Faith said exactly what I was going to say.......I have never had anything but manual drum brake setups, always using pretty much the same '40 Ford front, and whatever came with the rear I was using (generally 8 or 9 inch ford) and my cars stop on a dime and straight . But it takes a good amount of time to get them there, adjusting, testing, readjusting, testing, etc. Some people say these old time components are lousy, I feel just the opposite.

We also complicate things when we build these cars by using a master cylinder from one car, front brakes from another, rear from still another, etc.

With a little work, and maybe substituting some components, like the master cylinder, or residual valves, you will come up with very good brakes.......but like Faith said, never like power brakes, they are two different animals altogether.

By the way, I have used Silcone Dot 5 brake fluid for the past 20 years, and will never use anything else. I get no corrosion in the system, and don't have to worry about my paint getting eaten away. I know lots of people poo poo silicone, but that has not been my experience.

Don