Went out for my first shakedown run yesterday in my 65 f250 and have a couple of questions/concerns about these old trucks.
Brakes...4 wheel drum.I know that switching them over to disc is optimal but if I get these working like new will they stop this beast?This truck is not a daily driver,more of a weekend around the farm truck with the occasional run down the road for hay and feed.
Seat belts....I feel good about having heavy metal all around me but would feel better if I had a shoulder harness.Anyone done this?
All in all the truck is sound and feels very solid going down the road.Had 25 mph crosswind gusts while driving and it didn't even move the truck.I love this forum...tons of good info .Thanx!
Joe

 

Speaking for just myself, I do not have a problem stopping my F250 with 4 wheel drums.

I did however put brand new drums,wheel cylinders and pads front and rear.
I am happy with them.
Just My .02 cents
Thom

 

I imagine that the drums would be OK; just make sure that all wearable parts like hoses, lines, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder have been replaced. People drove on this technology for a lot of years and seemed to do alright. Just my thought.

 

I sorta think the same way,but I dont wanna dump a bunch of time in rebuilding a system that never worked well.Guess I'll roll up the sleeves and redo an old tech brake system.
Anyone installed a shoulder harness system?
Joe

 

Drums are okay for regular light use, but don't like heat buildup or water. My system was in need of an overhaul, so I just did the disc swap. I despise working on drum brakes and their 231 pieces/springs.
Anyhow, my truck had 3 point belts installed by a PO. Doesn't look like they'd be hard to install. The shoulder harness anchor is right next to me if I turn my head to the left. The only thing you need to do is back up the mountings with some really large circumference washers to spread the load, should they be called upon. Aftermarket 3 point belts in a variety of colors are available from places like JC Whitney, I'm thinking. I know I've seen them in catalogs. Definately prefer them to smacking my face into that hard plastic steering wheel.

 

Yup. I installed a system out of a early 80's Dodge into my 63. I used everything from the non-Ford and fabricated backing plates from 1 1/4 quarter inch stock. Probably overkill, but hey, it was my a** wearing them. I mounted everything to the stock seatbelt holes in the floor. the only problem with that was the retractors for the shoulder belt blocked the seat from going back all the way. It wasn't bad enough to cause problems but made it a tad uncomfortable on long trips. ( I got long legs) For the upper mount on the shoulder belt, I bent pieces of the flat stock to fit the curve of the cab sheet metal and cut them long enough so they would kinda wedge between the door frame and rear window frame between the upper 2 ridges in the sheet metal. I drilled a hole exactly in the center of that area and the backing strap I fabricated. Tapped the hole in the backing plate the same thread pattern as the stock upper mount bolt and screwed it all together. Voila! Shoulder harness that looked like a factory install. (Thats why I said I took everything. hehe) I had to modify the retractor mount just a little if I remember correctly but there were no problems doing this mod and I can tell you for a fact, the locking devices worked like a charm. (Idiots with no brake lights just make my day!)

 

One of the first projects on my '66 F250 was to replace all the brake lines and hoses, and get a two-chamber master cylinder by installing a power brake system. Some of the brake lines looked pretty rusty. It's a good feeling to have that 38-year-old stuff gone. Power brakes is a little spendy, but the power drum setup works great for my purposes, which do not include towing or heavy hauling. If you're going to tow or haul much, do a disc conversion. I got 3-point non-retractable seat belts from Andover. The shoulder anchor point is in the quarter panels. You can see the location in my gallery. I went to a sheet metal shop and got some 3/32" thick, wedge-shaped panels made, rolled to the approximate quarter panel curvature. These go behind the quarter panels and are anchored in the metal window frame and door frame. Behind these added panels are 1/4" thick plates, about 2"x4" with nuts welded to their backsides. All this makes up the seatbelt anchors. They may indeed pull away from the cab metal, but I'll be greatly slowed down on my way to a steering wheel faceplant.

 

Joe congrats on the successful shakedown run, that is always a good feeling. The brakes were used for many years successfully, then along came discs and we found them to be better. We also found that we could retrofit them and we do, and like them better. You should be able to fit later model seat belts in OK. Something is better than nothing, even if it isn't factory.

I had my first experence with airbag deployment last friday night, while taking out a Dodge Sprinter that decided to make a Uturn in front of me.

John

 

Definately replace ALL steel and rubber brake lines/hoses.
The rest is optional, but keep in mind that there could be liability issues if you re-engineer the system yourself and it fails.

 

I will be figuring a way out to put in a shoulder harness.As some one said I feel that even if the shoulder harness fails it will slow me down a bit while my lap belt keeps me planted squarely in front of my plastic covered round piece of metal used to steer this beast.
John,How did the sprinter fair?What were you driving?My brother who is also a plumber has the Freightliner version of the Sprinter,Very nice work van and I am getting one as soon as my e250 wears out.How hard did the airbag hit you?I feel like my dash has a loaded gun pointed at me with that bag sitting there.
Joe

 

Hi Joe, I don't know, he drove away with the cops there, and I am left holding the bag, so to speak. From what I can put together when a witness told the officer that I hit a van, he was looking for a E series or simular, not a bigger truck. I was driving my 97 Taurus truck. I hit it behind the rear wheel so it rode up my hood. I ride with the wheel tilted down so the bag hit me in the chest. I had a little discomfort in my chest sat. but seem to be OK now.

Look at the pictures on my web site and you will see just how right you are about the loaded gun. Just look at the windshield, that is airbag caused.
http://forums.ncfto.org/photo_album_...os&mid=3&cid=6

John