More Brake Power

[dwinmac]

I have a 1987 Ford Ranger 2wd, standard transmission that originally had a 2.3L engine.

I replaced the internal combustion engine with an electric motor and the gas tank with 1400 lbs of deep cycle lead acid batteries. The state inspector took it for a drive with some sort of inertia measuring device and said it wasn't stopping quickly enough (.6 G's, expecting at least .7)

The electric motor conversion kit includes a vacuum pump to accommodate the brake vacuum booster. We have added a vacuum reservoir.

I've posted on other Forums and there have been suggestions about 2 piston caliper on front and 10 inche drums on back.

Has anyone out there actually done an upgrade to the larger 2 piston calipers from the newer (93-97) rangers on the equivalent of a 1987 Ranger with 2 wheel drive? Is there a kit available? Is there welding involved with the upgrade?

Same thing with upgrade to 10 inch drums on the back. Has anyone done this on the equivalent of a 1987 Ranger 2 wheel drive? Is there a kit available? What kind of processes are required. Is it a matter of unbolting the 9 inch and bolting back in the 10 inch or is hack sawing and welding involved or perhaps a whole new axle required?

 

[dangeranger01]

You could also put a master cylinder off of an F250 on it.

 

[Red FX4]

Before replacing a bunch of components, you might look into installing some good quality, high friction brake pads and shoes. It is considerably less expensive and easier to do. You might be surprised how much better you can stop with quality performance brake compound.

 

[IZwack]

Ouu pics of your electric Ranger?!?! That sounds very interesting.

As for the brakes: the first I would do is check is to see if there's any way to increase the vacuum pressure in the reservoir -- maybe its as simple as turning a screw to change pressure.

 

[dwinmac]

Relative to the vacuum booster, the vacuum pump that comes with the kit supposedly is capable of 24 inches of Hg max. I think we had it set somewhere in the mid teens. We are going to try increasing it to the max and see if that is enough. I'm not sure how we are going to tell if it is sufficient without one of the inertia meters that the RI inspectors used. We may have to take it back to the inspector to check it out.

We will try different pad material after the vacuum increase if that doesn't do it.

I am going to try to get some pictures up on a web site so that I can give you a link to go to . Unfortunately the truck is in Rhode Island with my brother right now and I am in the Syracuse, NY area. We haven't been doing too much with it during the winter. Most of the pictures I have now are from the installation phase before it was running. I should plan on getting back to RI and take some up to date pictures.