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I am planning on swapping a 80's Blazer rear axle into my 52. Have everything figured out except the parking brake cables. Can't use the old cables as the backing plates are different.

The new cables that are on the Blazer axle are too long and do not have the threaded ends on them like the old style.

Anyone have any suggestions? I know this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find anything in the archives.

This is what I did 8 years ago when I put an 80 Blazer axle in my 51 crude,but has worked with no problems. I cut off the cable ends,pulled the cable back out of the sheath,then cut the sheath to length.Pushed the cable back in and used a cable hardware store cable clamp to attach the Blazer cable to the original cable adjuster.
[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-1/95040/EQUUE-brake.jpg[/img]

I'm planning on doing the same rear-end swap, but I'm confused about transmissions.

Are you keeping the stock SM420 and going to an open driveline? Or, are you putting in an entirely different setup?

It's my understanding that if you change transmissions, then you lose your foot start, which I don't necessarily want to lose.

Truckedup: Good idea, I am going to consider that as a solution.

53therapy: I had already changed to an open driveline. I found a transmission (SM420)out of an 55 1st series and a differential out of the same truck. I took the center section out of the 55 and put it into the 52 housing. I welded the pivot points solid on the housing and had a driveshaft made. That gave me an open driveline but only 3:90 gears. I want something with higher gears and the Blazer differential is a 3:08.

Has anyone else found a good solution to the parking brake cable issue?

I had planned to drill the center of the old adjuster or a new length of threaded rod about a 1/4 inch, insert the cable and silver braze it for a better finished look.

Did the same swap on my 51 ,3100. this past march.used a ten bolt rear out of a mid eighties blazer 4x4, six lug,the rear is a perfect width.Also used a saginaw 4spd, with patricks shifter . About the parking brake, I used the complete assembly from the blazer,including cables.everything works great, Also with the new rear and trans the truck is a lot more fun to drive,and I did retain the foot starter.other mods on my truck are duel master cyl ,larger dia tie rod and modern tie rod ends, 1954 235 eng, and 12 volts. old navy 51 from new jersey.........

Old Navy 51, you said you used the parking brake assembly from the Blazer and it all worked perfectly. What did you do to make it work? The cables I have are very different from the stock ones.

I used the foot pedel assembly ,cables from the blazer . You will have to do some minor fabracting to mount the foot pedel assembly to the kick panel. You should look under the blazer and note how the cables are run and location of the brackets then do the same on your truck.if this don't work out I can take a few pictures and e-mail to you. old navy......................