Fed up with having to stand on the brakes to haul it to a stop, mostly due to only pulling 11-12in vac during idle and cruise. So last week I ordered a new hydroboost from the USA and it arrived at the end of the week. So I've spent today making it fit.
The recon/new hydroboosts don't come with the output or input pushrods so I had to make those to suit. They also dont have the special star washer to lock the spring in for the output rod. I managed to find a large washer which served the same purpose though. I picked the cheapest hydroboost with the external accumulator I could find, happened to be from a 1980 C30 truck. They are all more or less the same, though there is some variation in the piston sizes and accumulator pressures. This one is the same as an astro van though under a different part number....
It also came with no mount plate, so I cut one from some 1/4" steel. I needed to add some 5/16" spacers so that the nut on the hydroboost cleared the hole in the firewall. I then put some strip caulk around it before bolting to the firewall. The booster used an input pushrod retained by an O-ring, I managed to find one the right size in the end. I also had to remove the brake switch actuating plate as it was bolted to the upper hole in the pedal where I needed to connect the pushrod. But there was enough adjustment on the switch to just actuate it with the pedal itself.
The most expensive bit of the conversion was the hoses and adaptors. But it's good stuff, rated to 7000psi burst pressure! Like big braided brake hose, PTFE inner with braided outer.
Last job was to top it off with fluid and bleed it through. Took nearly 3 quarts to fill it all back up again. I still have a few things left to finish off, like a new bracket for the prop valve, change the return hoses to braided to match the pressure hoses, and refit the subframe brace (which does still fit!). I also should add a filter in the system somewhere as I'm reliably informed the hydroboost will benefit from one.
Loads more access around the firewall now too, which should make future maintenance easier. The short drive up and down the yard seems to indicate the brakes are much improved!
Before:
After:
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My '80 progress thread - hugger orange!
Now with LQ9 power - forged pistons, LS2 rods, 236/242, .621/.612, flowed and milled 317 heads. MS3X
4L80e, 12 bolt, 4.11, Moroso brute strength posi, steel shafts.
Subframe connectors, g-braces, solid body bushes, carbon hood and front bumper, custom door cards, Autometer gauges.
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Bet you are still grinning ear to ear lol. Stupid question time - Are you happy with it? Was all the pain and heartache worth it? Amazing how it looked pretty good when you got it, then you stripped it back and you could see that rock turned steel, was turning back into rock again! Quite the hidden work beneath the nice yellow paint job. You've managed to turn it back into, or even, elevate it to quite the beast. Any driving vids yet 
