meltboy1 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 Anyone ever put a hand brake in their w-body? I wanted to put one in my 89 prix, but the one I picked up at the yard was too big to reasonably fit in there. Anyone know a good car I can grab a small one from, I know it's gona take some cutting and modding, but this isn't my "keep nice and pretty" car if ya know what I mean... lol Quote
GutlessSupreme Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 no, no one's ever done it, and yes, it is impossible. /end thread no, seriously. You have to hack up your floor pan to somehow mount the shifter and handbrake next to each other in that skinny little place between the front seats, then create an entirely custom console. Quote
meltboy1 Posted June 10, 2008 Author Report Posted June 10, 2008 lol you telling me it is impossible makes me wana do it more... I know it WOULD be possible, but difficult... I just figured... if I had the idea, someone else out there probably has too... Quote
GutlessSupreme Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 Yea it's been talked about a lot before, but I don't think anyone's actually attempted it due to the fab work that's involved. Quote
GhrarhG Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 I am very interested in this project as well. I'm reasonably sure no one has done it. My GP is my summer car, so i'm not ready to start on it now, but I may start looking come fall. I figure between a sawzall, welder and some fiberglass skills, anything is possible. Quote
BXX Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 Hmmm, I accept this challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need new parking brake cables anyway, so why the hell not Quote
meltboy1 Posted June 10, 2008 Author Report Posted June 10, 2008 awsome, I plan on looking for the smallest handle I can find next time I have time to go to the yard, I also needed to get my cable fixed, that's what really inspired me to attempt this. Quote
rockfangd Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 i would gave to say cavalier or sunfire would be the best Quote
BXX Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 ummm, Ford Escort Just because I have seen them and the cables, but length MIGHT be an issue.. The other better option that I am pretty sure will work great is a 3rd gen F-body Quote
GOT2B GM Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 just make a little removable spacer that holds the brake release lever out when you want to "play" Quote
MonteCarloDude Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 a 2 door W with a hand brake = someone has to do this!! Quote
oldscsc Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 Maybe a toyota? I know Camry's have 'em, but maybe the smaller car the smaller handle? Maybe a Corolla? Look up a '98 Camry (that body style at least) and see how it compares. Just a thought... Quote
BXX Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 a 2 door W with a hand brake = someone has to do this!! I will be doing it, just as soon as my carputer project is done which should be within a few weeks.. Im havin a monitor connection issue Quote
MonteCarloDude Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 a 2 door W with a hand brake = someone has to do this!! I will be doing it, just as soon as my carputer project is done which should be within a few weeks. sweet!! Quote
CSI_MuNkY Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 I've thought about it dozens of times, Just don;t have the facilities to take it on... Impossible it is not. I've heard of people doing it in other cars, so why not a w-body. Just get the complete assembly out of a hand brake equipped car. Including the grommet through the floor and the surrounding sheet metal. Find someone on our floor pan that the grommet will fit, cut a hole, weld it in, route the lines, and your done. Jamie Quote
meltboy1 Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Posted June 11, 2008 I've thought about it dozens of times, Just don;t have the facilities to take it on... Impossible it is not. I've heard of people doing it in other cars, so why not a w-body. Just get the complete assembly out of a hand brake equipped car. Including the grommet through the floor and the surrounding sheet metal. Find someone on our floor pan that the grommet will fit, cut a hole, weld it in, route the lines, and your done. Jamie ya, that's the plan I had... I did actually grab one from a 91 cav, but it's way too big for my liking... I am going to look at the import section if I get a chance to make it up to the yard this weekend... I like the celica one in my friends car so I will look at that if there are any. Quote
Hal H Posted June 12, 2008 Report Posted June 12, 2008 You probably want to do a "fly off" parking brake like the 'Vette and Fiero utilize - these allow the ratchet ype of tightening (much like the "pump to set" pedal our W's already have - when you have it set, the lever will fold down...to release you lift up and push the button in to release the cable. The single pull and remain up type lever won't do a very good job - not as much leverage and cable length pull. It takes a fair amount of pull to get those rear disc calipers to grip effectively and act as a parking brake. The Fiero certainly had that issue (used to own one). You don't want the weight of the car putting a load on the engine mounts and dogbones with the car parked on a incline or slope. Plus, its not good to put a load on the parking pawl with the automatics either. Trying to pull it out of park only puts more unnecessary wear on the cables, bushings and linkage for the tranny shifter too. Quote
BXX Posted June 12, 2008 Report Posted June 12, 2008 Can anybody say drift car?? You mean 3rd gen F-body??? Quote
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