Adding modern size air brakes?

[rich8483]

I am looking at purchasing a B-1-FA, Door tag actually says 14,500 gross weight instead of 13,500.

I am looking to use this truck as a regular work truck for promotional reasons so i want good reliable safe brakes for highway speeds.

Has anyone put modern size air brakes on the medium/heavier B series?

My family is a bunch of truck drivers, i can figure most all of it out. fabricate the rest. the main problem is finding drums that fit the five lug axles.

what is the actual bolt pattern (spacing) on the 1 1/2 ton wheels.

What about the 10 lug wheels on the heavier B series? do they match the bolt pattern of modern trucks? can i change out the hubs to the heavier hubs to do this?

I would like to avoid pulling the whole rearend and putting a modern truck rearend under there because i would LOVE to retain the original dodge two speed rear end with the low low gears. The front axle, im not so picky about.

Edited October 25, 2010 by rich8483
spelling

[KJ's Dodge]

Ten lug are ten lug from my understanding, so modern rims and tires would fit. My truck has 10 hole budd rims that are orginal and are 900 x 20. I debated moving away from them because the more modern tires are much less costly. Used tires and rims are readily available. As far as changing out the hubs, that I am not sure about that but some one on this forum I am sure will have an answer to that.

KJ

[rich8483]

does anyone know what the bolt circle of the 5 lug is? it looks quite large like im hoping there is a possibity of using a ten hole budd and just using five of the holes. i think im gonna go ride over there and look at the truck again and measure it if someone doesnt answer quickly.

the body is in good shape. surface rust a little but absolutely no holes and a sand and spray would finish the body work. im excited about the truck. my wife, only kinda. lol.

[rich8483]

ok, just measured them, they are 7.5 ish bolt circle. thats not exact. that was quick with a tape measure.

[41/53dodges]

in that case, they would be a 5 on 8" circle, i went through that on the 41'

[rich8483]

thats what it appears after a brief google search. does anyone make a brake drum for modern size lining that will fit 5 on 8" pattern so i can retain the two speed rearend? BTW, what type of rear end is that? is it made by dodge? or by spicer, or something else??

the front axle, after looking at it today, i think i would just replace it with something more "modern" by modern, i mean like late 60s 70s or newer from the junk yard by my house because the spindle didnt look like it had enough room to be mounting air chambers and brackets. also as a whole, i think i would want a heavier axle if i end up using the truck often.

[Dodgeb4ya]

I'd make it easy on yourself. Rebuild -properly and completely the factory brakes. Yours should have booster too. Brakes are 14-1/8"'X2" on the fronts and 16X3" on the rears. I used to drive a B1JA 2-1/2 tonner 20' bed all the tim everywhere. The brakes were well more than adequate on that truck and had a good safe high brake pedal-always.

I have a couple Dodge heavy trucks with factory air brakes. 16-1/2" X 7" rears and 16"X2" on the fronts, way too big for your truck.Also all the axles are much bigger/Heavier and completely different than on your Dodge/Eaton 1350 2 spd rear end and 4000lb front axle.

Also there is a bunch of plumbing to be done let alone how to and what model of air compressor to mount. You also need a dual belt fan and crank pulley asuming you will keep the flathead engine. Factory air compressors are mounted directly to the block with a heavy cast bracket and are oiled/and cooled by the engine-are you going to be able to do/fit all the parts necessary and make it DOT safe? All the parts necessary are shown in the 1948-53 parts book, there is a lot of them too. I'd think I'd probably leave it stock.

Bob

[MBF]

I'm with DodgeB4. Rebuild what you have. The easiest way to add air brakes would be to change out both axles. Then you're going to have to find a way to mount the compressor, valving, tanks and plumb the system. The problem with bigger axles is that you're probably going to have to move the spring perches on the rear, and God knows what up front. The axles will also most likely be wider than what is under the truck. If the rear is from a diesel it will most likely be geared too high for the flathead, and will stick out past the sides of the vehicle. Then there is going to be the issue of a CDL with an air brake endorsement. Mike

[41/53dodges]

i agree, what would you even do for a brake pedal?

[Big50Dodge]

I am looking at purchasing a B-1-FA, Door tag actually says 14,500 gross weight instead of 13,500.

Nice choice I would say....

I am looking to use this truck as a regular work truck for promotional reasons so i want good reliable safe brakes for highway speeds.

Has anyone put modern size air brakes on the medium/heavier B series?

My family is a bunch of truck drivers, i can figure most all of it out. fabricate the rest. the main problem is finding drums that fit the five lug axles.

what is the actual bolt pattern (spacing) on the 1 1/2 ton wheels.

What about the 10 lug wheels on the heavier B series? do they match the bolt pattern of modern trucks? can i change out the hubs to the heavier hubs to do this?

I would like to avoid pulling the whole rearend and putting a modern truck rearend under there because i would LOVE to retain the original dodge two speed rear end with the low low gears. The front axle, im not so picky about.

From what I understand, the 5 lug is the same as the 10 bolt - using the 10 bolt rims on your truck, you'd have every other lug empty. But the 10 bolt drums - I think Dodgeb4ya would have more experience than I on the brake sizing.

I've got a '50 (in signature) that I have been looking for a dual master to work with. No luck yet. I've got the single master out and on the bench with a rebuilt kit and all, but the inside is scored. I might try the rebuild anyway. The master that was on the truck when I got it, was from a 1 ton (1.25 inch bore for the 'D' vs the 1.5 inch bore on a 'F'). The smaller master is in better shape, but probably won't stop the truck as well.

If you happen accross a dual master that will work, I'd be interested in the make / model / year of truck it comes from. Either that, or the part number of the master, so I could get one.

Keith

[rich8483]

Then there is going to be the issue of a CDL with an air brake endorsement. Mike

no, there shouldnt be. anything under 26,000 pounds does not require a CDL whether it has air brakes or not. It will only require a Chauffeurs license. Which i already have, and have operated trucks for other companies with air brakes already.

Has anyone done a disk brake conversion, or any kind of larger brakes?

Im asking because i would like to use the truck when done, at least weekly, loaded and at highway speeds, which will, i realize would require an overdrive/or different engine.

I would just feel safer with more brake at that weight and speed.

[PatS....]

Your biggest hurdle by far will be getting it inspected and licensed. If you plan on modifying the existing chassis, best bet would be to get it inspected and licensed before you do any mods. Around here, after it's licenced, DMV has no further interest.

The ones who WILL have an interest would be the insurance company. Most ask specifically if it has been modified...which may require another inspection. For instance, having 10 hole wheels but only using 5 would not get past even the most lenient inspection.

I would think buying a salvage running chassis with all the goodies you were looking at, and switch bodies.

Then, an inspection would be a breeze because it would only have to meet B-1-FA specs which it would meet easily. Around here they would use the body serial number for registration. They don't care about the chassis numbers.

There is still the insurance company to deal with though.

[rich8483]

What about a shop manual that covers brake replacement on the 1 1/2 ton? Ive been looking at this website http://www.dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/know.htm , and i cant find specifically brake replacement covering drum removal and what not on the back axle.

better yet. where would i buy parts if i decide to retain the 48 setup?

rockauto, which is usually pretty good about that stuff seems to only list a couple of bearings.

[KJ's Dodge]

Any good industrial brake shop should be able to reline the original shoes for you. Rebuilding the wheel cylinders if they are not in to bad of shape is a simple task and parts and rebuild kits are readily available from your local parts store like Napa.

New single master cylinders are readily available but you could also consider moving to a dual cylinder and there is a number of threads on this forum about doing that.

You can find the boosters remanufactured from numerous companies. I went with Reman Brake out of Atlanta and they had the correct booster to me with in a few days for around $200. If you can find the diaphrams and brake cylinder kits you can rebuild them yourself.

The brakes are well engineered for your truck's rated capacity. I am not sure if anyone on here has had a two speed axle in addition to adding a two speed overdrive. I have seen an F series B1 recently with a 2 speed Brownie located on the driveline but I am pretty sure it was only an F and not an FA. I thought about purchasing it as a parts truck.

Edited October 27, 2010 by KJ's Dodge