Switching ABS to Conventional.

[scbird1]

Well im takeing the plunge and ripping that sucker out today. I figure buy the time I rebuild the motor and get a new accumulater another 180.00 down the drain. I will be well under that with all new stuff with never having to worry about the ABS light again. With the air gone on the other side I might be able to change all the plugs in a jiffy.

 

[jvo]

I've been driving mine converted for a couple years now, and have had absolutely no problems whatsoever. Brakes work fine. John V.O.

 

[scbird1]

Ran into a problem with the booster. I pulled one out of a low line 89 to find only 3 bolts hold it in. so I went looking for a 90 and found one that was missing. It also had 3 hole insted of the 4 I needed. found a 92 pulled it out and same bolt pattern 3 and will not fit. I found a 90 sc with the master gone so I had something to match it up with and only 2 bolt holes will fit but still will not line up with the inner peddle. Found a master cyl. for a 93 crown vic and that will be no problem. I can drill new holes for the booster but its line up is still off. Do I need to change out the peddle and bracket.
I have a 5 speed. Was yours a auto John? Here are some pic`s. Plugs on that side will be a breeze now.

 

[Dslsmoke]

Bolt Holes!!!!!!!

Ran into a problem with the booster. I pulled one out of a low line 89 to find only 3 bolts hold it in. so I went looking for a 90 and found one that was missing. It also had 3 hole insted of the 4 I needed. found a 92 pulled it out and same bolt pattern 3 and will not fit. I found a 90 sc with the master gone so I had something to match it up with and only 2 bolt holes will fit but still will not line up with the inner peddle. Found a master cyl. for a 93 crown vic and that will be no problem. I can drill new holes for the booster but its line up is still off. Do I need to change out the peddle and bracket.
I have a 5 speed. Was yours a auto John? Here are some pic`s. Plugs on that side will be a breeze now.

There is a blind hole on the firewall of your bird, look closely and you will see it, it is plugged up with a black rubber plug, by removing this plug you'll have the right pattern that fits the booster just right, on the inside however, that hole will be covered by the carpeting and it is a little difficult to find, IT IS There!, you don't need to drill any more holes.


Good Luck!

Dslsmoke

 

[scbird1]

Really, check this out. Notice that blind hole, it fits fine and keeps the master level but the top hole is about a inch off. This car is a 92. I tested the booster on a 90 sc in the junk yard and it fit the same just as all the other boosters from differnt years. I know my firewall is the same as the 90 so what gives? What year was your booster from?

 

[Dslsmoke]

Holes

Really, check this out. Notice that blind hole, it fits fine and keeps the master level but the top hole is about a inch off. This car is a 92. I tested the booster on a 90 sc in the junk yard and it fit the same just as all the other boosters from differnt years. I know my firewall is the same as the 90 so what gives? What year was your booster from?

Ok; Here is what i found while at the junk yard, I looked at several T'birds and noticed that there were two different looking boosters on them, look at the vacuum fitting placement on the booster, the one I used has the fitting on the driver side of the MC (left side).
The others, I noticed had the fitting on the passenger side of the MC (right side) and thus a slightly different bolt pattern.

Which one do you have?

That might be the reason for the mismatch!!!!!!


PS. I have a '90 SC and the booster come from a '90 lowline 'bird.


I just looked at the pictures you posted where the boosters are side by side, ( look closely at the bolt pattern, they match, using the blind hole) and the last picture with the arrow on it, it seems to me you have the booster upside down, try rotating the booster!!!!!!


Hope this helps!

Dslsmoke

 

[scbird1]

Tried it both ways. Not one hole matches on a 180% plus it puts the master on a angle. Come to think of it I think the vac outlet is on the passanger side.
I will check it out and get back.

 

[jvo]

Mine was, and still is, a 5-speed car. I can't remember what year T-bird I got my booster from, it was a couple years ago. The car was green, if that helps. (just joking) The hole was hidden for the other bolt, exactly like Dlsmoke says. He obviously got the same booster as me. Ask the auto wreckers to look up the part numbers for a 1989, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, etc. to see which years changed. That's what I would do. Perhaps 1 year used 2 different boosters, maybe there's 3 or more. Who knows. I probably just got lucky in that mine happened to fit on the first one I tried. John V.O.

 

[Super XR7]

I am in the process of changing over my ABS system to the conventional system that JVO completed. I bought a 89 Thunderbird booster and it fit into a three hole pattern in my 89 Cougar, though the removed ABS system had a four bolt mount. Note that the vacuum line ends up on the drivers side of the booster.
http://www.sccoa.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12718

Mike Tuck

 

[scbird1]

Got it figured out. I took 2 off and mixed em up but the one looked better and they were both 3 bolt so I thought they were the same but it was from a 93 Went back today and found the other one I removed fit to a tee. Just so you guys know they changed in 93 so from 89-92 will work but make sure the vac imput is on the drivers side. Here I thought the booster was the easy part DOH. The rest will be easy with the master cylinder hook up. I can`t beleve the room I have now on that side. I will take some pic`s as I go along.

 

[Dslsmoke]

Yeah!!!

Good news, congrats.



Dslsmoke

 

[scbird1]

Here is what most of it looks like. One thing though, make sure you get the right kind of block connections. My first donner T block had reverse fittings.
If it wasnt for bad luck I would have no luck at all Tell you what tyhat old ABS must have been 40lbs. The new stuff must be about 3lbs and look at the spark plugs. Yes you can see them on that side

 

[sizemoremk]

Hey guys!

I'm getting ready to go ahead and get this conversion done, so I want to make sure I have my notes straight.

Form the earlier posts, I think this is what want:

93 Crown Vic (not police interceptor) master cylinder

Brake junction block from 93 Crown Vic

Booster from 89 SC (with vac input on drivers side)

Plumb the vac line between the TB and supercharger...

Thank you!!!

 

[darriantbird]

about too do conversion

Picked up a 92 t-bird booster for $20 ...looks almost brand new and a master cylinder from a 92 crown vic.....That was the hard part to find..... 4 junk yards before I found a good one ... Another $20 bucks......btw does anyone want my old abs brake system ..just has a burnt out pressure switch... super CHEAP!!!....switch from what I gather is over 100 clams and so far only 40 bucks into conversion with about 15 bucks to go I estimate with the small amount of brake lines and brake fluid I'll need .Thanks for the post JVO!!!! you have made this very simple to do!!!

 

[darriantbird]

Holy CRAP!!!!!

How did you guys get the holes in between the inner and outer firewall to stay lined up? This is a major pain in the A$$!!

 

[Fastcat]

when you bleed the brakes after the conversion do you do it the conventional way (1man brake bleeder) or do I need to bleed them as if I still had ABS?

 

[darriantbird]

when you bleed the brakes after the conversion do you do it the conventional way (1man brake bleeder) or do I need to bleed them as if I still had ABS?

I would say regular brakes = regular bleeding process.

 

[darriantbird]

I got it!

Boy that was a pain,but power booster in.......finally! all down hill from here gents!

 

[Jeremy_K]

This thread just pisses me off! (kidding) I just burnt my ABS motor a couple weeks ago and swapped the whole system out from a junkyard SC. If I woulda known about this I would've gotten the parts and done the non ABS conversion. Dammit,dammit,dammit...

 

[sizemoremk]

Boy that was a pain,but power booster in.......finally! all down hill from here gents!

How's it working?????