1941 Ford Coupe...Brakes

J

joedaless

Member
Hi All,
I need a little help. My mechanic has suggested I put in a disk brake set up. I have a very stock 41 Ford Business Coupe. I would hate to ruin it by doing this. He says I need a system like this with a duel master cylinder. Does anyone know of a better way to beef up my brakes without ruining the stock value of the car. This car is like new and I'd hate to ruin it.
Any and all help would be very much appreciated.....Thanks ..Joe D
 
joe,
#1 Find a new mechanic
#2 Have your new mechanic pull all 4 drums and get them turned nice and
round
#3 replace hydraulic components with NAPA US made parts
#4 and this might take a bit of shopping.....get the softest brake shoes
available

The soft shoes insure smooth quick stops without requiring both feet on
the brake pedal. The average mileage on an old vehicle is usually less than 2000
and at that rate your brakes will out live you.

I can expound ad nausium about my '41 1/2 ton which gets DRIVEN hard,
but usually not stupidly, with a well maintained stock Ford setup.
You could delve into the Lincoln self energizing setup advertised every-
where which is not a huge change and an upgrade.
JMHO !
Charlie ny
 
I think I would look for a new mechanic. Those brakes when properly set are very adequate for your car. The trick is getting them adjusted properly using the upper and lower eccentric adjusters . The lower ones centralize the shoes then the uppers set the clearance. I see no need to beef up anything ,just make sure everything is in excellent working order. There are instructions on how to properly adjust your brakes but I dont have them here with me, Im sure someone here will chime in on this.
 
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As everyone else has stated. If you're safety consious (?) you could change to a dual chambered M/C. I am sure others here have done just that and could "walk" you through it.
Paul in CT
 
I just did a new brake set up on a 42 Tudor. Got woven linings and rivetted them on. All new hydraulics and set up the eccentrics properly and that big ole car stops on a dime. If your car is in nice original shape you don't need to change anything. Find a mechanic who supports more of the antiques and less of the hot rods.
 
Of course the latest brake technology is better, but do you really need it? Find a new mechanic that understands the old brakes and will fix what you have instead of trying to sell you something new. Talk to members of the local EFV8 Club and see who does brakes in your area (earlyfordv8.org). PM/email me your location and I will check the EFV8 club roster for a local club.

Charlie Stephens
 
I would find a new mechanic too. The early v/8 garage owner, (Vern Lacy) is the expert on early Ford brakes. He does not recommend the dual master cylinders. They are not two independent circuits as some people think. They are inter connected in the master cylinder. If you spring a leak in the front system the pedal will require more stroke to apply the brakes to the rear system and often times you end up with no brakes. If you use a single master cylinder you can still have brakes on all four wheels and you can pump the brakes and stop the car.

Maybe Vern will see this thread and let us know if I did not understand him correctly.
 
V8COOPMAN said:
It's RICHARD Lacy! DD
Click to expand...

I got part of the name right. I do not know why I have trouble remembering his name. I was at a meeting the other night and found out I had been calling one lady by the wrong name for four years. She always snared at me when ever I said hi. I thought she just did not like me. She should have said something like my name is ....

Thanks for the correction.
 
sturgis 39 said:
I got part of the name right. I do not know why I have trouble remembering his name. I was at a meeting the other night and found out I had been calling one lady by the wrong name for four years. She always snared at me when ever I said hi. I thought she just did not like me. She should have said something like my name is ....

Thanks for the correction.
Click to expand...

Now that the name thing is straightened out here is his contact information number: Richard Lacy, earlyv8@aol.com, (626) 338-2282.

Charlie Stephens
 
Your mechanic obviously has little experience with early Ford brakes. For one thing, the 39-41 brakes have adjusters at the bottom as well as the top. The bottom ones require specific knowledge to set up properly. They adjust cams that will sit the shoes in the right place for the top adjusters to work.
I can put my wife's nose hard up against the windscreen when I stand on my drum brakes! :D:D (yes, it has happened.... I was not popular.... :mad: )
 
It is up to you to decide. I'm no hot rodder but I appreciate up to date brakes and safety equipment. I'm installing a Mitchell OD as well on my 36.

Putting disc front brakes is completely reversible. I used squareback spindles and adapter plates from ECI http://ecihotrodbrakes.com/early_ford_discbrake_conversions.html or some other vendor. I used 73-93 Ford F100/F150 (2WD) rotors with 71-79 GM big car calipers. This shot is my Model A front end:

brakes.jpg


Shortly I will be putting the discs on the front of my 36 woodie. The rear of the woodie will have MT Car products bendix backing plates. Richard Lacy and my older brother said don't put discs on an early v8, but hey, I'm pleasing myself and not somebody else.

Another route to go is to put bendix style backing plates on the front. The advantage is much simpler shoe adjustment. That is a very easy conversion as well.

Here is my website for hydraulic brakes for Model A and early v8:
https://sites.google.com/site/mrtexascitrus/home/hydraulicbrakes

For the 36 I had to fiddle with the battery box to allow for a dual MC. I narrowed it to 6 inches wide and will use a group 51 12v battery.

Going with bendix backing plates for the front or discs costs about $450 in parts and a Saturday's afternoon of work. If you stay with drums, do yourself a favor and get all new drums from MT Car products. There's are the best on the market IMHO and are US made and beefy. I bought some for the rears. They use modern style lug bolts that index on the lug bolt. The drum is not permanently attached to the hub.
 
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Charlie,
Thank you.I just rejoined the club again.. I had a few 48 Ford Coupes before this one... Thanks for wanting to help me. ...Joe D Clinton Ct
 
Re: 1941 Ford Coupe...Brakes.. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOR SUGGESTIONS AND HELP

I would like to thank everyone who replied to my brake problem. I will take up your advice and get a new mechanic ...Thanks again for all your suggestions and help... Have a great memorial Day weekend .....


Joe D
 
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