Power Brake Booster Installation Guide - 1967 Chevelle
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead, big block guys. Let me have it. You knew this was coming and just let me meander my way through life thinking everything was going to be just fine. Well, I got the transmission stuck in with not too much drama. That is until I tried to raise the rear of the engine/trans combo in order to put the transmission cross member in. Evidently, this is a thing. I’ll be honest, it didn’t really come as a surprise even when I put the big Power Brake Booster on. I had purchased the 11” when this car was still a 283. I’d had it for so long I felt bad wanting to return or exchange it so I just rolled with it. Even after I knew the car was going another direction.
Even GM ran into this problem with the 396 & 427 when they first started appearing in formerly roomy engine bays. It was easier for them to pivot and create a special valve cover for power brake equipped cars. I had designs on using finned aluminum valve covers though that I knew were even taller than the stamped ones Blueprint had supplied on the crate engine.
As the saying goes, no hill for a climber. It’s the same scenario I faced on my father in law’s ’67 Camaro after we’d installed Eddie Motorsport hood hinges. Something that isn’t required on the roomier Chevelle when using the billet hinges but I was still okay with making the change.
The operation was fairly straightforward. And even though the brake system hadn’t yet been filled or bled, I did it just as if it were. With no front fenders on the car, it was a breeze to support the master cylinder, prop valve and lines while I switched out the booster. I did need to trim the supplied pushrod to fit my particular application. It’s always important to be sure you leave some free travel at the top of the pedal swing. Otherwise, the brakes will never fully release and you’ll never achieve your full greatness potential. You’ll also cook your brakes.
Crisis averted. Now we can move onto something more fun. Like masking and painting the fins on those nifty valve covers. Disclaimer, I actually paid my daughter to do that. She’s pickier than I am and had lots of spare time over the summer. That’ll teach her to complain about boredom.
