Aceca/Ace AC engine - brake boost

[Peter Hoskin]

I smashed my right ankle when driving my Ace under a cattle lorry in 1963 and have restricted movement plus arthritis.  Want to add vacuum brake booster to reduce effort.  Have fitted rack and pinion steering which gives more space under exhaust pipes.  Has anyone fitted a brake booster? Can they advise on what, how and where to fit?

[Robin A Woolmer]

Peter
   You could consider the set up on the Lotus Elan 2+2 which has a remote unit which should be available.You can position the unit near the manifold & re pipe the hydraulics.
   
   Robin

[Peter Hoskin]

Thanks, Robin.  Dont know of any Lotus Elans in Canberra but there will be some in the VSSC Australia Sydney chapter that we of the Canberra chapter frequently meet.
   Peter

[Robin A Woolmer]

Peter
   They also had them on Austin Healey 3000 or BN1-4, if you search the web you should find one to suit.
   
   Robin

[pls01]

Peter,
   The Sunbeam Tiger also had a remote unit and maybe the Sunbeam Alpine had it also.  Probably the same Girling used in the Lotus, AH, etc.  Girling supplied 5" and 7" sizes depending on the assistance required.
   
   The original Girling units are no longer made, but used ones maybe found at a swap meet or junk yard.  Rebuild kits are available, but are incomplete.  They do not include the bits for the vacuum piston.  The unit gets a bit iffy when the vacuum piston is unreliable.  Sometimes they work like unassisted and sometimes like power brakes.  Life has its moments when stepping on the brakes can produce radically different results.  Try to get one with a good vacuum section.
   
   Lockheed makes a replacement unit.  Not exactly the same dimensions but same concept.  It is expensive.
   
   Robin's suggestion makes a lot of sense.  There is plenty of room else where in the engine compartment and you could go for a split braking system at the same time.
   
   You are probably very lucky in to the cattle lorry versus Ace incident.
   Peter

[jrlucke]

The Parts Bin (http://www.thepartsbin.com/catalog/?N=9177&Nr=OR%28AND%28make:Lotus,model:Elan,year:1967%29,AND%28universal:1%29%29&Vi=1659+11027+4294962094&y=1967&mk=Lotus&md=Elan) here in the states seems to have a new replacement 7 inch single diaphram brake booster for Elans for about $150 US. SSBC the manufacturer also produces an electric vacuum pump as a backup to engine vacuum.
   
   John

[pls01]

I checked out the Parts Bin boping to get a good deal on one for the Tiger, but unfortunately it's the wrong unit.  They show a footbox mounted unit with four studs and a push rod from the pedal.  The Lockheed remote unit has sort of a pilot cylinder instead of the push rod and it also has a bracket mounting arrangement.  It runs about $360 US.
   
   Peter

[Peter Hoskin]

Many thanks to all contributers, I am progressing a solution through a local brake specialist who has some old Girling and Lockheed units, and also an Australian make.
   
   Peter