78 Silverado with no power brake booster?

[Redneck Poet]

Greetings. I have a 78 Silverado I bought many years ago. Haven't driven it in a while but considering putting back on the road. It came factory with 350,AT, pwr windows but not door locks. Factory ac. The brakes were never really great on it and, for some reason, didn't have a power brake booster. I've had to replace the master cylinder a few times and considered adding a vacuum brake booster. Any idea why it didn't have the brake booster? Would it cause any problems if I added one? I'd also replace the master cylinder too since it's probably different.
Any advise would be appreciated!

 

[Snoots]

If you don't have a PB booster it likely a Hydroboost system that provides power braking from the PS pump.
Need pix.

 

[Redneck Poet]

No hydroboost. And there's no J brake code on the sticker. Most replacements specify JB5 or JB3 but my sticker doesn't show either.

 

[Turbo4whl]

Power brakes were always an option in the squares. The newest I had without power brakes was an 1981. I don't know about later years.

Many packages included power brakes, but basic C/K 10's did not have them. To upfit you need the bracket from the firewall to mount the booster. Best would be find a donner and get all the parts, bracket, longer pushrod, booster, master cylinder and hardware.

 

[bucket]

Do you have the small brake pedal, like a manual shifted truck would have?

Power brakes were not standard on a C10. Silverado was a trim level. Definitely a weird optioned truck if no power brakes.

 

[Redneck Poet]

Don't know if the brake pedal is smaller. I also thought it odd to have pwr windows, ac, tilt column, gauges but no power brakes or door locks.

 

[Redneck Poet]

Also oddly, it had twin tanks but not from the factory. The driver's side tank was a square, home made one. The switch to route from one tank to the other is a manual valve installed in the floor under the seat. The fuel gauge has a toggle switch mounted on the lower dash to choose which tank. The driver's side filler neck stuck out through a round hole in the bedside with no grommet or rubber. It didn't rub but I never liked it. I seem to recall researching it and found a company in California that would modify them in this way. I found a correct twin tank short bed and installed it along with a correct style tank. Sold the square tank for $100!

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Vbb199]

Welcome.

My 79 c10 custom deluxe has manual brakes (no booster) and manual steering

Not a surprise. A higher trim level might would have power brakes

 

[Redneck Poet]

Thanks for the welcomes. I’ve lurked around the forum for years because it is the go-to place for the best info and help from very knowledgeable folks! I’m 66 years old and have owned a couple square bodys. I never thought they’d get as popular as they are now, though!