What Vacuum pumps are you using for help with good brakes and a big camshaft?

I'm building a new motor for my Stage 2 SE heads and considering the 304s cam in it. Not sure of whether I will need a vacuum pump for street use brakes,but I was wondering what the most popular setup is that everyone is currently using. Will I actually need one too??

 

I wouldn't fool with a pump, a canister works just fine unless you an on hitting the curves hard, and yes a 304 is going to need help to work power brakes

 

This Hella UP5X is the vacuum pump I am thinking of going with for brakes. I may be using their UP28 for supplemental crankcase evacuation at WOT when using a PCV system. That whole system is going to be a bit elaborate so I won't get into it on your post.

http://www.hella.com/microsite-electronics/en/UP5X-vacuum-pump-118.html



Larry

 

Did you see on FB Alan C's hydroboost set-up? He didn't like the noisy electric vacuum pump and went to hydroboost.

 

Hi guys: I have used a vcacuum pump for several years to aidmy TA413 cam. no trouble with loss of brakes now,as long as the pump is going. only 1 incident did occur! out on the freeway I felt th e lack of vibration from the pump and hit the brakes only to find there was none. Icoasted to the shouler and applied E brake to full stop. found a wire had come off the pump.l I have changed the system so the pump is assisting the motor vacuum and not the primary source of vaccum. the re are many pumps to choose from today. my 462BBB draws only 10.50" of vacuum at 6000ft. Kenny462

 

Funny I ran a 413 cam with no pump and brakes were good. Did you have disc? I was running drum. Just wonder if that has any effect.

 

I go another route, with a 93 Astro Hydro boost system. Its cheap and requires some modding but you get the brake power like a new corvette, its a day and night difference in braking power.
It also has a real good pedal feel, its more solid and requires less effort to block the front tires.

 

Remove the booster
I don't really notice difference in pedal feel when I drive a power vs manual brake. If you do remove the booster,just make sure to reattach the clevis to the upper hole in the pedal. The power clevis gets the lower hole.

 

X2 on the manual brakes. We stop from 120mph plus with 4 wheel manual drums with no issues,

 

413 cam .. Yardley had to install a vacuum pump in his Riv; I had to put a vacuum canister in BigRed when I was running that cam even ground on 118 LC

 

I prefer living at the end of a race ,so I wont be installing an non power brake system. I had that on my car with an Olds W 30 master cylinder and I didn't like the feel of the brakes at all. I would like look more into the hydroboost idea.Are these parts plug and play?

 

Well..my car doesn't have power steering,so I guess I will have to go electric pump or vacuum canister afterall..

 

99% of race cars have manual brakes. you should be just fine..

 

I use a Hella UP28. Puts out 17" real quick, pretty quiet. Sorry guys, can't seem to rotate pic.

 

When using an electric vacuum pump as either the Hella UP5X or UP28 it doesn't run until vacuum drops below preset amount then it shuts off at preset max vacuum. If you rubber mount it and don't mount it inside your interior you may not even notice its cycling. Hella is real big with OEM vacuum assist brakes and Big Truck applications.

Larry

 

The thing I like about my manual brake setup, the pedal never changes, it doesn't need vac from a running motor, pressure from a steering system or electric, if you blow a motor or it stall whatever my pedal feels the same at 120+mph. I have enough pressure u can easily lock the wheels up if wanted. To each thier own but if their is one think I never want reliant on outside sources to work at those speeds it's my brake pedal.

 

About 20 years ago,I had a power disc car,with a vacuum canister to "help" with the brakes. I had to stop real quick once,at WOT,and I almost broke the back of the seat off,with 2 feet on the brake pedal. Never again.
I have never had a negative result when converting to manual brakes. The pedal feel was with the same or better,but not worse. If it is worse,then something wasn't done correctly.

 

OP was directed towards vacuum assist with power brakes, .... now that it's turned to defending "manual VS power" brakes because of possible failures , .... I believe in karma.... so I'm out.

Larry

 

Cadillac HT4100 engines had a belt driven vacuum pump if you look around the junkyards. I have one on the shelf for the day I eventually put a turbo on the Thunderbird I can simply separate all the vacuum accessories from the intake manifold.

 

I don't want to do a power vs non power brakes deal here either..My car is already a power disc car that I plan to street drive and race. Also,I want it safe to drive so my wife and daughter can drive it and not be concerned with the brakes.Like I stated earlier,I personally did not like the non power disc at all,so I want power. I currently have a Stage 1 motor with a Bullet cams split duration (.231/.239) and lift (.501/.524) and it sometimes concerns me. All my brake parts are new and in great shape. Upping the HP range concerns me. I don't mind an electric pump as the 3 inch exhaust with race bullet mufflers drowns most other noises out anyways.The Hella systems look good for what I need.