So, I started working on the brakes on my 49 chevy 5 window that I picked up the end of June. I pulled the left front drum and there was nothing inside but the retaining spring for the top of the shoes (the other 3 wheels are complete). I have a line on a complete set of front brakes from a 50 car and I am trying to verify if they will work. Everytime I search I just come up with people talking about switching to 51-54 bendix style brakes. Right now I'm just trying to get the truck functional.
look up the parts in the Chevy parts book? http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/007.HTM http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/index.htm http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/319.htm
I did look at that and they have different part numbers. I am not sure if they will interchange or not.
If it uses different part numbers, then it's not going to interchange, is it? did you make sure you understand the model designations? they're confusing.
I've always used 53/54 but was able to find them. Using the Rock Auto cheat sheet I found out that 50 cars still use the Huck brakes This being 50 Fleetline. I checked Chevs of the 40's and confirmed that. 50 Chebby no workie. 51/54 Cars use the same wheel cylinders and brake shoes. My and now your Chevy brake education for the days is that the break between Huck and Bendix is 1950= Huck, 1951 = Bendix for both cars and trucks. I knew it was that way on trucks but wasn't sure about 49 and 50 cars . Remember that the car brakes are 5 on 4-3/4 rather than 6 lug. The 51/54 swap to truck spindles is easy but you have to drill two new holes in the backing plates to match the truck spindles and you have to make spacers to go between the backing plate and the spindle. I don't have a good photo of my backing plates and spindles to show that though. I just use the spindle as a drill guide to get the holes in the right spots.
Sorry I didn't realize I left it out, but the wheel cylinder is there along with the upper retaining spring. The parts I really need that don't seem to be available aftermarket are what I have circled. That's what I was hoping would interchange.
GJ, GK, and GP are what you'd be looking at, if the GJ and GK are the same as GP, then you can use the car part on a 1/2 ton truck. The parts book calls the GJ and GK "PASS", and the GP is "1/2 Ton" 5.036 Link (4 different parts) looks the same for 1936-1950 cars and trucks. 5.075 Anchor Plate is the same on 36-48 Cars, and 36-50 Trucks. So you'd need to find an earlier car or truck to get that from, the 50 car won't work. I think the pins will interchange. Does that help?
Have you called places like Chevys of the 40’s, etc, told them what you have and what you need? IT’s usually easier to talk to folks that deal with stuff on a weekly basis then try to figure it out on our own. Well, at least for me anyways
heh...I find the exact opposite. I do my research, then if I know a store has what I need, I buy it. And none of those parts would be reproduced, so you're looking for used parts no matter what.
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