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Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 4:01 pm
by morgan
My brakes are now pretty rubbish when idle thanks to loopy-mega-psycho-cam. Fine once underway, but I'd like them back how they can be ideally. Its been suggested that I pop an extra vac can in there. There seem to be two types - one with an electric pump and one that just has the can and stores up a shot I assume.... One is five times the price of the other...

Anyone fitted one ? Did it do the trick ?

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary van canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 6:45 pm
by Pete
I put one on the '57 Ch**y and I was disappointed with the performance, and I had augmented it with a Vacuum pump too!

Brake performance remains inconsistent and you can still run your reserve of vac down, and you suddenly have a degradation of brakes - normally when you need it most!

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary van canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 7:34 pm
by Derek
I've fiited a couple with an electric pump at Anton's garage and had good results.

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary van canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 7:50 pm
by Pete
You can experiment with the bits off my Chev if you want to.... the car won't be going anywhere soon....

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 10:07 pm
by morgan
Thanks chaps.
Pete - That's a kind offer (as ever), but I dont want you pulling bits off cars to lend me - you've got enough to do putting stuff ON cars ! Very interested to hear that even with a pump on it (microswitched or something I assume) it still ran out of puff. The whole point of the pump is to ensure consistency. What was the make/brand ? What I am hearing is you dont particularly recommend...

Derek - Thanks. Same question - do you happen to remember than brand ? Just curious given Petes experience.

I'm taking the consensus to be 'if you are going to bother put a pump in too'.

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 10:26 pm
by Pete
It was not an offer lightly made.

I do not have the capacity in terms of working space, and indeed funds, to get the '57 back on the road, so it is not an issue.

I will probably end up selling it as a non-runner, though I am trying to hold on to it as it is a perfect spec (2 door Genuine Sport Coupe Belair).

IF your brakes were up to the job before the engine swap, then a reservoir and pump may work.

However, the car will be a lot quicker so you may have to consider a proportionally better brake upgrade.

Braking is NOT improved by a Servo - only the Pedal pressure and the physical input required to operate the brakes is lessened.

If it did not stop before then it will not stop better with a vacuum Reservoir...

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 11:07 pm
by MattH
Very pretty car, low headroom surprisingly, you will bang your head getting in or out.

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Sun May 17, 20 11:21 pm
by morgan
Pete wrote: Sun May 17, 20 10:26 pm It was not an offer lightly made.

I do not have the capacity in terms of working space, and indeed funds, to get the '57 back on the road, so it is not an issue.

I will probably end up selling it as a non-runner, though I am trying to hold on to it as it is a perfect spec (2 door Genuine Sport Coupe Belair).

IF your brakes were up to the job before the engine swap, then a reservoir and pump may work.

However, the car will be a lot quicker so you may have to consider a proportionally better brake upgrade.

Braking is NOT improved by a Servo - only the Pedal pressure and the physical input required to operate the brakes is lessened.

If it did not stop before then it will not stop better with a vacuum Reservoir...
Much appreciated. I never assumed it was an idle offer I assure you :) I will have a ponder. Thanks.

Brakes were epic before. Full wilwood kit, bigger than stock (I know you are not a fan, but I have no issue; they seem great). Car stopping not a problem - ( well, you know, the wheels stop turning. The car obviously careers onwards but with just the wheels locked now... as cars used to do... :) ). Its just part of the learning curve for me that lumpy cam means naff all vacuum and its made my idling brakes less effective. They are OK now, but I know what they SHOULD be like from before, thats all.

(ref 'alot quicker' - yes. Have used her this week and 'tested'. Holy cow. Doesnt do much until about 4K then its like falling out of a window !)

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Mon May 18, 20 9:34 am
by Dave999
or go full manual, with a narrow bore master and make sure you put the brake/master cylinder rod in the correct position on the peddle lever arm

Re: Anyone fitted an auxiliary vac canister ?

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 20 10:51 pm
by LurkinLimey
Had the same problem (stroker Big Block with a silly cam) and I've fitted the same vacuum can (mine was Mr Gasket branded via Amazon).
Made a real improvement for me, i.e. now streetable with 5-6 pumps on the brakes before the can recharges, as opposed to 1-2 pumps on the brakes before a hard pedal!
So I'm happy with it, but I was starting from a pretty poor baseline.
I'm running big disks on the front and drums on the back on a '68 B Body.
May not be good enough for you if you're used to really good brakng performance.
Some US forums recommend going hydraboost which I think involves running off the PS pump.
Hope this helps,
Jon