The car ('64 Tempest) stops like crazy, mine are manual (no power booster).
Of couse before the conversion it had drum brakes up front. But I can compare it to my '64 GTO which has 11" front discs from a '69 GP and big 11" Ford drums out back (has a Ford 9" rear end), also manual brakes.
The Tempest definitely stops better, even with the 9-1/2" stock rear drums.