It has been quite some time but last year I had posted about looking at a few C60s. I did end up getting one last fall, a 1966 C60H with air brakes. It was a non runner and has taken a great deal of work over the last year and still has a ways to go. I will have to get some pictures up.
I know most air brake parts are pretty generic, and I have already replaced the compressor, the quick release relay valve for the rear brakes, the rear brake linings, and new diaphragms in the DD3 brake chambers, as well as a few hoses here and there.
I have taken the truck on the road for a very brief trip (no tags yet) and have noticed the tank under the driver's side is leaking. I dropped both tanks this evening and I am having a hard time tracking down replacements. The passenger side tank is a dual chamber tank and is larger than the drivers tank. My shop manual says the passenger side is the emergency and wet tank and the drivers side is the dry tank.
Do I have any hope of matching up tanks to replace? Or do I just need to plan to redo some plumbing and use something more available? Would you guys go back with copper lines or plastic?
Hy vdb11, welcome back, there is always hope. If you can find an appropriate size tank you can replace your leaking one. They make new push together fittings for the plastic line, they make installation and changes pretty easy, good luck with your project.
Air tanks are air tanks. If it has two drains it is a dual chamber tank. Just one drain means it is a single chamber. The wet tank is the one the compressor pumps into and collects most of the moisture and needs to be drained every day. The secondary tank is supposed to be dry, but it will get a little moisture. The emergency tank the tank that supplies the brakes and should be isolated from the other side by a check valve. If you park the truck and hear a squeaking sound, it is the check valve bleeding into the other tank. If you go to a salvage yard just find tanks reasonably close to fitting they will work. If you can find aluminum ones that will eliminate rust. I bought my first truck with air brakes in 1964. Synflex nylon lines are the only way to go. Back when copper was all we had I was constantly replacing or brazing split or rubbed lines. And by all means use the push to connect fittings. That is all OEM has been using for about 30 years. I still have drawers full of compression nuts, sleeves, compression sleeves and compression seats that I hope I never use. And compression fittings for copper and Synflex are different.
Hey guys thanks for the advice! I didn't think about checking out a salvage yard for air tanks, but that is a good idea. I was hesitant on the nylon lines since they weren't "original" but I figured they were superior since everyone uses them now. crenwelge, I see you are in Texas but have you heard of anyone having issues with nylon lines in cold climates? The truck is in NC now but eventually I will be moving back up north.
Also, if I am redoing all my lines, what sort of lines should I use to the brake chambers since they need to flex? Will run of the mill hydraulic lines work?
Are there any particular trucks I should be looking for that would have aluminum tanks? I'm also considering adding a dryer after the compressor.
Thanks again! I have attached two pictures of the day I got it home over a year ago. Looks the same now, except I have converted it to 22.5" tubeless tires.
Hy vdb11, the "nylon" air lines are in use all over the world and there are no problems in cold climates that I'm aware of. There are rubber line assemblies available in different lengths for applications where a lot of flexing is involved, such as from the frame to the brake chambers, any truck parts place that supplies air brake components should be able to fix you up with them, hope that helps.
Your truck will be equipped with 1/4" pipe thread fittings which became obsolete in 1975 with FMVS121. 3/8 pipe thread has been the standard of the industry since 1975. I would replace all 4 air chambers. If you don't have spring brakes on the drive axle, I would add them. Heavy trucks had spring brakes by 1966, but I don't know about Chev. We use either Haldex or MGM spring brakes and chambers. There are some really bad unbranded ones out there. For hose we use Velvac, Sloan and Meritor air brake hoses. I buy quite a bit of stuff from these guys. Their descriptions are not very good, but you can go to the manufacturers web site.
I find places like NAPA prices outrageous. I operate a fleet for a profit. I'm not so sure I would turn a profit if I bought parts from local auto parts.
vdb11 Another thing install some blowdown petcocks to let the water off in cold weather.my trucker neighbor would blow those down every night. He really knew how to truck.also put in alcohol when really cold !
