. Down the road, I will do this. Right now, the brakes presently on the car are in fine shape. I just want to rid myself of the power brake booster and change it to a manual system. I will need a master cylinder that supports front disc/rear drums. I know Smith Performance has a nice kit that utilises a "Mopar" style master cylinder. This kit is for a 3rd gen and is listed for 4 wheel discs. Not certain if I could add a proportioning valve to this setup for the rear drums and the system work?

The next thing involves the steering box. Can you buy an aftermarket manual steering box for the 70-81 F-body? I've also heard an S-10 manual box will work. How legal is this for a stocker?

Anyone running these cars in stock/superstock that have suggestions, advise, I need it. Right now, I'm pushing to get this car started and track worthy. Doing it this way, will it be a world beater, no. There will definitely be areas that can be improved upon at a later date.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Robert Swartz

[jasondearduff]

here is what you need at the cheapest price. I used a aluminum master cylinder from a s-10 pickup and a cheap vega steering box.

[danny waters sr]

I think that the 70 or 71 z/28 Had a manual disc brake application . For some reason i am thinking i went to auto parts store and ordered a manual /non power disc brake master cylinder and it worked very well. I think the brake pedal rod came with it also .Been a long time ago ,but it worked great for me.

[skooter]

Robert,
"IF" the Firebird has the same pitman arm as the Camaro, which most should, the late 80s. early 90s S10 box works. It allows you to even use you stock power steering pitman arm. You need the one with 4 bolts on the cover, as in the pic. The earlier 3 bolt one will work also, but you need a different pitman arm as the boxes shaft is smaller. I think this also applies to the other applications, as well, earlier F bodys, Novas, Chevelles, etc.
The 4 bolt one is a little heavier than the 3 bolt, but should bolt right in. Mine came out of an 88 S10, 4 cyl., 5 spd, that's what they seemed to have come in. These are a popular item, they go fast in the junkyards, they do turn up on Ebay often.

[Robert Swartz]

Thanks guys.

Looks like the late model S-10 (85 up) is the ticket for a manual steering conversion. Good news is, parts houses can get reman boxes, so, this is solved. From what I'm reading, this is a straight up bolt in swap, uses the current PS pittman arm and bolts onto the shaft.


The master cylinder is going to take a bit more research. There are manual brake units listed for this vehicle (1979 Firebird body), just need to be able to support front disc/rear drum brakes. Have also learned that Wilwood makes a replacement aluminum caliper for the metric front brakes, same as this car. Here again, I realise, this is far from an ultimate setup. A better braking system can come later. At issue presently, is making sure the car can stop and is safe. The main advantage of a racing brake system, admit it will stop nice but will be the lighter rotating mass, eliminating centrifugal weight, which equates to elasped time.

Robert Swartz

[Alan Roehrich]

I'd say an S-10 manual brake master cylinder would work..

[Rick Unterseh]

I have a 2nd gen Firebird and used the s-10 gearbox with no problems. As for the mastercylinder, I went to the local autoparts store and got a m/c for a 70-72 GM 1/2 ton pickup. They should ask you if it has drum or disc front brakes as this was an option. I bolted it on with NO problems.

Rick

[FED 387]

As far as the brakes go the master cylinder is not really the problem it is mora the location of the brake cylinder rod ratio to the master cylinder----many time the mastera are the same for both manual and power its where the rod is positioned in the brake pedal---as a rule GM used the same master and/or brake pedal for either power or manual brakes---take a look up there sometimes there is 2 holes for that brake rod you just need to change positions and it does/will work--Comp 387

[Greg Hill]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Thanks guys.

Looks like the late model S-10 (85 up) is the ticket for a manual steering conversion. Good news is, parts houses can get reman boxes, so, this is solved. From what I'm reading, this is a straight up bolt in swap, uses the current PS pittman arm and bolts onto the shaft.


The master cylinder is going to take a bit more research. There are manual brake units listed for this vehicle (1979 Firebird body), just need to be able to support front disc/rear drum brakes. Have also learned that Wilwood makes a replacement aluminum caliper for the metric front brakes, same as this car. Here again, I realise, this is far from an ultimate setup. A better braking system can come later. At issue presently, is making sure the car can stop and is safe. The main advantage of a racing brake system, admit it will stop nice but will be the lighter rotating mass, eliminating centrifugal weight, which equates to elasped time.

Robert Swartz

Bob, when we built my son Andrew's car we used a strange 1 1/8 bore aluminum M/C. The only thing we had to do was elongate the bolt hole where it bolts to the firewall. We used the stock camaro rod going into the master cylinder. The cost was less than $100 from Strange.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

Bob, when we built my son Andrew's car we used a strange 1 1/8 bore aluminum M/C. The only thing we had to do was elongate the bolt hole where it bolts to the firewall. We used the stock camaro rod going into the master cylinder. The cost was less than $100 from Strange.

Greg,

Is this the MC you're referring to? I've looked at these and they appear to be a nice system. This would be a nice MC, in addition, it would be a good piece to have , when I eventually upgrade to a better braking system.