urbex
1/2 ton status
Somehow both my '86 K5 and '85 K20 parts truck came to me missing the parking brake pedals. Rest of the hardware is there, but for some unknown reason, one of the POs removed the pedal assemblies..
I really should have one in the K5, as I'm running an Art Carr/Sidewinder shifter in it, and as Dad found out the hard way recently, it's pretty easy to accidentally knock it out of park.
So I'm wondering what other people might have done to change it from a pedal, to say a center mounted handle, but possibly even beyond the typical factory style brake handle. I also have a Tuffy Security console along with the Sidewinder shifter, so just bolting in a handle from something else wouldn't necessarily be an easy thing to do. I also want to stay mechanical, and brakes at the wheels, so I don't want a line-lock, or transfer case mounted brake either. Or, at least not as my only parking brake option.
I know I can easily junkyard another pedal, toss it in, and call it a day....but I've never really liked the pedal set up, in any vehicle. More than occasionally, I'll forget that it's set in the Ford, and it seems like the dash brake warning lights are finicky in these old things anyways. The center mounted handle in the Samurai, on the other hand, is always a quick and easy visual check for whether it's on or not, and much easier to access/release, especially while strapped in.

I really should have one in the K5, as I'm running an Art Carr/Sidewinder shifter in it, and as Dad found out the hard way recently, it's pretty easy to accidentally knock it out of park.
So I'm wondering what other people might have done to change it from a pedal, to say a center mounted handle, but possibly even beyond the typical factory style brake handle. I also have a Tuffy Security console along with the Sidewinder shifter, so just bolting in a handle from something else wouldn't necessarily be an easy thing to do. I also want to stay mechanical, and brakes at the wheels, so I don't want a line-lock, or transfer case mounted brake either. Or, at least not as my only parking brake option.
I know I can easily junkyard another pedal, toss it in, and call it a day....but I've never really liked the pedal set up, in any vehicle. More than occasionally, I'll forget that it's set in the Ford, and it seems like the dash brake warning lights are finicky in these old things anyways. The center mounted handle in the Samurai, on the other hand, is always a quick and easy visual check for whether it's on or not, and much easier to access/release, especially while strapped in.
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