Can it be done and part recommendation

Hi,
Have a 63 Dodge 440 with drum brakes all around. They are power drum brakes with a single bowl master cylinder.

I would like to change to a double bowl master cylinder at the very least and probably change the fronts to disc at some point down the road. Since I am in the process of working on two separate vehicles I don't have a huge well of cash to spend right now, hence just changing the master cylinder first. Once I dump/sell the other vehicle I would like to do the front conversion, but given the crappy economy and fact it is winter it may take a few months to sell the other one to have cash for this project.

Is it possible to just do the single to double mc swap? What would be involved (potential hangups and recommendations.).

Part two: When ready to do the front conversion are there certain manufacturers of kits that the kits work better in the 63 than others. (this may have been covered in another post) I've seen kits for sale on Ebay for less than $1000. Any good?

Thanks everyone for your expertise.

MoparGirl

To me the easiest way of converting (and safest functioning) is to install a different splitter/proportioning valve along with the double master cylinder. I'd use one from a later car equipped with 4 whl drum. If you change to disk later you should use the one for disk brakes at that time. Not sure how a disk/drum type would function if you installed it now to save the duplicated effort later.
Nothing wrong/bad with ebay kits. However you can typically save money by finding used spindles from a Diplomat/Volare/Fifth Avenue a lot cheaper and sourcing rebuilt hydraulic components from your local parts store. I'm fortunate to live in an area with an abundance of donor cars available so I'm biased toward that solution.

Study up. It's all doable. There are some concerns on the whole F-M-J spindle thing, but I am not entirely sold on either side of the issue.
http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/disc-main.html
also.....
http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/spindles.shtml

bitterbelvedere said:

To me the easiest way of converting (and safest functioning) is to install a different splitter/proportioning valve along with the double master cylinder. I'd use one from a later car equipped with 4 whl drum.

Click to expand...

So I can use a Master Cylinder AND the splitter/proportioning valve from the same donor car? Like a Volare or Fifth Avenue?

Thanks

Follow up question from the guy actually doing the work on the car

What duel chamber master cylinder will work in place of the single chamber one? Out of what year and make? I know it has to be 67 or later. I am trying to change JUST the master cylinder. The car is 62 B body with 10 inch front drums and a power booster also what year and make combo valve?

If I remember right,I used a 67 master,manual brakes on my 63 plymouth.

MoparGirl63 said:

Follow up question from the guy actually doing the work on the car

What duel chamber master cylinder will work in place of the single chamber one? Out of what year and make? I know it has to be 67 or later. I am trying to change JUST the master cylinder. The car is 62 B body with 10 inch front drums and a power booster also what year and make combo valve?

Click to expand...

Pretty much any four bolt master for a 4 wheel drum brake car should work. Just make sure the bore size stays similar. You don't need a proportioning valve for an all drum brake car. On OTHER cars that I have done this on, I usually pull the front to rear line from the junction block and put a plug in the port on the block. I then run a line from the rear brake port on the master and hook it to the front to rear line with a union. The original line from the master now just feeds the front brakes.

robmc over on moparts sells a adapter kit that allows you to use a more modern dual m/c also.

might be worth doing if your not looking for concourse.

Thanks guys! I love this site!!!

MoparGirl