The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop new member, old truck, BIG drums, need help

Hello all, thanks for letting me into your little community. This weekend I got myself a 1950 Chevy 5 window, long bed 3600 that appears to be all original body panels (on the cab). The truck was from Kansas and is very rust free... just a bit on the passenger side up on a firewall bracket.

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Someone hacked into the electrical harness for 12V already :mad: and didn't do a proper job of it. Looks like they didn't install resistors into the gauges as the main cable from the alternator runs directly to the light switch, the #2 red wire is not connected, and the gray wire is routed to the indicator light on the dash (no resistor). Can I run that #2 wire directly to the battery as my recharge wire or should something else be in line here?

I can also use someone's expertise in telling me what shoes to buy for this horrid rear axle setup...

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The drum is 12" inner diameter and the shoes are 2" wide. After some reading around here I think that the 1953 3/4ton shoes will work for these. AutoZone sells them under part #310 Duralast. Anyone who can help would be very appreciated.

All I need to get is a few months of use in it's current condition. All 4 drums will be removed and sold come winter. Send me a PM if you think you may want them or the stupidly expensive wheel cylinders. Fronts are 11" drums and rears are 12" drums... the wheel cylinders on the rear have a diff. part number than the front.

Thanks all

Jim Carter's has your rear drums - I bought a pair last year. I'd hate to buy a new set if your only going to use them a couple months. They work really well - what are you planning to replace them with?

1953 was the first year for Bendix brakes on your series truck.
The '53 shoes will not work with your Huck brakes.

The easiest way to fix it is to convert to Bendix brakes. 1951 was the first year of Bendix for GMC. As Ghostrider stated, nothing from Bendix will work except if you convert the whole thing.

As was Chevrolet for half ton. Medium duty trucks went to Bendix in '53.
I'm guessing GMC had the same timeline for brake upgrades?

Thanks for the help guys. I got the new shoes from Autozone today... $25 for the front shoes. I'm gonna find a workaround for this rear diff. Once I buy the shoes I could still have a leaky wheel cylinder, bad seal etc... and then be out more $$$ for an axle I don't even want.

As for the electrical issue. Anyone have any experience with "keep it clean wiring" .com? They have a simple 21 circuit wiring harness for $210 that seems good for a truck. I plan to install Autometer gauges into the stock bezels on a custom backing plate.