ford truck mechanical brakes

[Bob Shaw]

I have a 1935 1 1/2 ton truck, Iam wondering if anyone made a vacume booster for the mechanical brakes. it would be nice to have a little assist at times, if any one has imformation about rhis. I would app.it. thanks
Bob

 

[Bob C]

Here are some vacuum booster pictures I have.

 

[Flathead Fever]

I hauled home this ’34 BB a few months ago. Originally It was a Crestline, CA Fire truck so it was up in the steep mountains. It has vacuum power brakes. Everything aftermarket they added to this truck was crude. I scrapped the rear body, it was ugly. Not a very pretty fire truck. I found an original Ford stake bed but it’s for a short wheelbase truck. I went ahead and bought the bed in case I can’t find the correct longer bed; I can always lengthen the one I have or change out the frame to the 131” wheelbase frame. I also need more of the original metal stakes and any hardware for the bed and maybe a side rail that I could use to lengthen the bed I have. That original Ford’s bed side rails are a unique stamping and would be a hard to make pieces to lengthen it. I really need another piece of an original bed.

I’ve only had it a few months. I pulled the front sheet metal which is really nice. Had the front bumper chromed, bought two new front tires and four used ones. Bought the stake bed for it. Pulled the heads, water got down in the engine so its toast. Its not 1934 21 stud but a later one, maybe a ’36. I have a running ’37 21 stud I’m going to stick in it. I’m looking for a nice pair of the 1934, 40- casting number, cast iron heads to put on the ’37 engine to make it look like a 34 engine.

They stuck a piece of steel plate across the frame and bolted the PTO and the brake booster to it. The booster has a chain that puls on a lever on the mechanical brake's cross shaft which is little funky. Later tonight, I'll get you a photo of the intake. They welded a fitting to it for the vacuum hose . Looks like it has a vacuum check valve there on the fire wall. Usually they have vacuum reservoir tank and the check valve holds the vacuum in it. There could be one under there, I have not crawled around under it.

 

[sugarmaker]

Flathead Fever, Bob and Bob,
Look at that 34 ! Awesomeness! Looking forward to some additional pictures. I had never thought about power assist mechanical brakes!
Regards,
Chris

 

[Flathead Fever]

I lied about the vacuum fitting being welded on to the intake. It's a spacer.

 

[Flathead Fever]

You want more '34 BB pictures. Here it is on its way home. A little heavy for a 6000 lb. car trailer. It has the lights and siren option on the dash. Nice grille no rust on the bottom, nice hood and fenders no rust along the bottom of the doors, nice headlights, the cab has the typical rusted out spots along the back corners. The bed was part water tank and hose storage. really crudely made, the whole thing was gas welded. The bed was so rusted it was not savable plus its ugly. It still had snow chains in the storage bins from being a mountain fire truck. Original paint on the back of the cab still has the pin striping. The fire truck bed protected it from the sun. Crest Forest engine #24. I have extra doors so if I repaint this truck, I think I'll keep one on the original doors with the emblem for garage art. I have extra dashes, so I'll probably preserve his one

 

[ms fowler]

Vacuum assist for mechanical brakes? my first thought was "no", but now I see that where there is a will, there really is a way. Good to see the ingenuity.

 

[Flathead Fever]

Not much info out there on early vacuum assist brakes.

1927 Bendix Corporation formed by automotive engineer Vincent Bendix. Company produces "Safety Servo" vacuum brake under the Braggs-Kliesrath name.