Adding a brake booster?

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Schyrjajew

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Greetings from Switzerland!

My 69 Valiant 170cui has 4 drum brakes (9 inch) without a brake booster.
I would like to add a brake booster, because I might want to install the bigger engine at some point and I'd feel safer.
Which booster do I need exactly?

This is the master cylinder I have.
s-l225.jpg
 
A vacuum assist reduces pedal effort for lady legs. It isn't a brake performance upgrade.
"Bigger engine" often includes a performance cam that wont produce enough vacuum to support the assist.
 
I would consider upgrading to disc brakes as a performance upgrade before a booster if you are considering a larger engine.

EDIT: if you attend some of the American Car shows, speak to some of the Mopar people about sourcing parts locally. I’ve got a friend from Wettingen who attends the shows. He owns a 66 Barracuda that was assembled over there

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Power booster does not improve brakes.
It merely reduces pedal effort.
You'd still have insufficient brakes for an engine upgrade.
 
Disc break upgrade will do far more for breaking performance. And a must if you put power to the car in its future. My 440 GTX at a meer 425 horse had problems stopping as I wished. And that's with the drums working as well as they could. A front disc upgrade improved breaking I'm betting 30+%. Meaning, what took 200' to stop now can in about 130'. I'm still running drums in rear. But I'm feeling better than not.
 
See ebay for booster/MC/brackets. Was ~$140 last I saw. Most use a GM booster & cast-iron MC.
Before those were avail, I put booster brackets from a 74 Slant on my 65 Dart & booster-MC from a 95-99 Breeze ABS.
You don't need a booster w/ drums. Easier to switch to a 7/8" booster w/ 2-4 bolt adapter plate ($30 ebay). Dr Diff sells a kit.
Many say they don't need a booster w/ front disks, though most all new cars today have one.
Cheapest front disk conversion is Scarebird. Many use Wilwood ($$$).
 
I am going to 'upgrade' (albeit slightly) the small-bolt discs on '70 Dart to the single-piston setup from '74 Duster. Main reason is to acquire the larger stud 4.5" pattern. I could use the removed parts (from Dart) to install on '69 Valiant, however, the (four-piston) calipers in bad shape - so no good even for cores. Rather than purchase (pricey) new or rebuilds, I will, for now, leave the 9-inch drums intact and add power-assist. Can I use the Dart booster and what M.C.? Will the inlet area of the booster 'interface' with the pedal linkage under the dash? Any tips are appreciated. Note: Valiant stored for winter to at least end of Feb.
 
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