1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Below is a tech article I've had on my personal site for many years now about adding the 1966-1972 park/emergency brake cable system to a 1960-1965 model truck.

The main compelling reason for this swap is because the parts for the stock system have gone missing or because a later model automatic transmission has been added, which lowers down the original mechanism for the park brake system. This is only an issue if it is in your way because you wish to really lower the vehicle, etc..

In my case, I had a later model automatic transmission and a whole lot of nothing as the entire brake system had been removed from the truck. It was explained to me by the tribal elders of old Chevy truck land that it would be simpler & easier to just use the later model system.

I don't know every single thing about this swap, or even all of the names for all of the parts... the biggest challenge for this project will be running down the parts list and getting those all assembled. The only other thing is, if you have trailing arms/coil spring, you *may* have to drill a hole in your trailing arm to mount the bracket for the cables going into the rear drums.

I thought I'd stick this one in here for posterity... or for at least until the zombie apocalypse arrives.

Enjoy.

If you get any useful information out of this thread, please give it a rating up top, under 'rate thread'.

Thanks.

If you have some information, tips, tricks or advice or photos to add, please do so! If you add photos, please upload them to the server under 'manage attachments' in the post window, so we don't have to worry about pesky links to images disappearing.

If you have issues with posting photos, see the Tips for Posting Pictures & Photos under the Photo Threads category in Section 2C of the 60-66 FAQ Index.

For other information about Brakes on our 60-66 trucks, visit the Brakes category in Section 2B of the 60-66 FAQ Index.

-W

p.s. the 1966 -1972 trucks used this style cable system. This system is adaptable to the older (1960-1965) trucks, which is usually desired when a later model transmission is swapped in... or other modifications are made to the truck, such as extreme lowering.

p.p.s. Those of you with the 1966 trucks... if you have photos of your layout, feel free to add your photos in here.

If any of you know the technical name and/or the slang/nickname of any of these parts, feel free to add those to the pile as well!



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NOTE:

If you want to use the original parking brake mechanism for the 1960-1965 trucks, you can lower it down. This is usually fine if you are not dropping your truck to lay frame.

See how JimZ did his, here on his on his 1965 C10 with a 4l80e/ls3.

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Pictures of the Emergency/Park brake cable system on a 1966 Chevrolet C10(half ton) - Model 1504 - Long Wheel Base Pickup.

There are two different sets of pictures here, of two different 1966 c10, long wheelbase trucks.

The set of photos below these two sets are park brake related as well.

The first set is of a long wheel base step side showing the cable routing underneath with the bed still on. The second set is of a long wheelbase fleet side, without a bed on it, so you can see the view from the top of the frame and how the cables are routed, with the various guides.

8 pictures - 1966 Chevy Stepside lwb emergency brake cable system routing

Emergency/Park brake cable system pictures of a 1966 Chevrolet C10(half ton) - Model 1504 - Long Wheel Base Stepside Pickup.

These pictures were taken by and are the property of tommegow of the 1960-1966 Chevy Trucks and Vans Forum at Chevytalk.com. He sent them to me to help me setup up this system on my '65 c10. I have since had them posted on my personal webpage.

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Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

-- last 3, end of first set of 8 photos --

Attachment 934027

Attachment 934028

Attachment 934029

-- last 3, end of first set of 8 photos --

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Emergency/Park brake cable system pictures of a 1966 Chevrolet C10(half ton) - Model 1504 - Long Wheel Base Pickup, with the bed removed.

These pictures were sent to me by someone... maybe from this forum... but I can't recall who, so, if it is you, let me know and I'll give you credit!

These photos were also in a tech article on my personal page.

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Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

-- last 3, end of second set of 8 photos --

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Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Emergency/Park brake cable system, cable routing and drums, photos, diagrams, etc..

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Attachment 934039

above:

This page is from a 1966 chevy truck shop manual supplement.

The diagram shows the routing of the cables underneath the truck.

If you want to know more about what manuals are available for the 1960-1966 trucks, read this article I wrote here.

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Attachment 934040

above:

Inside the rear brake drum, 1964ish and later...

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Attachment 934044

above:

This is the stock 1960-1965 mechanical, e-brake system. I do not know what the technical shop manual term for this assembly is. If you know what this thing is called, please let us know!

In this photo, it has been lowered to fit underneath a later model transmission.

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Attachment 934046

above:

This is a closer view of the diagram, showing the routing of the cables for the 1966 and later system. This is how it all goes together.

NOTE: As far as I know, the only difference between the short wheel base and the long wheel base is the length of the cable that goes in a big U shaped loop from wheel to wheel. In the parts vendors catalogs and things, this is referred to as the: intermediate brake cable . It will be listed with two different lengths, usually in inches.

If there are other differences, please let me know!

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Attachment 934047

above:

one of the hangers for the brake cable routing

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-W

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Attachment 934048

above:

rear trailing arm(coil springs), ebrake cable, going into the rear drum, mount.

NOTE: my '65 c10 with coil springs in the rear, did not have these brackets for the braided cable that feeds into the backing plate on the rear drums. I had to find them used and install. The original method for installing these brackets was to heat up rivets with a torch and bang them into place. I did not have a torch to do that(tho' I did buy some re-pop rivets), so I used a grade 8: bolt, nut and lock washer. I also had to drill the hole in the trailing arm as the only existing hole was way too close to the drums for the braided cable. This was my situation, you may not have the same issue.



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Attachment 934049

above:

another hanger for the brake cables...

NOTE: I'm not sure if this is year/model specific or not, but this is an example of the cable hanger/guides that are needed. The holes should already be in the frame. At least, I used existing holes on my '65 C10.

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Attachment 934050

above:

1960-1965, spring loaded ebrake assembly, in the stock location. This either has to be lowered or removed if using a later model transmission. If you are going really low, this will be in the way. Sell it to the restoration guys as I am pretty sure this assembly is not reproduced!!!

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Attachment 934051

above:

same unit/truck, different angle

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Attachment 934052

above:

Internal, rear brake drum, shows the e-brake pieces, specific to the rear.

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-W

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Attachment 934053


These are all of the pieces that go inside the rear brake drums.

This photo and the series of photos with the painted internal drum parts were taken by and are copyrighted by nufsed.

Thank you nufsed, you rock! :metal:

nufsed took a series of images showing how the pieces go back together inside the rear brake drums. Photos by nufsed / chevytalk Member # 46344

click on the link above to view the step by step process of re-assembly! This is a wonderful resource! Be sure to leave a 'thank you' in his comments section on the page there as he likes to read the comments. ;)

-W

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Attachment 934068

In this diagram, the 3 arrows are pointing at a guide rod/arm. This diagram is a scan from a 1966 Chevy Truck Shop manual. The arrows were added by me, to ask a question about the part in question... which is a metal rod that feed through a hole in the frame on the passenger side, underneath the cab. If you look under your truck, you should be able to see this hole. As far as I know, you will have to find this part used. NOTE: there is a further explanation of this part, down below in this thread.

There is a hole in the frame on the passenger side that this slides into. On the end is a metal piece that slips onto the end, kinda of a half moon shaped deal, that is slightly bent that the cable slide into.

The 'intermediate brake cable' (IE: the big U shaped loop) goes through this on it's way back to the cables, which then feed into the side rear drums.

So, there is the cable from the brake handle in the cab, which goes down to the 'intermediate brake cable'. The handle cable pulls or releases tension on that. The intermediate brake cable feeds to each cable on each drum, attaching and pulling/releasing tension on them.

-W

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Thanks for posting that! That is super helpful since I have a box of parts and nothing to go by on my '66! :metal:

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

WOW ,great wtite up and lots of pics to boot .That will be very useful even on the later model trucks as a general guideline. Thanks for all the hard work you did.

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

lol, thats why i bought another truck!

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Like a dummy I undid my setup and didnt take pictures or remember 6 months later how to put it back, I recently used some of these pictures on your web site to re install it ,very helpful.... thanks woogeroo

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Nice write up Woog! This is something I've been planning on doing to the '65. This helps big time...

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Excellent thread, thank you for posting this. This is one of my many to do's on my truck.

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Interesting!

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Thanks great information.
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Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Attachment 935057

This shows the rear cable on the trailing arm, to the left it goes and connects to that big loop cable, the 'intermediate brake cable' and to the right it goes in the the back of the driver side drum to attach to the park brake lever.

Attachment 935058

A shot showing the cable in the back of the rear drum.


-W

p.s. check out that still shiny spray paint on the bracket! fancy! :lol:

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Nice info Scott, just something else that I need to complete. I have to check to see if everything is available. I was setting up early in the build to use the 65 style so I got the cables with the casing one from the handle and two from the drums for a 65. I hope the 66 is the same PN's. Everything else I still have to get or make.

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

The article is now added to my new personal page...

1966 park brakes and later style layout

... my personal page there is now complete, until I add something else.

Follow the link to the 1960-1966 section in my signature line below, if interested.

-W

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Thanks for posting this, I am going to convert my '63 to the newer style soon. This will be very helpful.

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Pardon my ignorance here, but the item pointed at in this picture is another cable anchored to the frame? If so, where can I get this? I have looked at the regular sites for (what appears to me) the 'other' front brake cable. I can't find it. They usually just list one and I'm assuming that's the one from the braking brake lever to the intermediate cable.

I'm confused.

Thanks.

- Scott

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

anyone?

I was hoping to do this soon, but it seems I 'may' be missing that one part and I don't know where to find it. Suggestions/clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1338374808


In this diagram, the 3 arrows are pointing at a guide rod/arm.

There is a hole in the frame on the passenger side that this slides into. On the end is a metal piece that slips onto the end, kinda of a half moon shaped deal, that is slightly bent that the cable slide into.

The 'intermediate brake cable' (IE: the big U shaped loop) goes through this on it's way back to the cables, which then feed into the side rear drums.

So, there is the cable from the brake handle in the cab, which goes down to the 'intermediate brake cable'. The handle cable pulls or releases tension on that. The intermediate brake cable feeds to each cable on each drum, attaching and pulling/releasing tension on them.

-W

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You will have to source that rod/guide arm used. I am not sure what it is called by GM or the nickname by the used parts guys. As far as I know, it is not reproduced. If you had to you could probably make one out of some threaded rod.

It runs through the frame rail, under the passenger side, it looks like a really long bolt, with a washer on it with a threaded end. The threaded end has a bent half moon shape thing that the cable runs through. This piece slips on the threaded end and you use a bolt to keep it from coming off.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1338371883

The rod on the right in this photo is the part referred to in that diagram.

-W

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

Awesome reply Woogeroo!

This will certainly be helpful while I am assembling this as well as anyone else attempting to do this in the future.

I will be (hopefully) doing this work in the next few weeks, providing it stops being 100+ degrees.

Cheers,
Scott

Re: 1966 and later park brake system - layout with photos - no cross member
 

First, I would like to say thanks to you guys for taking to time to post such good info!

Now, I'm also trying to install the 66 style cables on a 63. I have not been able to find a 66 truck to look at in my area. Does this look like what I might need as far as hardware?

Thanks
Joel


http://www.andysautosport.com/chevro...k00206977.html