My 63 Unibody

[BobbyFord]

I enjoy the quality of work you do, and I'm just thrilled that you're really going to drive it. That's what they are made for......

Thank you. I really do love this truck. I've had it for 35 years.

[BobbyFord]

I made a large plate to block off the old master and clutch holes in the firewall.


Got one brake line made today. Kit uses 1968 Chevelle frame brackets for the caliper hose.

[BobbyFord]

Finished the hard lines today. The right front line from the combo valve to the caliper hose is just shy of 8', so many bends.

[shipwrecked]

That looks great!

[grump]

Those lines look pretty nice. Nice work.

[BobbyFord]

That looks great!

Thank you!

[BobbyFord]

Those lines look pretty nice. Nice work.

Thank you!

[BobbyFord]

Bummer to have to tear out a 55 year old factory rubber floormat but that's what I did. It was pretty brittle and there wasn't any way to get to the steering column plate on the floor without damaging it. I forgot about the floor in this truck, getting the mat out reminded me of many years ago when I fixed the floor under the pedals. When I bought this truck in 1984 the original windshield weatherstrip had shrunk so much that there was a 1" gap in the rubber, dead center at the bottom of the windshield where the weatherstrip split. Rain leaked in under the floormat and rusted the floor under the pedals. I was in my early twenties when I cut the rusted section of the floor out, riveted in and seam sealed thick, hardened stainless steel in place of the old rotted mild steel.

[Mr. Jones]

Would you show what you’re using to bend those brake lines...
Thanks

[BobbyFord]

Would you show what you’re using to bend those brake lines...
Thanks

I have two benders but this is the one used on the brake lines:
https://imperial-tools.com/products/470 ... ng-handle/
The circular loops were hand bent around the handle of my floor jack.

[BobbyFord]

There’s not really anything available to seal the booster assembly to the firewall so I’m making something out of a piece of 16 gauge mild steel plate.

[BobbyFord]

Too windy to work on the truck today after I got home but I did go to the local Pick N Pull yard earlier and get some later model rear backing plates so I can install some wider rear brakes.

[BobbyFord]

I'm going to pull the steering box back apart. The aftermarket bearings I used were Chinese. I was able to find some NOS 1962 bearings online, still waiting for the bearing races to get here. If anyone is interested, the preload on these bearings is 3-6 inch lbs.(unloaded column), the sector mesh adjustment is 8-13 inch lbs. Worm bearing preload adjustment must be performed first.

[BobbyFord]

So here's what I came up with to seal the brake booster to the firewall.
I rolled up a piece of mild steel plate and tacked it together, then tacked on some end plates.



Then I cut some rubber gaskets out of the old steering column floor seal.


Looks like this assembled.

[BobbyFord]

I had to make some adjustments to the booster tube. Finally got the booster mounted yesterday.

I’m making a bracket to mount a later model brake light switch to the pedal assembly. No more pressure switch.
Got the wider backing plates cleaned up and painted.

[BobbyFord]

I’m going to install a later model plunger type electric brake light switch. The old pressure operated switch was on the old master cylinder. The new switch will be on the pedal assembly. So I made a bracket to hold the switch to the pedal bracket and another bracket that mounts to the pedal arm and actuates the switch.
It’s a PITA to have to make so many items. It eats up a lot of time.

[JeffinMooresville]

Looks good, I am at same point on brakelines, yours look great. Overall excellent quality of work. I have 390/c6 with what i think is original radiator that ran with the straight 6. I am concerened about cooling ... will see , may have to swap that out.

[BobbyFord]

Looks good, I am at same point on brakelines, yours look great. Overall excellent quality of work. I have 390/c6 with what i think is original radiator that ran with the straight 6. I am concerened about cooling ... will see , may have to swap that out.

Thanks, Jeff.
I too was running a stock radiator. The problem is that, with the Trans-Dapt engine swap crossmember, the fan position is down low on the radiator and there is no way to run a stock fan shroud. My stock radiator was very clean inside but wouldn’t adequately cool this truck, especially in traffic and during hot California summers.

[BobbyFord]

It's been raining here off and on for about a week so I haven't been able to work on my truck.
My leaf springs should arrive today from Eaton Detroit spring. This old leaf pack is completely worn out.




These are the brackets I made for the pedal mounted brake light switch

[BobbyFord]

Got the brake switch and brackets mounted this morning...