Metalcraft frame and hydraulic e-brake

I have a metalcraft frame w/ hydraulic emergency brakes. This is only a small pull-button on the tunnel. My problem is, the button is frozen and will not release the e-brake. Anyone familar with this setup?

The bigger picture is that PA doesn't permit the Hyd E' brake so no need to worry about that stuck button. Time to run steel lines and E cables and handle ~Alan

Did you stomp on the brake pedal as you tried to push the button?

Alan, you're killing me!

Cip1.com has the switch/valve.

those are apparently notorious for seizing.

check TS - lots of folks do not recommend them after having problems.

So I got the hydrra blake to release and thought I'd take this new car I bought for a quick ride down the street and back. Rode it about 1/2 mile and turned around. The @%$#% brake locked up again. Car would not move. No tools or cell phone. Car had no inspection and had 1996 VA plates on it. Luckily, I got it towed home before any cops came.

So this is the end of the hydraulic brakes. Now I need to get mechanical e-brakes set up. Alan, are you doing any side work. I got a nice new trailer and could tow it to you.

My business takes just about all my time but glad to walk you through you doing the mechanical E'brake install. ~ Alan

Thanks for you offer but with a custom pan and no previous e-brake, this job is probably over my head. It will need custom fabrication.

Bob,

I have a Metal Craft frame also. The guy that started my kit before I bought it had a hydraulic E brake too. The rear calipers didn't have E brake capability. I bought an rear caliper kit from Cip1 and installed it. I then bought a Lokar (hot rod) E brake lever and a Ford cable set that went with it. The cables fit directly into the caliper with no alteration. I mounted the E brake lever side ways in front of the drivers seat and attached the cables externally to the bottom of the floor pans. As you know you have the removable tunnel tin that really isn't a good place to mount the lever. It really wasn't a bad install.

Thanks Ron. Helpful information. Do you recall which calibers you used? And, did you run the cables inside the tunnel or underneath?

I bought the EMPI calipers and ran the cable underneath. I had to cut an oblong hole in the floor pan for the lever mechanism and made a fiberglass trim ring that I painted to match the interior. You can kind of see it in this picture. I bought boots on ebay that were only about $5 for the shifter and E brake and painted them with vinyl paint.

I forgot I had a picture of the cables.

Ron - that's a pretty clever set-up! COOL!