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Brake Pedal Change = PITA

Shawn

Shawn

Nuckin Futz!
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Finally getting around to changing out the old clutch/brake pedal to the new Hydroboost auto trans brake pedal. What a bitch! Its bad enough having to deal with years of neglected wires (rats nest) then I had to totally remove the steering column. Now the speedometer cable got crushed in the process and I'm still trying to get the old pedals out. My hands now have a good amount of marks/scratches. At least my rats nest wiring hack will be cleaned up when finished.

ratsnest.jpg
 
It's a sucky job for sure..
When I swapped a SM465 into a '72 K5 I had,the pedal cluster swap to add a clutch pedal was the biggest pain in the a$$ and worst part of the entire TH350 to SM465 swap...swore I'd never do that again..
 
Yep, did it on my V3500 when I converted from TH400 to NV4500. It literally took me an entire Saturday and my hand's/arm's looked like 10 cats had their way with me. It's just a crappy job, no if's, and's or but's about it
 
Shawn said:
Finally getting around to changing out the old clutch/brake pedal to the new Hydroboost auto trans brake pedal. What a bitch! Its bad enough having to deal with years of neglected wires (rats nest) then I had to totally remove the steering column. Now the speedometer cable got crushed in the process and I'm still trying to get the old pedals out. My hands now have a good amount of marks/scratches. At least my rats nest wiring hack will be cleaned up when finished.

View attachment 295514
Click to expand...

diesel4me said:
It's a sucky job for sure..
When I swapped a SM465 into a '72 K5 I had,the pedal cluster swap to add a clutch pedal was the biggest pain in the a$$ and worst part of the entire TH350 to SM465 swap...swore I'd never do that again..
Click to expand...

Kay86K5 said:
Yep, did it on my V3500 when I converted from TH400 to NV4500. It literally took me an entire Saturday and my hand's/arm's looked like 10 cats had their way with me. It's just a crappy job, no if's, and's or but's about it
Click to expand...

I will be installing my hydraulic clutch and hydroboost pedals soon, you guys make it sound like a lot of fun.
 
Capt Ron said:
I will be installing my hydraulic clutch and hydroboost pedals soon, you guys make it sound like a lot of fun.
Click to expand...
Have some beer on hand...

I wasn't expecting to take out the steering column and all the wires from the alarm and other things don't help. New pedal is in.

I'd also suggest changing out the brake bushings while its out. I used Dorman part # 74016. I didn't realize until after the new pedal was mounted how much slop was in the pedal. SO had to take the pedal out and make a parts run. Another reason why it takes so long to do the job right.
 
I haven't done this in a square body, but I think popping the dash pad and instrument cluster out. Would make the job much easier. Also pulling the seat out. I did my radio work that way, and cleaned up 41 years of rats nest. Also found a CB power lead with filter and other end of coax :waytogo:
 
Shawn said:
Have some beer on hand...

I wasn't expecting to take out the steering column and all the wires from the alarm and other things don't help. New pedal is in.

I'd also suggest changing out the brake bushings while its out. I used Dorman part # 74016. I didn't realize until after the new pedal was mounted how much slop was in the pedal. SO had to take the pedal out and make a parts run. Another reason why it takes so long to do the job right.
Click to expand...

Wes Harden said:
I haven't done this in a square body, but I think popping the dash pad and instrument cluster out. Would make the job much easier. Also pulling the seat out. I did my radio work that way, and cleaned up 41 years of rats nest. Also found a CB power lead with filter and other end of coax :waytogo:
Click to expand...

I am jumping in with both feet, I will be changing out the inst cluster {installing a factory tach setup} steering column {installing tilt} pedals and even the carpet and front seats are getting swapped. I figure it to be about a 6 hour job so about 12 hours in I will probably call it a night and finish it the next day.:confused::whistle:
 
oh there not that bad boys . i have done a lot of them . and you dont need to pop the column all the way out . just undo the clamp in the firewall engine bay and drop her all the way down . seat out does make it a lot better tho good trick . and yes cluster out can give you a bit more view and options to get to stuff .

i got a k5 blazer to do yet thats going from th400/208 to nv4500/205 hydro clutch .

if automatic trans on the column DO NOT FORGET the shift indicator needle clip / wire before dropping the column or you WILL BREAK it .
 
Wes Harden said:
I haven't done this in a square body, but I think popping the dash pad and instrument cluster out. Would make the job much easier. Also pulling the seat out. I did my radio work that way, and cleaned up 41 years of rats nest. Also found a CB power lead with filter and other end of coax :waytogo:
Click to expand...
Was trying to refrain from removing dash pad and instrument cluster. Yes it might be easier to get to some of the bracket screws on the right. I had plenty of room with the K5 seat all the back. Even pulling out the column with steering shaft.

Capt Ron said:
I am jumping in with both feet, I will be changing out the inst cluster {installing a factory tach setup} steering column {installing tilt} pedals and even the carpet and front seats are getting swapped. I figure it to be about a 6 hour job so about 12 hours in I will probably call it a night and finish it the next day.:confused::whistle:
Click to expand...
If you're doing all that, it should make the pedal swap easier. It always takes me twice as long as I estimate. Just call me Mr. Slow.

sweetk30 said:
oh there not that bad boys . i have done a lot of them . and you dont need to pop the column all the way out . just undo the clamp in the firewall engine bay and drop her all the way down . seat out does make it a lot better tho good trick . and yes cluster out can give you a bit more view and options to get to stuff .

i got a k5 blazer to do yet thats going from th400/208 to nv4500/205 hydro clutch .

if automatic trans on the column DO NOT FORGET the shift indicator needle clip / wire before dropping the column or you WILL BREAK it .
Click to expand...
I tried just dropping the column, removing the 2 bolt half-circle bracket and column plates at firewall, and there was no way the pedals were coming out. This was a Hydraulic clutch pedal/brake where it has those two rods that run to the firewall so that adds more stuff in the way. After the column was removed I had to twist it 90 degrees to get it out. The auto pedal was much easier to install due to its smaller size.
 
I had to take the whole steering column out to do the job too. Like I said, it's a crappy job, just dedicate a day to do it, say some choice four letter words during the process, and move on with the build :waytogo:
 
If there was an aftermarket "add on" hydraulic clutch pedal (I know some exist for custom builds & hot rods),I think that would be an easier way to go when swapping a manual trans in place of an automatic..

My K5 swap went smooth but very slow once I got to the pedal swap..
The one missing piece I needed but forgot to grab off the donor truck was the ball stud for the clutch linkage Z bar, that screwed into the engine block..couldn't find one in a junkyard anywhere,as 95% of trucks here seem to be automatics..luckily I found a friend who had a 350 lying in his back yard he yanked from a 73 C-10 that had one..that added a week to the swap time..today you can buy them from Dorman..
 
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