Strange Engineering Master Cylinder

Richard Grant · 05-04-2013, 09:20 AM

I would install a brake pressure guage on the front brakes. If you do you will love it when doing a burnout. You can pump the brakes to a set level each time. I usually set mine at 900 for my burnout.
You are running factory steel lines? AN lines do not work well for brakes. You can the brakes pressure guage to determine if the backs are ok also. You should get about 5 to 6 hundred pounds on the first stab if everything is correct.
No one that I know of has had a problem with the factory master when staying with drum brakes. Make sure that your master is not bigger than 7/8's. If it is that could be your problem. You may have chosen a master that was designed for disk brakes if you don't know the size or application.

brent flynn · 05-04-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Grant

I would install a brake pressure guage on the front brakes. If you do you will love it when doing a burnout. You can pump the brakes to a set level each time. I usually set mine at 900 for my burnout.
You are running factory steel lines? AN lines do not work well for brakes. You can the brakes pressure guage to determine if the backs are ok also. You should get about 5 to 6 hundred pounds on the first stab if everything is correct.
No one that I know of has had a problem with the factory master when staying with drum brakes. Make sure that your master is not bigger than 7/8's. If it is that could be your problem. You may have chosen a master that was designed for disk brakes if you don't know the size or application.

Yeah, I have all steel lines, and new rubber lines... I will pull master cyl, and measure it... Maybe, i should go to Napa, for a brand new one? (If this one checks out too big, or otherwise.) Im gonna put a brake pressure guage on the car...a good friend of mine, is giving me one. My Dad, had a '68 Bird(back halved) with 14.5/32's and never had a prob doin burnouts, and it had factory master cyl, was also manual brake car...

brent flynn · 05-06-2013, 08:45 PM

Where is the best place to source one? Napa is not showing a 7/8'', on line... i will call them tomorrow... Carquest, also...

Richard Grant · 05-07-2013, 12:06 AM

Since the car came with manuel drum brakes, I would go to NAPA and purchase a new stock master. Try to keep everything like it came from the factory. The drum brakes have like a 3lb. valve that keeps pressure on the lines that disk don't have. I think part or all of your problem has been intermingling drum and disk parts. Go back to the orginal setup and you should be fine. Make sure that the master is for 4 wheel drum brakes since some cars had disk on the rear and drums on the front or disk all around. None of these will work properly. Also, be carefull you don't get a master for power brakes, it won't work right either.

brent flynn · 05-07-2013, 09:23 AM

Richard, when I bought master from Oriellys, for manual brakes, it hasn't felt right, since. I called Napa and Carquest... they only offer 1" for that application(4 wheel drum, manual). Will that work, or should I go the Chrysler route? All wheel cylinders, lines and hardware, are new. Running Hurst line lick...far as I know, it is working fine... just don't seem to have clamping power...have bled them 3-4 times.... I know I will have to make a pushrod, for the Chrysler part...

Richard Grant · 05-08-2013, 08:41 AM

I would check your petal ratio. Don't assume anything without checking it. If the petal ration is correct, then to be absolutly sure on the master call Strange and ask them for the part number for a 7/8's inch drum brake manuel master.
If you can afford to, go ahead and change to 4 wheel disk. You will be glad that you did down the road. You can't properly drive the top end with drum brakes, plus the weight savings, etc. You won't have to purchase a second master later either. The disk need a 11/16 to 1 1/8 inch master.
I run Areospace disk and they work well for the price.
When you get your brake pressure guage you will learn a lot about your bakes and if they are working properly. Again check everything, don't assume anything. LOL

brent flynn · 05-08-2013, 07:20 PM

Thanks Richard! I will have to wait a year or two, before i can switch brake systems... If i can get it to run some sort of #, then, i will start on that kind of stuff... would love to have discs, on the front , atleast. Eventually, discs, all the way around, would be the ticket. My goal, is to make this the best car it can be, not necessarily the fastest...because , the latter costs alot more! hehe

05-04-2013, 09:20 AM	#1
Richard Grant Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Monroe, La. Posts: 301 Likes: 9 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Strange Engineering Master Cylinder I would install a brake pressure guage on the front brakes. If you do you will love it when doing a burnout. You can pump the brakes to a set level each time. I usually set mine at 900 for my burnout. You are running factory steel lines? AN lines do not work well for brakes. You can the brakes pressure guage to determine if the backs are ok also. You should get about 5 to 6 hundred pounds on the first stab if everything is correct. No one that I know of has had a problem with the factory master when staying with drum brakes. Make sure that your master is not bigger than 7/8's. If it is that could be your problem. You may have chosen a master that was designed for disk brakes if you don't know the size or application. __________________ Richard Grant 4988 STK

05-06-2013, 08:45 PM	#3
brent flynn Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Middletown, IN Posts: 593 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Strange Engineering Master Cylinder Where is the best place to source one? Napa is not showing a 7/8'', on line... i will call them tomorrow... Carquest, also... __________________ 1968 Bird/TRW 455/Home ported 13's, '70 Qjet,Holley Street Dominator manifold, Comp Solid FT, 10.817/122.30/1.440 Workin' on E/SA combo 3119 E/SA

05-07-2013, 12:06 AM	#4
Richard Grant Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Monroe, La. Posts: 301 Likes: 9 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Strange Engineering Master Cylinder Since the car came with manuel drum brakes, I would go to NAPA and purchase a new stock master. Try to keep everything like it came from the factory. The drum brakes have like a 3lb. valve that keeps pressure on the lines that disk don't have. I think part or all of your problem has been intermingling drum and disk parts. Go back to the orginal setup and you should be fine. Make sure that the master is for 4 wheel drum brakes since some cars had disk on the rear and drums on the front or disk all around. None of these will work properly. Also, be carefull you don't get a master for power brakes, it won't work right either. __________________ Richard Grant 4988 STK

05-07-2013, 09:23 AM	#5
brent flynn Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Middletown, IN Posts: 593 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Strange Engineering Master Cylinder Richard, when I bought master from Oriellys, for manual brakes, it hasn't felt right, since. I called Napa and Carquest... they only offer 1" for that application(4 wheel drum, manual). Will that work, or should I go the Chrysler route? All wheel cylinders, lines and hardware, are new. Running Hurst line lick...far as I know, it is working fine... just don't seem to have clamping power...have bled them 3-4 times.... I know I will have to make a pushrod, for the Chrysler part... __________________ 1968 Bird/TRW 455/Home ported 13's, '70 Qjet,Holley Street Dominator manifold, Comp Solid FT, 10.817/122.30/1.440 Workin' on E/SA combo 3119 E/SA

05-08-2013, 08:41 AM	#6
Richard Grant Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Monroe, La. Posts: 301 Likes: 9 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Strange Engineering Master Cylinder I would check your petal ratio. Don't assume anything without checking it. If the petal ration is correct, then to be absolutly sure on the master call Strange and ask them for the part number for a 7/8's inch drum brake manuel master. If you can afford to, go ahead and change to 4 wheel disk. You will be glad that you did down the road. You can't properly drive the top end with drum brakes, plus the weight savings, etc. You won't have to purchase a second master later either. The disk need a 11/16 to 1 1/8 inch master. I run Areospace disk and they work well for the price. When you get your brake pressure guage you will learn a lot about your bakes and if they are working properly. Again check everything, don't assume anything. LOL __________________ Richard Grant 4988 STK

05-08-2013, 07:20 PM	#7
brent flynn Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Middletown, IN Posts: 593 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Strange Engineering Master Cylinder Thanks Richard! I will have to wait a year or two, before i can switch brake systems... If i can get it to run some sort of #, then, i will start on that kind of stuff... would love to have discs, on the front , atleast. Eventually, discs, all the way around, would be the ticket. My goal, is to make this the best car it can be, not necessarily the fastest...because , the latter costs alot more! hehe __________________ 1968 Bird/TRW 455/Home ported 13's, '70 Qjet,Holley Street Dominator manifold, Comp Solid FT, 10.817/122.30/1.440 Workin' on E/SA combo 3119 E/SA