I'm wrapping up the brakes on a '37 Ford pickup and need some advice on the front brake lines. It's got a dropped stock axle and spindles and a Speedway disc kit with GM metric calipers. The brake lines go straight forward, but look like they will rub on the steering stops. I know that I can grind the caliper casting a little to let the line come out at more of an angle, which may need to happen. I looked at the GM brake lines for the G body cars - Cutl***, Monte, Regal, etc, but they looked too short to go to the frame and allow steering/suspension movement. Is there a longer factory brake line I should look at that will work? and should I use those through-the-frame brake line connectors, or is a tab right under the frame (which I prefer) good enough? What I've got: -KK
on `35-`40 fords i like to put the tab on the top side of the frame , like Ford did on `40 Fords. you will have to notch the inner splash panel for it. for a brake hose on those calipers , i would use a 3-AN line with a banjo fitting on the caliper..that will make it point 90 degrees
Hey kustom komet , this is what im using on my 29 a , gm caliper , dot approved braided brake line (kennys rod and custom in newton falls ohio) they have a bajo fitting at the caliper side and a bung on the other for the brake line . I put the line through the tab on the bottom of the frame , looks like it will work fine .
We have 15 inch long banjo style rubber hoses with the bolts and the gaskets for $50.00 a pair. 860-872-7046.
I'm using hoses for a '75 C10 Chevy 2wd truck. The frame end of the hose is a bulkhead fitting with 5/8" fine thread (perfect for use with a jam nut) and has 3/16 inverted flare. If placed properly, they will prevent themselves from rubbing.
Thanks for the suggestions fellas, all are great. I'd like to avoid the braided steel look if I can, I'm going to check out those Chev C10 hoses to see how they look. I'll update this thread when I get the solution bolted on. -KK
I checked out the '70s C10 pickup hoses, quite long at around 21", and they had a little bracket perma-swedged in the middle. The G-body hoses are too short at 12", what I needed was a 14"-15" hose. The parts dude at Checker let me go to the back and look at all the hoses, the first box I opened had exactly the right hose. 15", proper ends, the whole works. Application is one of the most common cars out there, '75-'81 Camaro/Firebird/Nova/Seville and who knows what else. 18 bucks apiece. Cool. I took 36 3window's advice and put the tab on top of the frame, plumbed and bled the system, and another dragon is slain. -KK
i think i used 67 camero on my 36 with the 40 ford frame mount , best i remember they were 17 in. if you want ill check ,i should have the part number , and maby a photo send me an e -mail and i will get back to you ps ,user the rear hose from the same car jonnybe1947@yahoo,com
I used braided lines on my 37 coupe--SO CAL has these lines with a black cover--looks like a regular brake hose,but much stronger.
Rubber hoses have been strong enough for hydraulic brakes on cars for 80+ years so I have no problem with them. The braided SS hoses are tricky looking but when replacement time comes you ain't goona find 'em at the corner auto parts store.
Good point, sometimes the "too cool" part is so cool that if you damage it you are stuck. If the braided hose had stock type ends it could still be replaced with a factory style hose from any parts house but if it is made up with AN fittings a guy might be out of luck in small town beside the freeway USA. true a brake line in good shape isn't likely to fail without help such as from a foreign object hitting it but why complicate things.
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