85 fiero se with brake conversion question

[alex85fiero]

Hey guys,
So I posted a while back about my 85 fiero that needed help to get running and get back on the road because it had been sitting for years.  Well I decided to quit farting around with my friends that were taking their time and went to another buddies who actually worked at a very reliable shop.  Well its running now but it needs a radiator which I found on fierostore.com, which I will be purchasing soon.  But my main question was the brakes, I saw this vented brake conversion kit which was 419 total with the core price included in that.  And I wanted to know if I needed to change the master cylinder to the bigger one offered on fierostore.com, my buddy didnt say anything other than he might recommend me doing it because of the vented calipers and rotors.  He's a great mechanic I just dont know if he forgot to say something about it or if its not really necessary and if you guys could help that'd be great, thanks!

[Fierofool]

Before springing for the big bucks at The Fiero Store, check with Ashby at adfieros@aol.com or Don at aerodonamic@att.net  They are our resident mechanics and both carry a good supply of used parts.  Sims Radiator might also save you some money.  They're local to Georgia. 

I believe Don and Ashby have both done brake conversions using Fiero Store and other kits.  Much of what I've heard and read is that you can stay with the stock master cylinder and booster.  The changeout to larger brakes isn't needed for normal driving, and unless you're planning to put it onto the track, may not be needed for anything you'll encounter on public roads.  Even with the workout we give the brakes on Run For The Hills, most of us are running the stock brake system without problem.  I will qualify that statement with the addendum that vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions do stand a chance of overheating the brakes more so than the manual equipped vehicles.

[TopNotch]

I have the "vented brake" conversion on my 86 SE. This kit consists of 88 Grand Am front rotors and callipers, and the original front rotor machined down to make it a hub, over which the Grand Am rotor fits. You can collect the parts and machine the hubs and save quite a bit, but the Fiero Store kit is very convenient.
You may find that your stock master is not adequate if you put on this kit and do nothing to the rear. The stock rear callipers are responsible for most of the pedal travel on a stock brake system, and with the bigger pistons on the Grand Am callipers, your pedal travel may be too much. On my car, I have 85 Cadillac Seville calipers and Grand Am front rotors on the rear. This gives me a working parking brake, and the Seville callipers don't "eat" so much pedal travel, so the system works well with the stock master.