The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1951 vs 1953 parking brake

I bought a '53 cab to replace the one wrecked on the Blue Funk (a '51).

The '51 cab had its parking brake pedal on the left side of the cab near the wall. The '53 cab seemed to have its parking brake lever to the right of the transmission. The '53 has a hole in the transmission cover plate just to the right of the hole for the gearshift.

I looked through the Factory Assembly Manual and noted the two diffferent types.

My question is: What would be the best tact to take in order to get a modified parking brake system in place?

Thanks.

Dave,

What kind of parking brake will you use in your truck? The foot-pedal actuated one, or the hand-lever actuated one? Most likely you'll be using the foot-pedal actuated parking brake?

Is there a hand lever assembly on your transmission? If so, you can take it off.

Is the foot-pedal set-up now in place? If so, just get a standard four-speed transmission cover? Reproduction fiberglass covers are available, but I'd place an ad in the Swap Meet to try to find an original metal cover.

The hand-lever actuated parking brake was used on larger trucks (on some 1-ton and on 1.5 and 2 ton trucks) with the drive-shaft brake (propeller shaft brake).

Thanks for your reply and the link, Tim.

I would like to use the foot pedal actuated parking brake, and I believe I'm going to have to, as there is no hand lever assembly on my transmission.

I believe I can use the '51 cab's transmission cover since it wasn't too banged up in the accident.

My area of concern is with installing the foot pedal system. This was a point of impact and the components took a beating.

It also seems that the '53 cab isn't set up to recieve a foot pedal sysytem. For example, there isn't a hole for (what I believe is called) the anchoring rod. Edit: Actually, it's called a "lock bar".

Any information and/or guidence is appreciated.

My 52 has a cover plate screwed down where the foot brake rod would go through the floor. You might want to check really closely to see if there is a cover plate.

I'd be interested in the trans cover plate with the hand brake hole in it.

Good luck,
GMCPic
[email protected]

Well, after doing some research on past forums, the manual, and parts catalogs, I believe I have a handle on the situation.

First, I should have named this thread "Light Duty AD Cabs vs the AD Big Bolts", since the year of the AD Cab is not the issue. As Tim pointed out, the bigger trucks used a hand lever assembly whereas the lighter trucks utilized a foot actuated assembly.

What really brought it all together was a thread that occurred about a week ago and Dads50 Photobucket Account, pic #124. The difference is a bracket that attaches to the firewall. As Dads50 pointed out, the bracket attaches to the firewall and the inner fender attaches to the bracket. The parking brake lock bar goes through the toe pan and the foot lever goes through the cab floor and attaches to a cross assembly.

I'll email you about the transmission cover,GMCPic.

Thanks for the interest.