Kosage Chavis Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 The one thing that has been elusive to me is any good illustrations that show the routing of all the brake lines on a 55 Buick with the power brake setup starting at the intake manifold. Can anyone help me compile a set of pictures and/or legible drawings that would assist myself or any others in understanding this setup between all significant power brake components (intake manifold, check valve, vacuum tank, reservoir, master cylinder, etc.). Questions to start off... Is the routing of brake lines for the power setup different between 54 and 55 Buicks? Is the routing similar between the smaller and larger body Buicks for 54 and 55? Thank you all for any input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airy Cat Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 I would like to know also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 1 hour ago, Airy Cat said: I would like to know also. That makes 2 people now that need some help with this issue. Okay everyone...now don't you all come posting all kinds of stuff at once??! I love this website and cannot afford for it to crash?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1953mack Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 (edited) For starters, these should give you a general idea of the line layout you're looking for on a 1955 Buick: ♦ Tom's pictures of his 1953 Buick Roadmaster 76X frame, POST #4 in the following link: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/297499-1953-buick-skylark-power-brakes/ In his last picture, the lines L to R are: (LEFT) hydraulic brake fluid line from Reservoir to the Power Brake Cylinder's (PBC) hydraulic cylinder; (MIDDLE) vacuum line from intake manifold to the vacuum check valve; (RIGHT) hydraulic brake fluid line from the hydraulic cylinder to the 4-port distribution brass fitting. ♦ On a 1953, the vacuum line from the intake manifold to the PBC runs along the passenger side of the carburetor, makes a right hand turn, and then drops down behind the distributor. On a 1955, somebody needs to verify if this OEM vacuum line runs along the driver's side of the carburetor before it drops down toward the frame. ♦ The picture below is from a 1955 Buick Service Bulletin showing the vacuum line connection for a 1955 PBC that describes discarding the spring and valve in an OEM noisy check valve...making it non-functional rather than removing it completely and adding the newer style check valve. My added notes are in RED. ♦ On a 1953, the three other hydraulic brake fluid line-runs coming out of the 4-port distribution brass fitting are: (REAR port) to the rear wheel cylinders; (DRIVER SIDE REAR) to the front left wheel cylinder; and (DRIVER SIDE FRONT) to the front right wheel cylinder. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint" Edited December 23, 2017 by 1953mack (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 This is a near impossible request without a PARTS CAR sitting next to your project or at least an assembled and working example. I have 2 cars with PB and there is no way take meaningful pictures or draw a diagram. To do what you want to do I would be back and forth between project and assembled and if missing parts the assembled car would need to donate a part briefly for fabrication. If you have all the parts you "might" be able to mock it up on a bare frame with only the drivetrain installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Are you asking allot the vacuum lines to the master cylinder or the steel brake lines to the wheel cylinders or both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 1 hour ago, Beemon said: Are you asking allot the vacuum lines to the master cylinder or the steel brake lines to the wheel cylinders or both? The formal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Vacuum lines are easy, just run them the length they need to reach the vacuum reservoir and master cylinder from the manifold check valve. They use the champs you fasten with needle nose pliers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 2 hours ago, Beemon said: Vacuum lines are easy, just run them the length they need to reach the vacuum reservoir and master cylinder from the manifold check valve. They use the champs you fasten with needle nose pliers. Understood, but I would like to get the routing as close to factory as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbArYxVEsag 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Does anyone have pictures of how the brake lines traverse the top of the engine before it turns down towards the master cylinder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) Okay, while we wait for anyone to post their pictures of the subject braking lines, I will post what I have. The first picture shows how the line is split off the tee fitting on the manifold. Unfortunately, this picture is dark and hard to make out. Hoping someone has a better shot to add.This picture shows the master cylinder and vacuum tank just behind it. You can see a little of how the lines run on this. Edited January 5, 2018 by Kosage Chavis Removed irrelevant photos (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1953mack Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 These pics might be what you're looking for. ▲ Your picture enlarged and lightened. ▲ First of two pictures taken from this Forum years ago and were labeled "1955 Buick Century" showing the vacuum line from vacuum/fuel pump to the intake manifold's brass fitting and noted with RED arrows. The painted spaghetti-looking lines do not look OE to me. ▲ Vacuum line noted with RED arrows, looking more like OE, is from the intake manifold's fitting before it drops down at rear of engine and makes a right turn toward the Driver's side.....then on to the check valve.....then to the Power Brake Cylinder's T-fitting. The vacuum line then continues on to the storage tank after the T-fitting on the PBC. Picture in Post #4 shows a detailed connection at the PBC. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 “500 Miles West of Flint” 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 9 hours ago, 1953mack said: These pics might be what you're looking for. ▲ Your picture enlarged and lightened. ▲ First of two pictures taken from this Forum years ago and were labeled "1955 Buick Century" showing the vacuum line from vacuum/fuel pump to the intake manifold's brass fitting and noted with RED arrows. The painted spaghetti-looking lines do not look OE to me. ▲ Vacuum line noted with RED arrows, looking more like OE, is from the intake manifold's fitting before it drops down at rear of engine and makes a right turn toward the Driver's side.....then on to the check valve.....then to the Power Brake Cylinder's T-fitting. The vacuum line then continues on to the storage tank after the T-fitting on the PBC. Picture in Post #4 shows a detailed connection at the PBC. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 “500 Miles West of Flint” Awesome! Thank you Mr Al. This is exactly what I was looking for. The question now is how does this line travel to the master cylinder once it drops down behind the engine? Does the line mount directly to the firewall? Does the heat from the engine dictate how the line is routed behind the engine? Does anyone have photos of how the line travels behind the engine (shot in the dark)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1953mack Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 On 1/5/2018 at 7:06 PM, Kosage Chavis said: Does anyone have photos of how the line travels behind the engine (shot in the dark)? PM will be sent later today. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 (edited) I was searching the web for anything related to the power brake vacuum line set-up between the manifold tee fitting and master cylinder. Here's a few different perspectives of how the tee fitting and initial vacuum line is situated in respect to a 55 engine...Here are a few more perspectives of the vacuum line from the driver's side of a 55 engine. Both pictures point where the vacuum line drops behind the engine.A view of the rear of the engine. The line terminates in this picture, but gives a good idea how the line would continue behind the engine. The termination is pointed out.It seems that the vacuum line would almost run parallel to the throttle linkage that also runs down behind the engine, just to the driver's side of the transmission. In the next photo, it shows a 56 engine at the area where the vacuum line drops behind the engine.In all of the photos I have seen of the 55 engines, the steps in the vacuum lines aren't present as seen above. After the vacuum line turns down by the distributor, the vacuum line continues to follow the curvature somewhat of the engine block and continues to drop down to meet the top frame rail and then makes another 90° turn and continues back, parallel with the driver’s side frame rail until it connects to the check valve right before the master cylinder pointed out here. I hope this helps some people out. I appreciate Mr Al very much. He provided me with most of the information. Please feel free to post more of your photos of this system. Thank you. Edited January 10, 2018 by Kosage Chavis (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Are you sure that one is a 56? The 55s I've seen near me have the tandem T fitting at the intake, and go to the check ball hanging off the valve cover before going down behind the steering box. I don't have any photos, but that's why what I sent you was the correct T and check ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 17 hours ago, Beemon said: Are you sure that one is a 56? The 55s I've seen near me have the tandem T fitting at the intake, and go to the check ball hanging off the valve cover before going down behind the steering box. I don't have any photos, but that's why what I sent you was the correct T and check ball. Ben, that one picture I posted of the 56 engine where the vacuum line steps down was taken towards the rear top of the engine. There is no valve or tee fitting in the photo. As to your statement about the valve and it's factory location, this illustration comes from the 55 Buick bulletin book itself, showing the valve right before the master cylinder.However, is it really a stretch to assume that Buick probably put this valve on where they felt it best, depending on plant? Some plants may have followed this diagram while other plants felt it was more desirable to install closer to the top of the engine. I don't claim to know this, but anytime you are dealing with late add-ons and modifications, you will come across variations. Let me know what you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 Does anyone know how the vacuum reservoir is mounted to the car for the power braking system? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Kosage Chavis said: Does anyone know how the vacuum reservoir is mounted to the car for the power braking system? Thank you. Large star washers similar to the trunk lid or rear upper hood mount. Inside the left frame rail, clamping the lip of the reservoir. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 1 hour ago, old-tank said: Large star washers similar to the trunk lid or rear upper hood mount. Inside the left frame rail, clamping the lip of the reservoir. So I assume that the front lip and rear lip of the reservoir are clamped down? How well do they hold the reservoir in place? Thank you Mr Willie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 56 minutes ago, Kosage Chavis said: How well do they hold the reservoir in place? Forever... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudbone Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 On 12/22/2017 at 9:59 PM, old-tank said: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbArYxVEsag Ha, I forgot about that video! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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