The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1926 1 1/2 ton Brakes

OK, so now That the family '26 truck is mine: If the original motor is not up to snuff I can easily swap it out for a later 6 banger, but what about those big old mechanical brakes? I really don't want to dump the front and rear axle because then nothing is old anymore. Do these brakes work OK in light duty service? TerryJ

In good shape, adjusted properly, with good soft linings the brakes should be fine. If you go fast and haul lots of weight you may want something more.

Your 26 should have a 4 cylinder right?
Switching to a 6 could be a problem with space?

I have a 28 car, last year for the 4 cylinder. But there is already lots of engine room, and a deep fan shroud, as the 28 bodys were getting ready for the new 6 cylinder that was released in 29.

My 28 car is also supposed to be the first year for 4 wheel brakes. Did trucks already have or get front brakes before cars did?

Grigg

4 wheel brakes were added to the trucks mid year in 1928 the early model LO had rear brakes only The later model LP was 4 wheel. And I agree the 26 truck would not be suitable for a 6 cylinder unless maye it was a V6.

OH DANG .....I meant the old family '29 Truck is mine. I know better. Years ago I had a '27 4 banger truck. My '29 is a stovebolt 6, of course. In "the History of Chevrolet" (HP books- circa 1973) it says that that 6 had only 3 main bearings, 45 hp and 5:1 compression. The "stovebolts" (the squareheaded bolts) were used through 1933. In 1934 the "Blue Flame" head was first installed and the stovebolts were gone. The block was redesigned in 1937 to 4 mains. The nickname of the 6 was "the cast iron wonder" because it used cast iron pistons. Any other tid bits? Thanks for the info on brakes. TerryJ

The blue flame head was first introduced on the 1935 engines, the spark plugs angle in instead of the 33-34 straight in. All the six's up to the 216 cu.in. in 1937 had 3 main bearings. Stove bolts are the slotted round headed 1/4 -20 bolts that hold just about all the engine sheet metal and other components on the early Chevy's. All the four wheel mechanical brakes are better and safer (if the soft woven lining is used and brakes properly adjusted) than any of the hydraulic brakes up until the dual master cylinder power and air brakes were first used.