You should have the long rod from the lever to just in front of the two pulleys, it will look like ( E ) in the following picture.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/306.htm

Your two cables from each wheel will attach to the rod. This is where you adjust the brakes from. If the cables are stretched, you may run out of thread before they get tight. The lever doesn't have any adjustment, it's all done back by the pulleys. Be sure the brake shoes are adjust correctly to the drums, you should hear a very slight drag when rotating the tire.


1937 Chevrolet Inline-powered Streetrod