I have to agree with kerry.
brakes are going to be very hard to push if it's vacuum.
if the pedal goes to the floor, then you have air in your master cylinder or you have no fluid in the front reservoir. make sure you have fluid in BOTH parts of your brake reservoir.
I have seen vacuum problems make the stop lever not work. but I'll bet the car had idle issues, and the P.O. adjusted the idle up so far that the stop lever can't work.
have fun now. and take pictures.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!