Chevrolet C8 1940 Cab 11 restoration, The Netherlands

[Alex van de Wetering]

Quote:
an unusual construction having the hook at each end made from heavier wire and loosely retained by means of the spring ends being wound in a cone shape.

David; your description on the springs sounds a lot like the springs used inside the Chevy brake drums to hold the brake shoes.....No idea if the C8 used springs on the brake hoses at all....on mine there is no sign of them, but I guess the hoses could have easily been replaced during it's lifetime.



oh..the C8 brake hoses up front are the same as the one at the rear, # 476719. Luckily these are available at most Chev parts suppliers! Thanks for the offer Bob, but I guess for once it's a benifit that the C8 is largely based on civvy components ;-)

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Dirk at LWD was able to help me with an alternative brake junction block. We had a few to choose from and I decided to go for this one as it uses the same thread size as on the original block and also the same thread on all three holes. Basically it means I can swap the block easily if I ever find the original one.
There was only one problem....it's Ford.....but, as you can see in one of the is the manufacturer for these blocks seem to be the same, "W".

The block has a hole in it to secure it to the frame with a bolt, in stead of the clip as used on the original.
I modified two thick washers to fill up the hole and to get the new bolthole off-centre, so the block would sit a close to the original location as possible.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Next step is making new brake lines. After reading several stories about making brake lines, I decided to use Cunifer, a Copper-Nickel-Iron alloy. I bought this and a tool to make double flares a few weeks ago, but the trouble was finding the correct fittings and that brass brake block. Now all material was present, I was able to start making the lines.
Allthough the actual work is not too difficult, you need lots of time to measure and bend the lines....testfit, bend a bit more....testfit again.....bend some more etc.
I am not completely happy with the front line yet, but I will have another go next weekend.

Alex

[Bob Carriere]

Nice job Alex ......good looking flares .......

I particualrly like how you shaped a washer to fit the hole in the frame....nobody else will ever see it but you know it was done right.

Brake line layout looks good.

Bob C

[cletrac (RIP)]

I was in a truck supply place last winter and they had pre made brake lines in 3" increments from about a foot long to 8 feet long. The long ones were only about $4 each. They even had the protective wire wrapped around them.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks guys! Not all flares came out that good, so I had to scrap a few lines as they were too short to be used again, after cutting off the bad flare.

You can also buy straight section of pre-made brake line here at some shops, but in my case the trouble was finding ones with the correct thread fittings.

Alex

[Stefan Leegwater]

Looking good Alex, I look forward to the day we both drive our monkey-faces!!

Groet,

Stefan