'71 F100 brake question

[mismith]

Just got my Grandfather's '71 F100. It has been sitting for many years. I am about to start on the brakes. This truck is factory manual brakes. I want to add a power booster. I want to keep the drums for now. What all exactly do I need? I know when you swap to discs you sometimes have to change the pedal assembly because of the ratio. Were there 2 different pedal ratios for manual vs power drums? Is it just as simple as adding a bracket and booster and possibly changing the plunger rod?

Thanks,
Mike

[FORDification]

There is no difference between manual/power brakes pedals or drum/disc pedals....they're all the same.

To add a factory-style vacuum booster, you simply need to disconnect the master cylinder pushrod at the brake pedal, then unbolt the master cylinder from the firewall and gently pull it away from the firewall. (NOTE: do not remove any brake lines!) Remove the pushrod coming out of the back of the master cylinder...you won't need it, since the power booster already has one built in. Bolt the power booster to the firewall, connect the master cylinder to the booster. Then connect booster pushrod to the brake pedal and run a vacuum line from the booster to the intake manifold. That's it!

[ultraranger]

Manual brake MCs will have a smaller primary (front brake) reservoir than a MC designed for discs front/drums rear.

A drum/drum MC may work 'fine' while the rotors/brake pads are new but, as the components wear down, the the pistons of the caliper will move outward to compensate for the wear.

This will require more brake fluid, from the primary side of the MC, to fill the calipers. A disc/drum MC is designed with enough reserve capacity to do this. A drum/drum MC won't have enough reserve capacity, once the front pads wear down, to reliably support the application of the brakes.

[mismith]

I just want to equip this truck like it came from the factory with power assist brakes, keeping the original drum/drum setup. The truck is all original now, down to the hubcaps. Here she is, 89K actual miles (documented) this is a family truck since new, original paint and everything else, 302, 3 speed.





Thanks,
Mike

[1972 highboy]

very sweet looking truck u have there