47-55.1 What is this?

[No Handle Sam]

I just picked up a 54 that is in decent shape and one of the first things that I noticed on it was this odd looking "arm" that is attached to the side of the steering column. I have never seen this before and I have no idea what it does. Any thoughts?

[MARTINSR]

WTH?

Brian

[cmayna]

Warner overdrive?

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by cmayna

Warner overdrive?

I was thinking that but what the heck would "WARNLN" mean?

Brian

[mongocanfly]

Where does it go after it goes thru firewall? Maybe something homemade...
Looking closely you can see where it looks like the rod overlaps and is welded together...(1)
Is this piece attached to it?... (2)

[mr48chev]

I'm thinking that it is a hand actuator for the clutch or brake that has part of the linkage removed.

Looking at it it might work as a "hill holder" for the brake pedal.

[_Ogre]

^^^ my 1st thought was an early brake lock, hill holder makes more sense
for someone with small feet, never had a problem feathering the gas & brake with my 14WWWW stompers

[mongocanfly]

( 14WWWW stompers) Dang Ogre...!!!....I thought mine was big

[mr48chev]

Saving the photo and expanding it it looks like you push the lever down to hold the brake pedal, Probably pretty handy in the Geogia hill county if you don't have 14WWWW boots to work two pedals at one time.

The guys from Seattle and San Francisco will say that they could have used one there too but a line lock will do the same thing.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Saving the photo and expanding it it looks like you push the lever down to hold the brake pedal, Probably pretty handy in the Geogia hill county if you don't have 14WWWW boots to work two pedals at one time.

The guys from Seattle and San Francisco will say that they could have used one there too but a line lock will do the same thing.

I think you are right.

the column says the truck is a hydramatic, which didnt have a parking pawl and didnt have a hill holding function like later hydramatics and modern transmissions. to enter "park" you have to shut the engine off in gear, usually reverse, and even that wouldnt hold on a steep hill because it used engine compression (a hydramatic can be pull started!)

so its a hill hold/park brake, probably easier to use in traffic than the real parking brake especially if it has some kind of linkage to release it automatically, which it looks like it does.

[PDW HOTRODS]

Could be hand control for disabled person. I new a guy that broke his back and lost use of legs. He had hand a control put in his 59 Chevy truck with 454 and he drove it hard.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

( 14WWWW stompers) Dang Ogre...!!!....I thought mine was big

ogre can do one footed brake torque burnouts

[MARTINSR]

Ok Sam, you going to let us know what this thing is?

Brian

[1project2many]

never had a problem feathering the gas & brake with my 14WWWW stompers

Wow! I have to use the tips of my boots to keep my size 13's from not slamming brake with clutch in smaller cars. I can't get in and out of many sportscars without banging my feet off of doors and interior parts like a cueball. And for anyone who doesn't know, after size 13 shoes cost more than a set of tires.

[No Handle Sam]

Some interesting guesses out there that is for sure. I have know idea what the thing is. But I can tell you that the "arm" moves up and down (it is spring loaded to stay in what I'm calling the up position) and it looks like it move some type of rheostat? There are a couple of wires that come out of the back side of the "rheostat housing" one of which goes to what I thought was the heater switch? Here are some additional pictures that might give someone a clue.

[joedoh]

I change my answer.

its a very old trailer brake controller.

do a search for "vintage trailer brake controller warner"


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-War...-/273127947730

[MARTINSR]

A trailer brake?

Brian

[mongocanfly]

And there ya go....brake controller....never seen one of them

[No Handle Sam]

Really... Go figure? It sure looks like the one in the link that was posted. But silly question... why would it be wired to the heater switch? (or is that not a heater switch?)

[mongocanfly]

Reckon somebody used it as a on/off switch?

[_Ogre]

definite wall hanger for sure

if you haven't bought a new wiring harness yet... you should
that wiring looks very scary

[mr48chev]

JoeDoh for the win, My guess is that it is wired to the hot side of the heater switch as a simple source of power and not though the heater switch.

I'd check it out to see if it still works and then carefully remove it as some vintage trailer guy with a similar truck might think it is the hot ticket especially if his truck is still six volt. That might be worth bragging rights around the camp ground.

[No Handle Sam]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

definite wall hanger for sure

if you haven't bought a new wiring harness yet... you should
that wiring looks very scary

It is indeed. But I'm letting this one go to a new home as is. Our 48 restro mod is almost done and we don't have room for both of them. Happy wife, Happy life.