Manual Brakes on a Box?

[P72Ford]

I know this sounds absurd... but I must know!

Has anyone ever done such a thing? I would like feedback on driveability.

And just because I know folks are going to ask, why?...

Because I can. :nonono:

Actually no. :no:

I am not asking this because I want manual brakes. I am doing some research on a potential 'down-the-road' modification, and doing away with power brakes would make this much easier. I can do it with power brakes, and I may indeed if someone tells me that I am a fool for considering otherwise, and provides supporting evidence.

The pedal assembly I would be using would provide extra leverage, and also a dual master cylinder.

I have driven other vehicles with manual brakes, but obviously never a panther. Once you get used to it, its ok, but its still somewhat discomforting.

I've also driven things that don't provide enough vacuum to properly operate power brakes.

[84GrandMarquis]

What modification are you considering? I just can't see sacraficing safety for a mod though.

[GM_Guy]

If its what you want, why not? The only people who get overly concerned are ones who have never driven a vehicle [regularily] with manual brakes.

Alex.

[1980c10]

I don't see why not. I had a 80' c10 with manual brakes and it stopped fine/good feedback. It's also about 1000lbs heavier than a panther and had no problem stopping with manual.

[1980c10]

What modification are you considering? I just can't see sacraficing safety for a mod though.

Manual brakes are not a saftey sacrifice over power brakes. They can stop in the same distance, it just take a little more effort at the pedal is all.

I say go for it. Have a machine shop make you an adaptor to go from the booster bolt pattern to whatever mc you choose and bolt it on. You might also want to get a proportioning valve so you can fine tune it.

I think I might know what mod, cause I might think the same as you. If I ever do a 5 speed swap I wanna convert the t5 to a hydraulic clutch and with the booster gone it would be alot easierto mount the clutch mc on the firewall.

[91waggin]

I saw the title and I thought for a second we were talking about cable brakes, not just hydraulic brakes with no booster.

[rick99601]

I saw the title and I thought for a second we were talking about cable brakes, not just hydraulic brakes with no booster.

henry ford would like that idea..

[Grand Marquis GT]

What about hydroboost?

[grandpaslincoln]

Why not do something interesting instead?

[ford man]

for all that trouble I would hope your shoehorning in a boss 429 or something

[P72Ford]

I'm not thinking about a big engine swap yet...

But I am thinking about the 5 speed swap, which may or may not happen. I've looked over past builds, and as everyone knows, the pedal assembly is what seems to be the hurdle.

So I started looking at universal aftermarket set-ups, like Ansen, ECI, Wilwood, Tilton, etc. They are affordable, and they are well constructed, which is the main reason I am intrigued. I understand that the pedal swing and floor clearance has to be considered, but I'd rather start with something substantial and have to modify the actual pedals, then to build something marginal.

You can get them power/ manual. The manual set-up would be cheaper, and cleaner. Plus, I'd have room for the brake master cylinders and clutch master cylinder all in one nice neat package. If I do this, it will be with a hydraulic clutch.

The manual assemblies are built for manual brakes, which means the pedal throw to master cylinder throw ratio is higher, for more 'leverage'.

I just started looking a little yesterday and thought it'd be neat to have a different spin on the 5 speed swap.

[1990LTD]

has anybody put a 6 speed in one of these before? a better question, does anyone make one for a windsor?

[P72Ford]

The T56 can be made to work.

However, when folks swap them into other cars, they usually end up clearancing the tunnel.

Some of them have a .50 overdrive, which would enable you to run 4.30 or 4.56 gears, and still cruise on the highway. Thats cool and all, but not really that important to me. If you get the regular old T56, you get a .62 OD (IIRC), which is still higher than the AOD, but not far from the .64 OD of the TKO 600.

They are quite a bit more expensive than a TKO, but they do have advantages. Not sure if I would go that route or not.

[1990LTD]

4.30 or 4.56 gears, and still cruise on the highway.

When I win the lottery

[GoodSamaritan]

Are you thinking about doing this on a 90+ or on a 79-89?

If it's the 90+ you've got it made. Get a newer model non ABS brake booster and you've got plenty of clearance. I'd spend the money on maybe making an offset pedal for the clutch so they line up a bit better.

On the 90+ you weld the tube from the mustang pedal assy on top of the stock pedal box. Just cut down the brake pedal to the same shape as the mustang brake pedal and you can reuse the rubber cover on it.

On my 89, it's a bit more fiddly. First, the tube has to run through the pedal box. Also you have to clearance a bit of room up top for the clutch quadrant.


Other than the throw on my clutch pedal and it riding a bit high, (mostly due to the different curvature of the mustang pedal) it looks pretty much like it came from the factory that way. If someone were to cut the mustang clutch pedal off and weld on the lower part of a panther brake pedal (trimmed of course) It would probably look perfect.



Also look into converting a t5 to hydraulic clutch before going down that route. Unless someone has begun selling a kit a lot more reasonably than what was available when I did my conversion, it's not worth it. Granted the pedal feels a lot nicer on a hydraulic one than with a cable, but it's not that much of a difference imho.