quote:Originally posted by goodroc:
The ones I have seen/heard are noisy. Maybe there are some newer ones that are more silent. A diesel engine does not provide any vacuum either so they solve that problem various ways. Some has a mechanical Pump run on a Cam and some off them uses an Alternator that has a build on Vacuum pump at the shaft opposite the pulley (and thats what I think is interesting). And some also have an electrical pump. There must be some US diesel cars which had an Alternator with Pump that could easy be made to fit the Pantera? Other individual Pumps are so compact and with a pulley that I would almost think they could be fitted (depending on your setup) on your v-belt from the water pump and at the same time act as a tensioner pulley. (just a thought)
Of course the simplest way is to hook up an electrical Pump ;-)
I worked with an Opel once that had this one:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Lichtma...&hash=item20e07cd775
You would have to relocate the alternator. The alternator in the Pantera is right up against the cylinder head and there is no room for the vacuum pump there.
If you are going to start changing master brake cylinders irregardless of whether or not they bolt up (which they probably will) you must know the bore diameter of what you have and what you are putting in.
Like Scott said, you are changing the feel of the brake pedal.
That is a balance between output pressure to the brakes and leg effort.
I doubt that you will be happy by going larger than 1".
Most cars are going to like somewhere between 3/4" bore and 1".
If you go over 1" you increase the effort but not necessarily the pressure.
Race cars do that to reduce the tendency of locking up the brakes with too sensitive a brake pedal.
In the Pantera be careful about giving the rear brakes too much bite. If you increase the braking in the rear you need to increase the front braking proportionally or else the rear will be locking up too early and the rear will come around on you.
There is a reason Detomaso has those small calipers engineered into the car, and that is the reason why.
Mid engine cars need to be balanced in a way where anyone can drive them safely. It isn't anything to play around with unless you have a lot of knowledge and experience on brake systems.
Your car with those beautiful big brakes can suddenly be a dangerous unsafe monster.
Best to go with a system already engineered and tested under extreme conditions to work well. Scott has already done a lot of work on making kits available for the Pantera.
Bigger rear pads with more braking torque are going to need an adjustable brake proportioning valve to dial out a percentage of the torque you just put in. You are also going to need about a days work on a private tarmac somewhere to get the adjustment right. You can not do that on a public street safely and if you try you likely will get arrested for unsafe driving and endangering the public.