Brian:
I just finished putting disk brakes on the front of my '57 GMC 102
which is essentially the same model as your 3200. The brake plumbing
on this model are different than all the other "half ton" models. The
kit I received from Heavy Chevy was advertised for half tons, but the
printed instructions called for 3100 series.
The problems I ran into were:
1. Hoses supplied were 14", not near long enough. I finally
got a copy of the original instructions from Buffalo
Enterprises, the manufacturer of the kit, which specified
CarQuest part # SP6210, a 20" hose.
2. Neither the supplied hose nor the SP6210 will fit flush to
the frame without removing a slight amount of brass on the
"points" of the nut on the frame end of the hose. I guess I
could have drilled the frame hole out a little, but the
brass is easily removed with a file.
3. Both the supplied hose and the SP6210 use a spring clip to
secure one end of the hose to the frame. According to the
Chevy Assembly manual this is how the 3100 series attach the
hose. The stock hose on your 3200 and my 102 secure to the
frame via a large nut that threads over the end of the hose.
The part number and attaching hardware called out in the
assembly
manual is different for 31xx and 32xx series trucks. It
seems to
me that the 3200/102 frame is thicker. The groove that the
spring clip slips over does not come through the frame
enough
to attach the clip. I spent an hour looking through the
brake
catalogs at my local parts dealer and could not find a hose
with all the proper connections for my truck.
I solved the problem by doing this. I ran new 3/16" brake
lines
from the master cylinder to the frame attachment points.
Most
(all?) off the shelf brake lines come with one long and one
short
male fitting. I made sure the long fitting was on the end
that
attaches to the front hose. I needed a "nut" to fit this
fitting,
but could not find one, so I took a 3/16" female coupling
and
hack sawed off one end to form the nut. Run this nut all
the way
onto the male fitting. Then place one washer that is just
large
enough for the male fitting to pass through against the nut.
Next find two washers that are large enough to fit over the
frame end of the hose that was filed down in step 2 and
place
them on the fitting. Loosely attach the other end of the
hose
to the caliper (see step 4 for the gotcha), slip the hose
through the frame and tighten the male fitting into the
hose.
Then run the "nut" you made down against the washers to
secure
the hose to the frame.
4. The "gotcha" is that the caliper end of the supplied hose is the
proper size, but the hole through the caliper end of the
SP6210
is not large enough. I ran a 7/16" drill through it to
enlarge
it enough.
So after much hassle I am on the road and very happy with the stopping
capabilities of the brakes. Just realize that the 3200 Chevy and the 102
GMC are different beasts from the rest of the half-tons when it comes
to front brake plumbing.
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian m [mailto:pkupman57@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 7:59 PM
To: MKlepp4335@cs.com; rogerg@maverick.facil.uconn.edu;
oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] master cylinders
ok,
heres what all i have, tho its not all in and hooked up yet. i have a pedal,
booster, and master cylinder from an '85 camaro. im also useing the '85
proportioning valve. i plan on putting a residuel valve in the front, and
rear lines (for purposes ill go into later if anyone wants). for right now i
have 4 wheel drums, and im going to switch over to front discs this summer
(actually, in about a month or less). if brake line size and chamber size
were/are important, could they work for the short time ill have 4 wheel
drums?
im also going to put power steering into the truck this summer, i remember a
while back someone put power steering on the I-beam by bolting a 70s (?) box
onto the outside of the frame rail where the stock shock went, and relocated
the shock to the back. but i dont remember who or how they did it, does any
one have any tips, prices they could share with me on that topic? im most
likely going to either keep my original colume if i can, or get a Ididit
tilt colume from Kennys Rod Shop in turlock (lokar stuff, etc.)
one last question, how many of you have used chevy dutys, and old airs, and
vintage airs A/C kits for TF trucks? i like the one Pickups Northewest sells
(vintage air?) becuase the controls look just like factory deluxe controls.
anyone have any experiences with theses?
just a kid spending his graduation present/money
Brian M
Atwater, CA
'57 Chevy 3200
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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