I recently picked up this truck as a project. It currently runs and kinda drives. The parking brake works flawlessly! The rest of the brakes not so much. So I will need to tackle that job in the near future.
This truck has been off the road for 24 years and has only traveled 9k miles in the last 30 years.
This truck is equipped with a 327, mated to an SM465 which turns an H110 rear axle. I had never heard of hydro vac brakes before a couple weeks ago and so I’ve been learning little bits here and there. The hydrovac booster under the passenger side of the cab appears to be in great shape, I’m wondering if the brakes were serviced in the early 90s, because the booster and the brake lines look to be in excellent condition. There are also signs that the rear axle has been opened up at some point(red silicone gasket sticking out).
I want to put this truck back on the road. It needs a full tune up on everything Needs the gas tank cleaned Needs the brakes fixed Needs shocks And much more!!!
Let me know what you guys think.
Are wheel cylinders and brake shoes for this axle/hub setup really unobtainable?
Why does my SPID sheet say I have a 133” wheelbase but I actually have a 157” wheelbase?
Hey T. Can you rotate your images that are sideways? If you need with that, just holler.
~ Peggy M 1949 Chevrolet 3804 "Charlie" - The Stovebolt Flagship In the Gallery "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." -- Winston Churchill
Model CE-31403 is a Cab Chassis with 157" wb per my books, maybe someone typing got the wheel base wrong at the assembly plant (133 would be the more common wb to type in)???
As for brakes, I bet you can get everything you need from your local NAPA and since it's been off road for so long, I'd replace the entire system. Steel and flex lines, master cylinder and wheel cylinders. The lines fail from the inside out, so they may look good but be a mess on the inside
You can check the Hydrovac to see if it's still working. On your first start up of the day, put medium leg pressure on the brake pedal and start the engine. You should feel the pedal fade a little as the Hydrovac gets vacuum, if so it's working. Post a picture so we know which Hydrovac you have...the old style need about 1oz of sewing machine oil once a year to keep the leather seal soft and flexible.
Mike B
Last edited by Mike B; 10/15/202211:02 PM. Reason: spelling
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
Model CE-31403 is a Cab Chassis with 157" wb per my books, maybe someone typing got the wheel base wrong at the assembly plant (133 would be the more common wb to type in)???
As for brakes, I bet you can get everything you need from your local NAPA and since it's been off road for so long, I'd replace the entire system. Steel and flex lines, master cylinder and wheel cylinders. The lines fail from the inside out, so they may look good but be a mess on the inside
You can check the Hydrovac to see if it's still working. On your first start up of the day, put medium leg pressure on the brake pedal and start the engine. You should feel the pedal fade a little as the Hydrovac gets vacuum, if so it's working. Post a picture so we know which Hydrovac you have...the old style need about 1oz of sewing machine oil once a year to keep the leather seal soft and flexible.
Mike B
Thank you very much for this information! Very interesting about the wheelbase discrepancy!
I will be asking my local Napa about brakes on Monday!
Thanks for the tip on checking the hydrovac function! I will test that out shortly, I assume I will need to properly bleed the brakes first for that to work. I will try to bleed them tomorrow.
Thanks for the feedback! I fully appreciate any info anyone us on this truck.
~ Peggy M 1949 Chevrolet 3804 "Charlie" - The Stovebolt Flagship In the Gallery "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." -- Winston Churchill
Nice looking truck. One question--it does look like a C-30, but I always thought a C-30 was a 1 Ton. Am I missing something here, or has this truck maybe been modified some?
Nice looking truck. One question--it does look like a C-30, but I always thought a C-30 was a 1 Ton. Am I missing something here, or has this truck maybe been modified some?
Thanks. From what I understand it is a 1 ton with a 2 ton rear axle with accompanying front hub and brake stystem, sort of making it a 1.5 ton truck. I believe this was a factory option from 1946-1968 on the cab and chassis 157” wheelbase trucks.
look on the bottom of you post for the edit link and click on it, click on the picture you want to edit, then click on the rotate button on the top bar.
Last edited by Phak1; 10/16/20221:04 PM.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum