Has anyone fitted a willowood boosterless system into a vb ?

[1978vcar]

I am doing a brake upgrade on the old Vcar to a VE brake caliper &disc set up & want to install a new willowood boosterless set up in the old VB and was wondering if anyone out there has done this before and if there are ANY TRICKS TO SETTING UP or special requirements needed as there are no SPECIALIST brake mechanics in my town in Whitsundays region and am a bit how ya going taking to just a local mechanic without a bit of insight as to what is actually involved as they charge like wounded bulls up this way and dont want a half arse job done or some mechanic pissing in my pocket on what he has had to do and slugging me a good bill for SFA... ( sweet F@#! all).... bought through rod shop they recommend getting done by brake specialist of which there is none here... any insight would be greatly appreciated even if it is not a VB that has been converted to this boosterless system any information will do ... PLEASE.

 

[vc commodore]

My recommendation is, it is a great waste of money....Converting to a VS booster/master is a better combo than a wilwood boosterless system.

A rellie fitted a boosterless system to a TD Cortina burnout car....He said it was next to useless....

Here's the car in question

 

[Smitty]

.. boosterless to VE calipers?

next to useless that ! you simply cannot generate the line pressures to make 'em work as they should

 

[1978vcar]

.. boosterless to VE calipers?

next to useless that ! you simply cannot generate the line pressures to make 'em work as they should

thanks for the reply and sounds like I have been told a lot of crap by the salesman as was told no problems and will get better braking with ve calipers and boosterless system over original disc set up.. would converting front calipers to willwoods make a difference as am keeping original rear discs as don't want to go through having to change handbrake cable set ect.. car not being used for burn outs , racing ect ( not to say it never will see a strip or track day) but rather an everyday driver set up as decompressed motor ect to make streetable .. still have original booster and master cylinder if by putting this back in do you think it would cure pressure problem as budget tight on remaining build parts.

 

[1978vcar]

My recommendation is, it is a great waste of money....Converting to a VS booster/master is a better combo than a wilwood boosterless system.

A rellie fitted a boosterless system to a TD Cortina burnout car....He said it was next to useless....

Here's the car in question

Thanks for reply, would original boostermaster set be a better way to go as money tight and seems the salesman got me good on the masterless system... car not for burn out comps racing ect ( not to say will never see a track day or strip) but being set up as eveyday driver so to speak.. would converting front brake set up to complete willwood caliper set ON FRONTS ONLY make difference ? As keeping original disc sets up on rears as dont want to change handbrake set up... masterless came with bias control would this be helpful in any way with set up.

 

[keith reed]

Fitting 4 pot callipers to the front is a good idea. Most of the braking is done by the front not the back. The ve redline is set up this way. Apparently there is a street legal and non street legal Willwood version.

No need to use capital letters, we understand what you are saying.

 

[Skylarking]

.. car not for burn out comps racing ect ( not to say will never see a track day or strip) but being set up as eveyday driver so to speak...

If this is going to be a road registered vehicle, you will have compliance issues.

As I understand, all VB’s had brake boosters as standard. As that’s the case, then any mods to the brake system must retain a brake booster setup for it to be registerable. Doesn’t have to be the same brake booster but it must have one... And if you are changing braking system, other than what was factory optional on that specific model, and you still want it registered, you need an to get it engineering approved...

Really, I‘d not pay much attention to sales people... speak to your registration authority before doing any work (if you want the car registered) or some racing regulator/authority (for the class of racing you may want to use a non registered car in) BEFORE you spend money...

Whatever you do, wherever you go, there are rules that can cause you problems, just ask Burt Munro. So to avoid disappointment, take what sales people say with scepticism as they often just gloss over issues simply to make the sale and separate you from your money...

 

[vc commodore]

Thanks for reply, would original boostermaster set be a better way to go as money tight and seems the salesman got me good on the masterless system... car not for burn out comps racing ect ( not to say will never see a track day or strip) but being set up as eveyday driver so to speak.. would converting front brake set up to complete willwood caliper set ON FRONTS ONLY make difference ? As keeping original disc sets up on rears as dont want to change handbrake set up... masterless came with bias control would this be helpful in any way with set up.

Yes it'd be better than a booster less system....Me personally I have a double diaphram booster, with 1" bore master cylinder and VT front calipers, with braided front brake lines....It's been like that for a couple of years and I'm more than happy with it....All up, the conversion set me back around the $600ish....

The burnout car I posted up has a boosterless wilwood master and Ve calipers on the front.......The main reason behind it being boosterless is, the lack of vacuum, due to it being blown....But still, the owner used to complain about the lack of brakes....IMA, he no longer owns that car.....He has 2 VE's, with blown stroked small blocks...Not sure on the braking system in those 2 cars

 

[1978vcar]

Well sounds like I have a few adjustments to make as want a registerable car and the dreaded E word has appeared ( engineers certificate !) also seems you can not trust salesmen or so-called sales product experts! I am now considering giving the VE boosterless system the flick and considering if it will fit, going to a full VT master booster set and calipers for fronts as can get a set of an oldm8 for a carton ( booster, master-cylinder, and 2 calipers & discs for front out of one of his many VT wrecks stashed around his property and he knows I have the arse out of my strides and been taken for a ride with willwood system and is willing to help me out and let me rat a wreck for brake set up.. so and am asking if this set up will go into to the vb and is this legal and better at stopping the old girl over original brake set up ( I still have the original system complete that was removed from car master booster and discs with calipers if worse comes to worse am willing to go back to that set up if need be) . I would also like to take the time to thank all those fellow members that are helping me out here with thier knowledge, advice and hope in turn to return the favor one day in helping others as others have helped me on this site, once again thank you all.

 

[vc commodore]

You will possibly need engineering approval with the VT conversion, so it would be adviseable to double check before fitting....So it would be best to contact an engineer within your state before proceeding....

As for the wilwood kit...Typical salesman...Talk it all up to lighten your wallet, and not give a sheet about the rest...