The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1951 chevy 1.5 ton Brakes

I saw a couple of important things in your intended usage. No swap to a bigger motor, and pulling a trailer with a bobcat on it. Thanks for clarifying your plans. I've answered questions enough times about how to fix or modify the stock parts only to get a reply along the lines of 'oh, this is going to be a rat rod...'

A rat rod dump truck would not be very practical whether it was cool or not. The only way I can think of to lower the dump box would require tubbing the dump. You would lower your load capacity and might adversely impact dumping. Interesting to think about, but again, not very practical.

If you stay with a stock motor you aren't going to move very fast. That would suggest stock brakes are good enough. But pulling the trailer with the bobcat argues the other way--you want the brakes good enough to stop that loaded trailer when some kid on a bicycle darts in front of you.

So my two cents is spend the bucks to make the stock brakes as good as they can be including replacing all the brake lines. Also consider either adding the hydravac unit or a power boosted dual master.

With a load of dirt or rock in the dump and the bobcat behind you aren't going to move very fast. But you'll sure want to be able to choose where it stops.