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Stock replacement master cylinder w/booster? Or Wilwood master cylinder?

4K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  64IIGolfLover 
#1 ·
This winter I plan to swap my front manual drums to Wilwood discs. I am in need of a master cyl/prop valve but I can't decide which would be better in my situation. Here's what I'm looking at:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-760191

or

https://www.wilwood.com/MasterCylinders/MasterCylinderProd?itemno=261-13626

My car is primarily a street car. It may see some strip time or some twistie turn racing time.

As mentioned, right now it has manual 4 wheel drums. No booster. My engine makes about 17 inches of vacuum at idle.


Here's the email I received from Wilwood based on what they recommend for their master cylinders:

Thank you for confirming that pedal ratio for us. With your combination of parts, we recommend taking a look at our 15/16” bore master cylinder kit 261-13626

Since you’re using rear drum brakes we also strongly recommend using a 10 lb residual pressure valve. This should be plumbed on the rear brake line within 12” of the master cylinder, and it can be plumbed after the prop valve:


http://www.wilwood.com/MasterCylinders/MasterCylinderProd.aspx?itemno=260-13784
So at this point I am wondering if I'd be better off to skip the MC and run the Wilwood set up with the adjustable prop valve? Or get the Summit MC/booster kit with prop valve?

It's a $35 difference, but aside from the Wilwood weighing less and having the ability to adjust the rears in how I want them, what other props and cons are there?

It does look as if the Summit deal is more plug and play, no having to re bend brake lines, and the factory pressure switch plug can be reused. My worries are if I have enough vacuum to run the booster, and if it's going to sit straight on the firewall or if it's going to sit at about 30 degrees tilted up/back.

What do you recommend?

Thanks.
 

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#2 ·
This winter I plan to swap my front manual drums to Wilwood discs. I am in need of a master cyl/prop valve but I can't decide which would be better in my situation. Here's what I'm looking at:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-760191

or

https://www.wilwood.com/MasterCylinders/MasterCylinderProd?itemno=261-13626

My car is primarily a street car. It may see some strip time or some twistie turn racing time.

As mentioned, right now it has manual 4 wheel drums. No booster. My engine makes about 17 inches of vacuum at idle.


Here's the email I received from Wilwood based on what they recommend for their master cylinders:



So at this point I am wondering if I'd be better off to skip the MC and run the Wilwood set up with the adjustable prop valve? Or get the Summit MC/booster kit with prop valve?

It's a $35 difference, but aside from the Wilwood weighing less and having the ability to adjust the rears in how I want them, what other props and cons are there?

It does look as if the Summit deal is more plug and play, no having to re bend brake lines, and the factory pressure switch plug can be reused. My worries are if I have enough vacuum to run the booster, and if it's going to sit straight on the firewall or if it's going to sit at about 30 degrees tilted up/back.

What do you recommend?

Thanks.
On the Wilwood you will only need to change the lines to enter at the bottom of the prop valve, ( wont you need to also do that with the summit? ). Wilwood looks a hell of a lot nicer when you go to sell it.
 
#6 ·
No, if you look at the Summit kit it has all the holes where they should be.

As for resale that I'm not interested in.
 
#3 ·
Dawg, I have the exact Wilwood set up on a car other than my Nova. It functions perfectly, looks awesome, saves a ton of space, was made in the USA, does not rust and is darn-near pre-plumbed when you use the kit.
The suggested 15/16th's bore will give you a nice pedal and you won't think you need power brakes.
 
#7 ·
The smaller the bore the easier it is to push the pedal because you are pushing less fluid. However, you will be pushing the pedal farther.
Selecting the correct bore size depends in part on the pedal ratio (the leverage the pedal can exert. Wilwood has a calculator on their website) and the type of calipers you are using.
Power brakes generally use larger bore MC's......something around 1 1/8th. Without power a bore that big will be pretty hard to push and stopping distance will be affected.
If you are considering Wilwood their tech staff will make the bore size calks for you.
 
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