Is this standard on a 3/4 ton?

[Factory Guy]

In the process of cleaning up my firewall today I got the brake booster off and noticed this huge reinforcement plate attached to the firewall is this standard on a 3/4 ton?

[kipps]

As far as I know, every squarebody has that, regardless of 3/4 ton or otherwise.

It serves several purposes. When you step on the brakes or yank on the steering wheel, that reinforcement plate reduces the risk of firewall cracking. Also, it serves as a gutter that detours any water away from the major firewall openings.

[Keith Seymore]

My bad; I thought I was in the '67-72 forum and didn't respond.

Yes - all squares got that.

Also - I like your master cylinder slave. Just like in the assembly plant.

K

[kipps]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Also - I like your master cylinder slave. Just like in the assembly plant.

How and when were the brakes bled on the assembly line? Were the brakes fully bled somehow before the body was set in place?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by kipps

How and when were the brakes bled on the assembly line? Were the brakes fully bled somehow before the body was set in place?

Yes.

Brakes were bled immediately after all the lines and m/c were installed. This occurred after frame turnover (frames started out upside down and were flipped after axles were installed - so after the frame was upright at this point) and before engine set.

The master cylinder was "slaved" in position just like the original poster did (only with a re-useable metal fixture). The brakes were filled via an "evac and fill" process, whereby a machine sucked all the air out, and then allowed the fluid to flow in and fill the void. If all goes well, and there are no leaks, you have a complete and functioning hydraulic system at that point.

At the end of that foreman's area a tester was installed to the back of the m/c. It applied line pressure and monitored the force and displacement over a short period of time. If all was OK at the end of the test cycle the inspection ticket was stamped OK. In the event of a failure of any kind the tester would indicate failure and the brakes were repaired and another test attempted.

In any event the brakes were buttoned up and fully functional before body drop.

At body drop the aforementioned slave/fixture was removed and placed on a little cart so it could be trucked back to the m/c install area and reused.

All these photos are of Line 1 (pickup). I ran the corresponding area on Line 2 (Blazer/Suburban) as a summer student/intern, back around 1980. This area also included the frame VIN stamp, noteably.

K

[Bears63]

That is fascinating information, Keith. I always enjoy learning things like that.

[mongocanfly]

Always so cool to hear Keith's stories..

[Keith Seymore]

One completed truck every minute, bay-bee!

K

[Factory Guy]

I love going through Vehicle assembly plants, so cool to see stuff being built!

Thanks Keith!

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Also - I like your master cylinder slave. Just like in the assembly plant.

K

Thanks!

[Factory Guy]

Thanks Everybody!

[D13]

Interesting... in the B car plant we used 'flow thru' bleeding. Once everything was connected the fill unit pushed fluid thru the system as the chassis moved down the line. As it neared body drop the bleeders were progressively closed, the unit recorded it holding pressure, then backed off and filled the reservoir. I don't recall a slave unit but then that particular area never caused me an issue in the 2 years I worked in that plant.