The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 1 ton parking brake - help

I am putting back together a 1949 one ton truck (flat bed with hydraulic lift bed). I believe that at one time, the truck had the SM420 transmission mounted parking brake unit.

Is it possible to add the standard parking brake and lever mounted to the left side lower dash - if I cannot find one of those transmission brake/drum assemblies? I am putting back an SM420 with 4.11 rear diff and 261 Chevy into this truck.

Other ideas for a parking brake?

thanks.
tom

The transmission mounted brake is very reliable and should be easy to find, whole transmissions with brake sell for what, about $75?

The foot lever and stuff on the drivers side floor may not bolt into your cab if the cab never had that before. I do not recall which years or models were setup for the left floor mounted brake lever.
Along with that you'd need the cross shaft behind the cab, brake cable brackets riveted to the frame up close to the front end of the rear leaf springs. Plus all the stuff in the rear brake drums and the correct backing plates to use cable parking brake.

So, if you already have the left side brake lever, all the linkage and stuff in the drums then sure use it.
If you are searching for a parking brake and have nothing now then transmission mounted is the way to go, simple and cheap.

Grigg

ok. Yep, I don't have a transmission brake. Will need to find one. I appreciate the input. tom

FYI my 48 1T with hydraulic bed has the center mounted E brake handle that cable connects to the rear brake drums, NOT to the back of the trans output shaft.

My 51 1 Ton has the same thing, brake handle mounted on the transmission activating cables in the rear brakes. Of course there is the intermediate crossbar.

Same is true on my '49 GMC FC250 (1 ton , dual rear wheels).

Man oh man would I love to see some photos of the cable set up with the brake lever mounted to the transmission. I can then try to locate those parts and assemble on to the truck. It may be cheaper than the drum mounted brake on the 4 speed.

Thanks for the replies.

tom

The rod or crossbar is linked to the handle by a rod. The crossbar has a lever attached to each end, outside the frame and the brake cables are attached to them. I am thinking this setup is in the assembly manual.

So, section 5 sheet 3.05 shows the assembly on the side of the transmission. Section 5 sheet 4.00 shows the cross shaft to cable connection at the side.

My 53 3800 Dually has the left side pedal and release lever under the dash with the crossbar behind the cab and(seized)cables to the wheels.

Larry W.

Tom,

My dad's 1951 1 ton Chevy Suburban had the hand brake to the right of the four speed shifter and it had the cross bar and cables, it is all stock. If you want to look at it for reference I'm in Woodstock VT. 802 291-1263

All - thanks for the replies. Wyrbrush: a road trip in the future sounds good. Thanks. Tom