1978 -80 Dodge Factory Hydro-Boost Info

Hi Bob!

On that Mitsu unit:
The early Dodge trucks such as Pilot House, Power Giant, Sweptline, Town Wagon & Town Panel & others had a small problem with converting to power brakes. The manual tranny trucks use a hydraulic clutch, with clutch master located at firewall beside brake master, only about 2"-3" west of it [from mounting flange to mounting flange].

They're both 4-bolt masters, cast iron, single piston/single reservoir up to '67. Because of close proximity it's real hard to find a vacuum booster cannister that will fit in the available real estate. Also in order to upgrade to a safer dual reservoir brake master one needs the 4-bolt to 2-bolt adapter, as newer dualies are 2 bolt.

The best answer, if a guy has a power steering pump, is the unit you show above! Not sure how well the mounting bolt holes align but no biggy there. The potential problems with that Mitsu is matching up the pushrod to existing suspended pedal's pushrod.

Much ado is made of this elsewhere, but if a guy has a MIG or a few threading dies it's simple to cut pushrod shorter, thread both ends & make a threaded coupling, or connect hydro push rod to existing, or extend either one etc.

Apparently there's a difference in the bolt eye thingy that attaches to pedal mounting bolt so pushrod pivots, those being different thickness & diameter. There a bushing may be required through the eye, or morphing the two pushrods together into one that matches both ends.

There's a return spring and a washer type thing that has to be included at hydro end of pushrod and it may also be difficult to get pushrod length correct. Other than that it's simply fabrication.

I'll try to remember to post here later with details on matching hydro pushrod to Sweptline/Town Wagon pushrod when I get mine done.

I'd like to use one of these boosters on my 93 W250 w/cummins. I have a few questions though....

1.) Is the pushrod a perfect fit?
2.) What master cylinder fits? stock? what if I go to discs later? (i.e. 2001 Dana 80)
3.) What hoses fit? custom?
4.) What PS pump? (I assume a 98+ pump works)