The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 49 Chevy Brakes

I tried the search thing and got 1000 responses and the first 30 or so were not helpful. I have got my truck in the garage on jackstands and the tires off. I am trying to figure out what is the easiest way to put a dual master on this thing. For now I am going to keep the stock drum brakes as I want to get this thing going and put it to work. If I am not mistaken this thing has the "Huck" brakes which there are no longer parts available for?? Correct me if I am wrong. I believe the front and rear are original.

From reading on here some more I don't really see much conversation on the brake master like is on mine. It is under the floorboard and you remove a cover to fill it. I don't think I could convert to a standard firewall style as that is where the hydraulic tank is for the dump bed. Any help for my under the cab master??

Since I know everyone likes pics I put some on here. I hope I did it right, if not let me know.

Putting the truck in the garage

http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f...mp;current=0409101914-1.jpg&newest=1

Up on jackstands ready to work on

http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f...&current=0409102010.jpg&newest=1

The frame mounted master cylinder is the best place for it if you ask me. If it ain't broke...
You can upgrade to a dual reservoir master and even power (vacuum or hydroboost) and still leave it in the stock position.
Good luck with your project.

You can still get parts for Hucks, they will cost more than Bendix parts though. Drums are the hardest to find I believe.

Where would I look for the dual reservoir set-up? I can fab some brackets or whatever but would like a point in the right direction if posssible.
Thanks

Look for a dual res cylinder for a drum/drum application that is the same bore as your original, which I think is 1 1/4".

The stock single reservoir m,aster cylinder shoud do you well also if your whole braking system is up to snuff. If you lose
a line you lose all hydraulic braking is all.

I am sending you a pm regarding brackets.

I want to upgrade. Right now I do not have an e-brake/parking brake. After I do the master I will work down the line and do the wheel cylinders. The best guess I have is when my uncle put the five speed in the park brake handle was in the way and was removed and supposed to be put back in later. Well it is later and now I have to figure out how to put on of them back in also.

\i just did the brakes on my ton with huck, i got cylinders, return springs etc from Jim carters truck parts and all new steel lines and hoses are availible from Raybestos at your local shop, you might be able to find the cylinders too. I kept the stock master cyl but installed a brand new one from Raybestos. I put kits in my rear cylinders but it wasn't worth it as they had some pitting and leaked again in a month so there all new now. The master is 1-1/4 bore so if you can find one from a newer truck with that bore its just mounting and connecting.

Update

I need to haul some gravel so this project is getting the attention and funding it deserves. That and it has been in the garage for almost a year.

I got a new dual master and then a bracket from Ghostrider. They are installed. I ordered new wheel cylinders from Chevs of the 40s according to what they said I needed. Got them and have done one side so far. The issue I am having now is both the front and rear cylinders that came off were 1 3/8" bore. The new ones are 1 1/4" front and 1 3/8" rear. How well are my new ones going to work? Am I worrying about nothing because the wrong one may have been put on the front anytime in the last 60 years? I only have one side taken apart so I don't know what the other side has on it yet.
On a side note the rear shoes still have the printing on them from manufacture.

All the parts places on the net that I have looked at say that my front drums are supposed to be 11". My drums measure 12". Down at the parts store I looked at the pics of the shoes from the 53-57 or something and they didn't look like my shoes. The ones I looked at were for 12" drums by 2" wide. Anyone have any ideas what could have been swapped onto my truck in the last 60 years? I can post pics if that would help.

Your truck is supposed to have 12" front brakes. The '53 shoes you looked at are for Bendix brakes. Your truck has Huck brakes.
Try Jim Carter's or another similar supplier, or get your originals relined. NOS is a possibility also.

I ordered the wheel cylinders from chevs of the 40s. The shoes are at a local place to get relined at $40 per shoe. Kinda spendy but don't have to worry about it for a while again.