Angled Astrovan Hydroboost install questions

[chico68]

I made a trip to the pick and pull and found myself an Astrovan Hydroboost unit. The only problem is that it is a later year and has the angled bracket. Do you just take off the astrovan angled bracket and fab up your own flat bracket? I don't even own a wrench big enough to take that large retaining nut off and I dont want to damage it with a pipe wrench. I guess thats a good excuse to add to my toolbox though!

Any suggestions/pics of that type of install would be very helpful.

 

[ransil]

best option is to get the correct booster. you want an earlier year 92-96 maybe
one of the vendors on here sell a big wrench to remove the nut.

I read it wrong at first I thought you were going to use it with the angle bracket as posted below in the ebay link.

 

[broncobsession]

I think lomofocomo or something like that has a kit.

 

[kaw550]

I thought you could use the angled bracket, no?

I have the flat bracket and had to shim it away from the valve covers.

 

[greatguy57078]

I thought the angled bracket was what you wanted for the clearance issue? Yes? No?

 

[markperry]

Try this!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/early-bronc...hash=item1c2397b2f5&item=120856228597&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/early-bronc...-77-/120834971402?vxp=mtr&hash=item1c2253570a

 

[Madgyver]

I thought the angled bracket was what you wanted for the clearance issue?

The answer is yes... Well in my case it is..

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60141&highlight=astro+hydroboost

 

[chico68]

Madgyver,

What did you use to loosen the large retaining nu to index the unit?

 

[thegreatjustino]

Madgyver,

What did you use to loosen the large retaining nu to index the unit?

I've used a pipe wrench several times to remove the large nut. If you are careful and torque with steady pressure, you'll get it off without any damage.

 

[fstik]

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of Mad's angle bracket install... His thread that shows how he modified his pedal linkages to work at that angle. From what I remember, you have to ensure that the pushrod presses into the hydroboost in a straight line, not at an angle. My hydroboost had the angle bracket, I just removed the bracket and made an aluminum plate for the firewall and attached the hydroboost to it with the original nut thingy. Was able to adjust for the pushrod lenght as well, so I didn't have to modify that. Workin' like a champ for 5+ years.

fstik

 

[chico68]

Not to take away from Mads ingenuity but I just want to remove the astro angle bracket and fab up my own Flat bracket. I appreciate all the replies. I am going to remove all the studs from the astro bracket and add a tad bit of heat to the retaining nut before I use a Big A$$ adjustable wrench or pipe wrench to remove the nut and remove the angled plate.

Any body have any CAD drawings of a custom mounting plate? I will probably try to design one with it clocked 90 degrees so the hoses are coming out of the bottom.

 

[fstik]

I don't know if I would add any heat to the hydroboost unit. I think I ended up putting the hydroboost nut in a vice and slowly turned the housing until it was loose enough to remove with vice grips. Wasn't too tough to do. I made a plate out of aluminum and just drilled holes that were used with the stock vacuum booster bracket, with one bigger hole for the hydroboost and pushrod where it went throuh the firewall. Make a template out of cardboard to get your holes to line up.

fstik

 

[Madgyver]

I used a 14" ridged pipe wrench with a cheater handle and a big vise to hold the unit in place. I had a few that were stubborn as hell to loosen up.