The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1953 (or 1954) 3/4 Ton AD Brake Line Template

Well, I'm to the point of completely redoing the entire brake system on my 1953 3/4 ton Chevy. For a number of reasons, I'm going to have one of the brake line companies (probably Inline Tube) make up new lines for me. Since the 1953 3/4 ton ADs are not a model they have existing plans for, I am going to send off my old lines to use as templates. However, during the original teardown, the right (passenger) side front brake line got bent out of shape.

Would anyone out there with a 53 or 54 3/4 ton be willing to make a template of that line for me? Or if you have an old line laying around? I'd certainly pay shipping, the cost of a piece of heavy duty copper or aluminum wire for the template, and a little something to cover your time.

Thanks in Advance

The lines should be the same as the 1/2 ton, except for the line from the m/c to the rear axle.

Jeff,
are you sure. I bought brake lines for my 50 3600 from American Classic

Fred and Dave,
Thanks for responding. Sorry, I should have been more specific. The brake lines in 53 (and 54) were different from earlier years. From 49-52 the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton were the same lengths and layout on the front. I believe that the 1/2 ton used 3/16" line and the 3/4 ton used 1/4". In 53 and 54, the layout of the lines was the same for 1/2 and 3/4, but the lengths were different. Based on my 1929-54 Master Parts Catalog, the layouts (of the front lines) looked sorta like this:

[img]http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chevy53/images/lines.gif[/img]

The lengths of the various lines shown were:

With that said, if anyone has a 53 or 54 (and probably 55.1) 3/4 ton, and could make me a template (or has an old line) of Br (right front), I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Can anyone help?

Thanks

I didn't realize GM had changed things so much with the 53. I'm trying to figure out why they made the 3/4 ton lines shorter than the 1/2 ton. Only thing I can think of is routing them the on the other side of the cross-member. Wish I could help on this one.
Any reason why you're not "rolling your own" lines? I'd get inline tube's stainless lines and fittings and bend them myself. It's not that difficult, but it is time consuming.

Yeah, I haven't seen a 53 1/2 ton, but I assume the length difference is due to a different path.

The main reason I'm not "rolling my own" is primarily a time issue. I'm already 5 or 6 years into a "3 year" off frame restoration Need to do whatever I can to speed the process up or I'll never be driving this baby again.

Jeff I have to agree with the others who suggest rolling your own. When I went dual master and disk brakes on mine there were no 'stock' lines available that would fit.

It took me an entire day, including a couple trips to buy fittings, and creating some of the brackets to support the line ends where the originals were no longer quite right.

But just one line shouldn't take more than a couple hours and you might spend weeks trying to get a template or sample of the correct line.

Thanks, guys, and you're probably right on bending my own. However, the one I'm looking for (right front) was basically bent completely out of any recognizable shape by the young men I had helping me tear the truck down. Certainly, since it's mostly a straight line, I could get one to fit, but for originality I was looking for a template.