The I'm-Learning-As-I-Go 1965 Valiant Post
Next step: Parking Brake
Originally I was looking for a new parking brake release cable. But then came Christmas, and I'm finding myself a little broker than usual. So instead I figured I'd yank the release cable and at least see if it was salvageable.
First I pried out the little rubber/metal cap over the housing from inside the driver side front fender.
Tried to get under the dash to take out the pin that holds the cable onto the parking brake lever.
Disconnected the spring, and try to yank out the cotter pin. No luck. Someone had bent both parts of the pin at a weird angle, and because the retention pin spins a little, getting out that stupid cotter pin was a b****. Add to the fact that I barely fit with the seat in the way.
So out came the front seat. We put in buckets at one point because the transmission swap required a new floor shifter. This was getting in the way too. But less easy to remove. I plan to put the bench back in anyway.
Ah! Sweet, sweet clearance!
After trying with no success to remove the part of the release cable that passes through the subframe by the torsion bar mounts, I had a massive epiphany: if I could get the cable to loosen up, I won't need to yank the whole thing! Thank god.
So I sprayed some PB Blaster into the housing, and waited for it to drip out the other side. Using my pliers I took some of the minor kinks out of the cable, and shook it loose. Now it slides through the housing smooth as butter. Wooohoo!
Put the cable back under the dash, reattached the cable stop, reinstalled the retention pin and the cotter pin.
Progress is awesome.
Next step: Parking Brake
Originally I was looking for a new parking brake release cable. But then came Christmas, and I'm finding myself a little broker than usual. So instead I figured I'd yank the release cable and at least see if it was salvageable.
First I pried out the little rubber/metal cap over the housing from inside the driver side front fender.
Tried to get under the dash to take out the pin that holds the cable onto the parking brake lever.
Disconnected the spring, and try to yank out the cotter pin. No luck. Someone had bent both parts of the pin at a weird angle, and because the retention pin spins a little, getting out that stupid cotter pin was a b****. Add to the fact that I barely fit with the seat in the way.
So out came the front seat. We put in buckets at one point because the transmission swap required a new floor shifter. This was getting in the way too. But less easy to remove. I plan to put the bench back in anyway.
Ah! Sweet, sweet clearance!
After trying with no success to remove the part of the release cable that passes through the subframe by the torsion bar mounts, I had a massive epiphany: if I could get the cable to loosen up, I won't need to yank the whole thing! Thank god.
So I sprayed some PB Blaster into the housing, and waited for it to drip out the other side. Using my pliers I took some of the minor kinks out of the cable, and shook it loose. Now it slides through the housing smooth as butter. Wooohoo!
Put the cable back under the dash, reattached the cable stop, reinstalled the retention pin and the cotter pin.
Progress is awesome.