[Challenge] Emergency / Parking Brake Setup for modified 1964 C10

[nibulus]

Dear board members, I'd need some help solving a technical challenge I have with my truck.

First, a bit of info about the truck/drive train:

• 1964 C10
• 396ci engine
• TH350 trans
• original(?) e-brake lever below the dash
• 12 bolt rearend (probably from a later model g-body, i=3,73 iirc)
• leaf springs

My (current) challenges regarding the parking brake:

(1) there's only one "loose" cable; the one from the lever ending under the cab. The rearend has only martially cut cables on both sides (5-7" long or so). Nothing else really. No connectors, equalizers, hooks...nothing. Unless I've overlooked/forgotten something.

(2) I have no decent suppliers for US (truck) parts locally.

Thus, I would need/like to build up almost everything from scratch with (new) parts from the US. I'm in contact with Inlinetube regarding this issue, but they struggle a bit with my drive train combo. They're very cooperative though and are working on this (too).

My initial idea was to somehow combine 64-66 C10 front cables (LMC diagram here) with rear cables for the 12 bolt (LMC diagram here), but apparently that's not a walk in the park. The fact that I'm not familiar with the original e-brake setup for the truck doesn't really make this easier.

But I'm ready for the challenge. With your help.

[The Rocknrod]

This place claims they can make anything you want - http://www.controlcables.com/

[Captainfab]

I don't have any idea what you used for a trans crossmember but with what you have in your truck I would convert to the '66-'72 e-brake cable system, including the cables from the backing plates. Since your truck has leaf springs (I assume you have a GMC) there should be brackets on the bottom of the frame near the front of the leaf springs.

[nibulus]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

...Since your truck has leaf springs (I assume you have a GMC) there should be brackets on the bottom of the frame near the front of the leaf springs.

Unfortunately it's not a GMC. I have no idea from which truck the leaf springs came from, but they sure are not original. It definitely had the standard 2WD C10 suspension in the past, but at some point in the last, say, 20-30 years, one of the POs decided to switch to leaf springs. It would be nice to know his motivation for this modification.

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I don't have any idea what you used for a trans crossmember ...

I wish I knew which trans crossmember it has. I bought the truck as it is now (apart from a number of repairs) without any further info. I attached a (bad) pic of the trans crossmember, maybe someone can identify it?

Originally Posted by Clyde65

LMC pg 41 of 60-66 Chevy truck catalog. Right side of page, shows the 66-72 ( I think that’s right) emergency brake setup ...

The e-brake system of a '66-'72 could be a good idea. Need to figure out if and how it works with the 12 bolt rearend. However, I think the e-brake systems until '83 seem quite complicated due to all those hooks, clamps, guides and what not. Or maybe it's just me.

For instance, the 84-87 e-brake setup (2nd attachment) seems to be quite simple in comparison.

[Clyde65]

LMC pg 41 of 60-66 Chevy truck catalog. Right side of page, shows the 66-72 ( I think that’s right) emergency brake setup in picture form.
If you purchase as a 66 then you should get the right parts to get your emergency/parking brake setup functional.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cbe/full.aspx?Page=41


I used this on my 65, works great!

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

LMC pg 41 of 60-66 Chevy truck catalog. Right side of page, shows the 66-72 ( I think that’s right) emergency brake setup in picture form.
If you purchase as a 66 then you should get the right parts to get your emergency/parking brake setup functional.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cbe/full.aspx?Page=41


I used this on my 65, works great!

So you ordered all the 66 parts from this setup on LMC? But what about the other tensioner cables that go with the system? Where did you pick that stuff up?

I basically have the same issue, I have the front cable from the cab to the center, then the 2 cables going to each of the wheels. With no clue how to connect them.

[Clyde65]

That’s a 65 c10 crossmember



Looks like this is same for the GMC with leaf


http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cbe/full.aspx?Page=41

[Clyde65]

I made the clip things that connect the rear cables to the intermediate cable. I did retain my original main cable from the handle to the intermediate cable. The ones I got from China didn’t hold up past two pulls.

I used some steel from an old bumper, drilled the holes and bent them like they are shown in that picture in the link.

They are made now!!
https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...info/71%2D894/


Tensioner: https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...info/71%2D770/

More parts: https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...info/71%2D880/


Hope that helps!

[Captainfab]

Surprisingly enough you have the correct factory trans crossmember for a '63-'65 truck. The factory '63-'65 e-brake cables and related parts will only work if the trans crossmember is in the factory location. However I doubt that it is given your engine and trans combination. In light of that, I still think that converting to the '66-'72 assembly will be the best idea. But given that the rear leaf springs are not original, some modifications may be necessary to connect the intermediate cable to the cables going to each rear wheel.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I made the clip things that connect the rear cables to the intermediate cable. I did retain my original main cable from the handle to the intermediate cable. The ones I got from China didn’t hold up past two pulls.

I used some steel from an old bumper, drilled the holes and bent them like they are shown in that picture in the link.

They are made now!!
https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...info/71%2D894/


Tensioner: https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...info/71%2D770/

More parts: https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...info/71%2D880/


Hope that helps!

I mean it helps to know that you were able to make it work, I guess I'm just blind to see how it is actually routed lol... I have the complete cables coming from the hubs, up to the connectors and the bracket that would connect to the x-member. Those are ziptied to the frame.

I can see how the little connectors you linked would connect to the rear cables, but I'm still confused to see how it would be mounted, and where the tensioner connects.

Any way you could get some pics of how your setup is constructed underneath your truck?? pretty much just how the OG front cable is connected to the mid, and then mid to the OG rear cables. Thank you sir!

[BabyBlue64]

It is indeed the correct crossmember but there are some parts missing. In the original setup the cables are running against the trailingarms to the rear breakdrums. You only have to find a way to get that cables to the breaks with the leafspring setup.
I think the diagram of the parking brake system in the LMC catalog is not the same for every year.

[BR3W CITY]

Maybe its cheating...but why not a hydraulic brake lock? Not sure about drums, but it works as a cheater ebrake on discs.

http://www.amazon.com/Park-Lok-Unive.../dp/B01N9VOQTJ

[Clyde65]

64,

I will try to get the pix, this weekend is a crazy one tho.

The links I posted have the supporting cables/hardware that hold the intermediate cable suspended while the cable attached to the lever in the cab pulls to activate the parking brake at the wheel.

[nibulus]

Good input guys. A huge thank you for that.

I'll take a closer look at the '66-'72 setup and invest some thoughts how it could work out in my truck.

While we're at it...how are those cable guides or hooks or whatever they're called mounted? Are they simply hooked in some holes in the frame, or...?

The guys from Inlinetube also had some idea. I'll hopefully get their plans this weekend. In terms of customer care, they've been fantastic so far.

[Clyde65]

Most are hooked through a hole in the frame, the main one is on passenger side, goes through frame and bolts there, I believe that is adjustable.

The parking brake guide kit I posted is all you need other than the cables.