We are still asking: What did you get done on your Bolt today ????
The question, initially posted May 23, 2005, was:
"Whatcha do on your Bolt this weekend?"
After 51,906,997 views, 7378 replies over 185 pages, this thread in General Truck Talk is a happening! And it's not just weekends anymore.
Hi everyone, New to stovebolt, I just started restoring a 1950 Chevy carry all, it has a 350 with 4 speed. My dad drove it as his daily driver back in the mid to late 80's It's been in our family since it was purchased brand new. I'm changing the front end with a newer style. Getting rid of the huck brakes. My question is I'm looking to upgrade to power brakes but the description in the unit says it won't work with a manual tranny. It has a 4 speed truck tranny out of a mid sixty's truck. Was just wondering if it won't work with original trans but will with newer standard. Or what mods I need to do to make it work. Also it has the clam shell style back doors, I have a parts carry all with barn style. What style would be better..I really don't care about ease of loading - unloading. Thanks any info would be appreciated.
welcome to the site! I am not sure either style is necessarily "better" than the other. I had a Willys wagon with the tailgate (similar to the clamshell on the burb) and my 59 Suburban had barn doors. Each had benefits. Barn doors were way nicer for loading groceries, but the tailgate was nice to drop down and put a camp stove on or use as a table for whatever. On the Willys, the tailgate was rated for 500 pounds!
AS far as the brake kit, I am assuming it is one that goes on the frame where the stock master cylinder goes and it will hit some linkage. You might need to call the place and find out. Maybe you can just move it back a few inches?
Grease Monkey, Moderator General Truck Talk & Greasy Spoon
Just as a point of clarification “Carryall” is the GMC designation and “Suburban” is the Chevrolet designation of the same vehicle.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne 4dr 230 I-6 one owner (I’m #2) “Emily” ‘39 Dodge Businessmans Coupe “Clarence”
"I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Moderator - The Electrical Bay and Rocky Mountain Bolters
That sure looks like it is still real solid! And a family heirloom as well. Can't beat that. I'm sure you will get a plethora of ways to improve your truck, regardless of what you call it.
Grease Monkey, Moderator General Truck Talk & Greasy Spoon
Suburban is still the first word in the Chevy version but I stand semi-corrected!
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne 4dr 230 I-6 one owner (I’m #2) “Emily” ‘39 Dodge Businessmans Coupe “Clarence”
"I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
It seems like GMC used the same name a few years later (1937) , as a "Johnny-come-lately" ("a newcomer to or late starter at a particular place or sphere of activity").
Grease Monkey, Moderator General Truck Talk & Greasy Spoon
And we’re going to believe Wikipedia? My point Mr Curmudgeon is all my adult life GMC people have called their vehicles Carryalls and Chevrolet people have called theirs Suburbans. Which is formally correct and which is old wives tales, does it really matter? Mr Johnson has a nice Suburban and he should be proud of his project and he can call it whatever he wants.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne 4dr 230 I-6 one owner (I’m #2) “Emily” ‘39 Dodge Businessmans Coupe “Clarence”
"I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Grease Monkey, Moderator General Truck Talk & Greasy Spoon
Back to the OP’s questions. Careful positioning of the underfloor master cylinder and maybe a bit of fabrication on your part and you can make it work. Since you have already modified to a V8 why not just put a power brake unit on the firewall like the later trucks? I believe the clam shell doors might be a bit rare compared to barn door, plus you can “Tailgate” with the clam shells. JMO
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne 4dr 230 I-6 one owner (I’m #2) “Emily” ‘39 Dodge Businessmans Coupe “Clarence”
"I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
The master cylinder DOES NOT have to be in the factory location. It can be moved back to an open space and a longer push rod used or it can be remote mounted ANYWHERE. If moved back you will need a new hole in the floor for a filler plug or just fill from underneath with a mirror and douche ball. For remote mount the factory mc line runs to a slave cylinder which moves the rod to the booster/mc. The remote unit can be in the bed, trunk, cab, anywhere. Look at a 1957 T-Bird, it has the mc on the firewall and the booster/mc on the left side of the radiator.
I think they make those for older transmissions, too. I just installed one on a top loader. Plumb it to the left or to the right. As long as the bleeder is up!
Also it has the clam shell style back doors, I have a parts carry all with barn style. What style would be better.
I prefer the barn door style, mostly because I think they look better. They're easier loading also, especially since they can swing fully open.
That being said, the clamshell doors had lower production numbers, therefore are rarer and probably more valuable. Parts may be harder to find however. It's also a one-piece glass (no center divider) for better rear visibility.
