Ok ya got my curiosity up Fred, so I got out the Chevy's of the 40's catalog and $6.00 for 2 of the original shoe hold down pin lock clips is ridiculous and an E-clip from them at $1.50 a pair is equally ridiculous. These are the prices for a set (2) clips. Each wheel requires 3 of the larger clips and 2 of the smaller ones. The way I add it up you need 6 pair of the original clips and 4 pair of the smaller E-clips for a complete 4 wheel brake job that comes to $42 just for the new clips from the vendor.
The E-clip may not have been in general use in the early fifties so even an absolute purist like me would not hesitate to replace the old style bent metal clip with a more up to date E-clip. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't work just as good, and in my opinion better than the original clips. McMaster Carr has the larger E-clips for less than eight bucks for 50 count, and the same cost for the smaller ones at 100 pieces. That’s .16c and .08c respectively. (anybody know the ascii code for cent??).
I’m finishing up my front brakes this weekend and the old clips look fine and are completely reusable, so I am reusing them. But I will mic the groves in the pins before finishing the last one and next order to McMaster I’ll order a box of each for the future.
Speaking of brakes, I had the lines off from the MC to the tee and from there forward and believe it or not, they cleaned up like new. Just caked with grease and mud, no rust on them anywhere. I flushed the insides with brake cleaner and pulled a heavy cotton string soaked with brake cleaner through them. Of course the rubber hoses are being replaced along with the shoes and WC’s being honed and rebuilt. The only problem I had was with one of the flare nuts on the line that crosses over in front of the engine. It was tight coming out and will not start going back in so I am placing that order to McMaster today for a 7/16-24 die to chase the thread with and I’ll throw in a couple of boxes of E-clip, just so I’ll have them next time this comes up.
Keep it on the Hard Road, tonight!!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
