Dweed777

My car orginally was a I6. I am puting a 302 in it. Why do I need to change the brake lines and steering linkeage,tie rod ends etc..?

I am puting a new brake master cynlder and disc brakes in the front. Is that why I need to change the brake lines?

Coupe

Well, I would do it simply because they could be 45 years old?

Derf00

+1 if you're replacing a major componenet like a master cyclinder, just spend the extra cash and do the brakes right. Do you know when the lines have ever been replaced??

Most people don't replace their brake fluid every 2-3 years like they're supposed to and it absorbs water. That water rusts the brake tubes (or any other non stainless or non aluminum metal surface). That rust degrades your brakes performance and shortens the life of all of your other components.

andrewmp6

Its a old car you have to almost fully rebuild it over to make it safe to drive.Give this a reading http://www.mustangandfords.com/howto...ade/index.html

tx65coupe

I would do it for the reasons already mentioned. Besides the I6 steering linkage will not clear the V8 oil pan.

kalli

you might go for dual exhaust with the V8. the added pipe (driver side) will go straight past the original I6 brake line routing. You'll heat up the brake fluid and you can guess how the rest of the story goes. Therefore the brakelines in the back need re-routing
And ya. 45 year old brake lines are good enough reason to swap em

Norm Peterson

When you try to take things apart that have been connected for 40+ years, you find that they don't always come apart nicely and that they may not be re-usable just from what it takes to get them apart.

Quite separately from that is the possibility of the caliper ports using a different fitting, or that the port is in a different location that needs either a longer or shorter hose.


Norm

mr_velocity

Great point. I'm in the process of rebuilding mine and never took exhaust proximity to the brake line into account.

GT350R Klone

I am usually if it works, don't fix it, but this one is just not worth saving a few hundred dollars on. If you are switching brakes, master cylinders, spring for the prebent lines. Put it in the cost of doing a V8 conversion, which when you go to sell, you will recoup because you can show that you did it right.