The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Parking Brake Lever (37 Chevy 1/2 Ton Pickup)

Does anyone have a diagram of the parking brake lever/mechanism and how it should be mounted and connected to the cable? My truck doesn't have one and my shop manual doesn't show enough info.

No pictures but I do know it attaches to the right side of the tranny and that there is a ROD that attaches to it and goes back about half way...where the two cables pull around two small pulleys and attach, one to each side of the rod going to the tranny. On each side of the rod is a way to attach the cables.

I have my old rod laying around here somewhere and if you need a shot of the pulleys under the truck mine are still there...... perhaps someone will come along a little later that has pics. Things are kind of slow on the weekend..... "honey do list" and taking the ladies to dinner!!!!

Alvin,
My pulleys, cables, rod and clevis are still intact, but I'm not sure which handle to use (the two attached links claim to be a brake handle for a 37 but you can see that they have different "below-floor" mechanisms) so I'm trying to find out what the real McCoy is before I order. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2249631230104832708IkMIeU http://www.classicpartsusa.com/prod...PBA0004_1937/1937_Truck_Parts_Used_Parts

The clevis also seems to have a spring inside the "U" shape and I can't quite figure out what it's for.

The gentleman who restored my 37 put in an automatic tranny but I'd really like to have a hand brake for additional safety.

I think all the park brake levers are about the same.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/1929_54chevyparts/04/288.HTM

Maybe this link will help.

Mine has a clevis right on the end of the long rod which hooks to the lever assembly. I don't remember seeing a spring like the picture from the manual. I had special cables made with late model brake ends and '37 pull ends so I can use the '37 lever, rod, and pulleys with a '79 Firebird rear axle and brakes. I also use a Lokar floor shifter with the '37 brake lever attached to it.

Joe

Thanks Alvin; I think that diagram at the link you provided will go a long way toward helping me find the right lever and rigging a bracket to make it work.

Oops, I meant thanks to Joe for the link to the diagram and thanks to Alvin for the description of the linkage.

Mike -
My 37 has an emergency brake handle like the one in your first picture. If you couple the first picture of the brake handle you have along with the drawing on the right side of the illustration that Joe H posted for you, you'll see you have the correct brake handle. The two holes on the saw tooth pawl you have attach to the right side of the stock transmission. With an automatic transmission, you will have to make a bracket to mount the emergency brake handle to. The release part of the handle faces the back of the vehicle. From there you can see the part that the rod with the big spring attaches to that Alvin writes about. That is about all there is to it. Hope this helps a little more. Good luck!

...Mike, I also have my original brake handle out of my 37 and it is also like the first picture. I also had an original parts truck once and the brake lever was the same as the first pic.
I also had a 1 1/2 ton 37 but can't remember the brake handle in it. With the way it was bent could it have possibly be from a COE? Just speculating here. I'm always curious!!!

..... I personally have never seen a handle like the second pic and it appears to be missing parts you would have to track down...buyer beware?!

Good luck.

Thanks for all your help guys. Any recommended sources for an assembly (hopefully in the central Texas area)?

Mike -
I happen to have my truck brake uninstalled in my truck at this time. It is together and and attached to the rod, but laying on my the top of the battery. I can take a picture and send it to you if you like.
The problem I see that you have is finding a way to attach the brake to the automatic transmission in your truck. I am running a T-5 five speed in mine and I had to make a mount for the emergency brake to attach to the transmission. It can be done, but it may not be easy.

Joe,
Any pics you could send/post would be great. If it's accessible, pic of the mount would be good too. Let me know if you need my email address.

I'm completely new to old trucks and pretty much the same to working on vehicles in general--it's about like a guy whose done little more than a few fix-its around the house all of a sudden buying a bunch of lumber and deciding to build his dream home with his own hands. Therefore, I rely almost exclusively on the experience of others; pics really help.
Thanks again Joe,
Mike

Joe and Joe H,
My brother and I successfully fabricated a bracket to fit the E-brake mechanism to my Turbo 350's Lokar bracket but now the E-brake sits too far to the passenger side of the cab, putting the clevis/yoke/rod at a non-functional angle. Joe (6cylindersoverTX) did you have this problem? Joe H, sounds like you modified the pulley system, do you have any photos or diagrams?

Thanks,
Mike

I didn't modify anything on mine. The lever is off to the passenger side a little, but not so much it causes a problem. I will get out under the truck today and see if I can get you some pictures.

Joe

Same here Mike - I didn't modify any of the functions of the brake. It sets a little further to the right and back some, but is complete as made.

Thanks. Hopefully Joe H's pics will help me figure out what is different about mine that is making it so misaligned.

Joe H,
Just saw your email with pics. Thanks so much. I'll compare them to my situation when I get home.
Mike