VoV brake line kit

[pfarber]

Tried to install the Stainless Steel brake line kit tonight... not good. I don't know if the one I got was a return or they are just poor fitting but the lines have random bends and 7 of the 9 lines are to long.

I had to muscle in every line that I *did* get to fit. Being Stainless Steel they are very tough to bend.. I may have to pick up a pair of brake line pliers... they are that far off. I am not even talking about the hookup to the hydrovac, I know that will be a custom line.

For north of $220 I would have liked a much better fit.

Also, the clips for the brass unions/t's are not standard brake line clips. VoV lists the clip by part number... but not sure if they are the same ones you can get at any auto store for $2/pack of 4.

[pfarber]

Brake line kit is, at this point, garbage. I would not advise buying one from VoV unless you are handy with the flare tools.

The shittyist part is the front brake line that goes from the passenger side, over the motor mount x-member and to the left front wheel.

This is looking at the T fitting on the right frame rail. The line is in place (a well as the POS can be) and its two inches to long, and has the wrong profile to transition over the x-member.

rP9040188.jpg (223.88 KiB) Viewed 14760 times

See the first bend just forward of the T -fitting? What the hell is that for? Notice that the line is about 2 inches forward of the motor mount x-member.

Here's what it looks like from the side.. utter shit.

rP9040187.jpg (259.74 KiB) Viewed 14760 times

The next issue is from the hydrovac supply T-fitting to the rear axle. Yes, there is a 'shipping bend' that you have to take out. This photo does not show that. The poor fit of the line in this photo is due to incorrect bends and being simply to long.

rP9040190.jpg (235.88 KiB) Viewed 14760 times

Here is how far the rear line to hose fitting stick out past the line hanger:

rP9040191.jpg (217.95 KiB) Viewed 14760 times

That's about and inch.

So this means I have to find a place that will cut/flare the tube to the proper length. A GOOD flare tool set is north of $100. The HF stuff will NOT handle SS lines.

BUT WAIT! THERE IS MORE!

A test fit of the rear axle line is to long (to the drivers side)... so THAT will need bending and possbily cutting.

DO NOT BUY THE BRAKE LINE KIT FROM VOV UNLESS THEY HAVE SET UP A NEW AND 'PROPERLY SIZED' KIT.

[pfarber]

Here's a quick side by side of the brake line clips. The longer ones are G506, the short ones are from Chevys of the 40's... and about 1/2in to short.

rP9040189.jpg (242.89 KiB) Viewed 14759 times

[retro-roco]

The one on the left has the logo for Weatherhead. Not made any more, but here's one that looks the part:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-WILLYS-JEEP-BRAKE-HOSE-CLIP-1941-75-637427-/181192815391



Just bought a dozen of the myself...

[pfarber]

The old ones are cleaning up nicely.. so I am just painting and putting them back on. Some have that logo, others have just a part number.

I have a jeep parts order waiting for next month... will have to add these to it.

[retro-roco]

This is looking at the T fitting on the right frame rail. The line is in place (a well as the POS can be) and its two inches to long, and has the wrong profile to transition over the x-member.


See the first bend just forward of the T -fitting? What the hell is that for? Notice that the line is about 2 inches forward of the motor mount x-member.

Paul,

I'm not sure it's as bad as you seem to think. Compare you pic above, with this one from my unmolested frame:


The bend you mention right next to the brass fitting is there, and the cross-over leg really doesn't look that far off either.

I have a whole series of these "before" pics, to help me when it comes time to put things back together. The albumshttps://chevyg506.shutterfly.com/pictures are named "Photo documentation" and "Photo documentation 2". Most of the pics related to the frame and cargo bed are in the latter.

[retro-roco]

Hmmm, just noticed there's no "edit" button in this forum. Anyway, I was not meaning to make excuses for a mess that doesn't fit. I just took a closer look at your second pic (looking at the cross member from the rear drivers side), and realized what you're saying about the cross-over being too far forward...

WTH?? No this post has an edit button! Not sure why the previous post didn't...

[pfarber]

I'll look to see why the edit button is gone... but I did remove it from moderators after I inadvertently edited one of Jim Gilmores post about a year ago.

I have 3 chassis and of that two still have original lines... so I did have examples to look at, as well as internet searches. The 42 chassis I have shows what your photo does. I may try and free the line on it to compare the two (and have one or more made).

I was fully expecting to have to tweak the lines... but these are borderline unusable. The lines do not seem to be annealed, either.. so bending is a biatch.

Since there are no CCKW lines being made/sold, I hope that what's on my truck is original enough to use as a pattern.

[pfarber]

To compare, I googled G503 brake line and found this:

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=223076

brakeline.PNG (674.44 KiB) Viewed 14751 times

Now compare that to my craptastic VoV line:

rP9040188.jpg (223.88 KiB) Viewed 14751 times

Just a wee bit of a difference. He does not say where he got them.

[pfarber]

Just put a small pinch in the line for the front left tire... so that's garbage.

Was fitting the line from the master cylinder under the transfer case x-member.... its all fucked up to.

Taking a line off the other truck... its still original so I can have a dupe made.... I may try and bend one myself... that garbage I bought from VoV is more work than starting from scratch.

[pfarber]

Got a serviceable line off one of my other trucks. Since the CCKW has basically the brake line plumbing from the vac forward I will be getting at least 2 made.... one to replace the POS I got from VoV and one for my CCKW. Since the line shop will have the part on file I may sell a few and drop ship as needed.

I will attempt to make the fuel lines myself... but the lines to/from the fuel filter are going to be duplicated... no way I can do that.

I was hoping that the civvy trucks would be the same... but from the diagrams I have seen (and the fact that none were 4x4 in the parts manuals) I doubt it.

[pfarber]

I found the place that did the lines for VoV in NY.

I'm going up there Wednesday 9/3 with a set of original lines, and the ones that I got from VoV. Plus I will see if I can get a set of fuel lines together for the Chevvy before I go up.

Good things are about to happen

[retro-roco]

Good luck! Did they tell you what they used for a master, or how they created them?

[pfarber]

I asked right off if they did the lines for VoV and he said yes.. when I said I had a full set of original lines for the G506 he made me an offer that I would be crazy to refuse. So I think that the lines sent up form the old VoV (Mueller) may not have been in good shape/original/wire templates... just my guess. Monday I will get as much info/measurements as I can off the trucks and label all the lines. Some are in very poor shape... but I should have enough to get the full set done.

I'm just happy to find a place that would do it. I hope to get a shop tour... and with any luck watch the process.

Man if I can get a set of CCKW brake lines done I would crap a cracker.

[pfarber]

One last WTF. This is the line from the master brake cylinder to the input on the 'vac. This is off an early 42 truck, so it will not have the same 'vac hookup as a later truck.

But still:

rP9100203.jpg (260.44 KiB) Viewed 14744 times

Can you see how there might be a *small* issue with routing the 'new' line???