Saturday I focused on installing the parking brake in the cab. I had bought a universal Lokar underdash hand brake and I knew that “universal” is a code word for “some fabrication required”. The unit looked to be built nicely but the design posed a few problems. The unit fit good between the under dash and firewall but with separate bolts to hold the bracket to the firewall then that meant a two person install or I needed 10 ft long arms to reach from the engine side of the firewall to the cab side of the firewall. Neither option was available at the time so I decided to weld studs on the parking brake bracket so it would be a one-sided installation.
With the firewall drilled and the unit mounted then I had to figure out the dash end mounting. The two brackets that were provided did not fit inside of the u-channel that runs under the backside of the dash so I removed those brackets and had to fab two new brackets that fit the dash better. I was able to utilize an existing open hole on one bracket but I needed to drill a new hole under the dash for the other one.
The unit seems to be very sturdy and next I have top figure out the routing of the cables to the metric GM calipers on the rear differential. I ordered some cables the other day so hopefully they come in before my Xmas break ends so I can get them installed.
1949 Chevy Panel Truck A Project Journal I'm old but I make up for it by being immature.
