Hi all, I'm new here.

I got an '85 Camino w/ 307 (not that it matters). It needs an e-brake cable to pass inspection. While I replace it I was considering converting that lame foot brake that's always awkward/impossible to operate to a handbrake.

Has anybody done this before? What should I know or consider before embarking? would the cable route from the hand brake to the drums, or would routing them to the original pedal and removing the ratchet be better?

If anybody's done this or know's of a good kit please let me know. Thanks, Andrew

The 85 Camaro hand break will work, but you need to get ALL the parts (to the drum) to make the swap.

I have thought about doing the same thing (mounting the parking brake in a different location). I have looked at the Lokar universal floor mount emergency hand brake and cables. You can find these along with a boot for the parking brake at Speedway Motors. See http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Lokar-Floor-Mount-Emergency-Hand-Brake,22638.html

You could adapt one from a Camaro or Firebird and there is Lokar also.

Yeah I saw those. Not a whole lot of documentation with it. looks like you just gotta cut a hole in the carpet and bolt it to the floor? They also have transmission mount. That might be easier/ look cleaner? do you have an auto trans? we might be able to work this out....

I guess I'm not following this correctly........why change a stock parking brake system ?? Awkward to use??? don't understand....
inlinetube.com, and others, have the parts to fix the original.

Only problem I ever see with a parking brake is that they don't get used enough, and the cables in the housings get froze and wont move.

I'd eventually like to convert to a manual transmission, a hand brake would give me roll control. Additionally I'd like to try some light rallycross competition.

Alright this whole thing is fubar. coming out of the driver's side frame rail is about 5 feet of cable with the end all frayed, Close to the left rear wheel looks like a bracket with 2 cables coming out of it, one to the left rear and the other presumably to the right. I guess I need a whole parking brake kit, to get it to OEM, not hand brake, specs?

I have thought about it a few times. Would be fun to do some drifting.:texas::nanawrench:

yeah, just to piss off the imports. Anyways, I'll upload pics of this mess. at this point I was thinking it may be easier and cheaper to repair OEM but now I'm not sure

Let me get this straight? You don't know how to operate a foot brake and you've seen the "Slow and the Pissed off Toyko Drift" one too many times? Just do yourself a favor and get a Honda..........:screwy:

Let me get this straight? You don't know how to operate a foot brake and you've seen the "Slow and the Pissed off Toyko Drift" one too many times? Just do yourself a favor and get a Honda..........:screwy:

I know how to operate a foot brake, I just don't feel like bringing my knee behind my ear. I tried watching drifting today on tv and turned it off after about 30 seconds, just a waste of tires. A handbrake is just a lot more convenient.

I don't think this is so much a hand brake conversion thread anymore as it is a "Let me get my car to pass inspection" thread

Let me get this straight? You don't know how to operate a foot brake and you've seen the "Slow and the Pissed off Toyko Drift" one too many times? Just do yourself a favor and get a Honda..........:screwy:

hey be careful with what u say, i hate imports as much as the next guy, but this is just offensive. also i think this would be a cool deal because i never have seen this done, dont discourage members from doing custom work to their el caminos.

I'm surprised this is considered all that "custom". I thought it'd be one of the first things owners do.

:neutral:Pix, give me a break!! This thread looks like it was posted by a 12 yr old. The only reason you’ve never seen a hand brake conversion in an elky or a chevelle is because it’s a waste of time and money not to mention would just look stupid. Even his lame excuse about “rally crossing” rings hollow. I raced SCCA for 2 yrs and no one uses a hand brake to control their cars. They are more concerned about things like sway bars, shocks, caster and camber, unsprung weight, and tires. He really does need a Honda to full fill his fantasies :neutral:

yes I bought an El Camino because I mistakenly thought they were made by honda. Now that I've seen it's got too many spark plugs and the engine's the wrong way I'll need to sell it. Thanks for helping me out!

gah, yeah is is a fantasy that i have never seen done, probably for a reason, and yeah i personally see no appeal in it. and yes hondas are more used for that "sport" of drifting, but hey, if the guy wants to tear up some tires i say let him, i cant get onto him because i am wanting to put a 1973 buick century front clip on mine.

Why spend money on something useful for a car when you can drop $300 on a set of tires that are no good after 1 day? But in all seriousness, how does a handbrake = drifting? sure it can break traction at the rear wheels but that doesn't mean any car equipped with a hand brake is meant to be drifted.

not to mention the increased safety. If your brakes gave out how easily could you reach the foot parking brake? Now what about a hand brake? I have had my brakes give out and luckily there was enough pressure in the system that I could bleed off enough speed to eventually stop, despite rolling through a stop sign 200 feet away from a fire station. Now to skssrat's displeasure I did not get T-boned by a fire truck, however, I would've enjoyed being able to stop without pulling my knee to my chest and losing steering control because my shin was in the way.

At least your idea has some merit, Pix. Oh, and andy you may want to go with a paddleshift along with your e-brake conversion. We don't want that clutch pedal getting in your way also do we?

ok yes we assumed drifting, but also i can any day use my parking brake if needed to stop without my knee being in my chest, and i have very long legs. i know that i can do this because recently my brakes had a complete failure and would not help, so i simply shifted it into 2nd and eventually into 1st to use a sort of engine brake, then i popped it in neutral and applied the parking brake with my left hand holding the release so that i could control it.

I've been here less than a week and get flamed for seeking advice. I'm pretty sure there's other forums I could join and not get these responses. Seriously, if it was over ambitious, say that. If you think it wouldn't look right, say that. If you think I'm going to drift it, ask me. Personally I think it'd be at least interesting seeing an El Camino do it, it'd something unique but it's not something I want to do, nor build my El Camino into that.

The direction I wanted to go into was a fun driving car. Not a race car and not a show car. A car that looks good and is fun to drive. Ultimately a manual gearbox, not a flappy paddle dual clutch (again that'd be something interesting to see on a chevy) as well as a nice, smooth powerful engine (perhaps a late model corvette swap) though this is of course, years away. I'm not 12, I'm 19. I'm interested in classic cars and wanted a project to work on.

I'm not into taking an import and putting a massive exhaust pipe and lights on it and calling it a day, although others my age are, I've seen their cars. I'm trying to educate myself and learn more and hopefully get something nice out of it. I would appreciate your help and advice here.

Now, I can see why a hand brake is unreasonable, could I get help with my conventional foot brake? I was able to pull about 5 feet of cable out from the driver's side frame rail, with the rear end all frayed. Near the left rear wheel I found a bracket with one cable going to the left drum and the other one presumably the right. This bracket is basically flopping around. Should it be attached to something? Of course photos would be beneficial but there was an emergency in the family today and I did not have to take pictures before it got dark. I'll try again tomorrow, if I have time between work and school.

ok well i have no idea, i personally think it would look wrong and be to hard to do, also i dont know where that bracket goes. and just a fun fact, i am 17 and i am into muscle cars and classics

I appreciate that. I'd rather have you tell me you don't think it would look right than have me do it and be disappointed. Right now I think I'll pass on a conversion, I might look into it more when I get a manual tranny.

You "flamed" Yourself Andy and if you do go another foum with the same statements you made here most people will tell you the same thing., Your not seeking advice ,you were trying to "impress" someone. Sorry, I'm not impressed with your E-brake converision ideas. I saw right though that. Put an oem cable back in, do some racing and then come back in and ask a question we might all care about and most of all grow up a bit. Even Pix, who is 2 yrs your junior has more common sense than it seems you do.........:violin:

Who was I trying to impress? Certainly not you. And what did you see through? I can't put the OEM cable back in it's cut and frayed. Hence my search for support.

put a new OEM cable on is what SKSSRAT is telling you, which is your best bet, also he may be a bit harsh at times but he is damn good with these cars.

Ok, I'll upload pics just too be sure, make sure I don't need a complete kit. The guy I bought it from said it needed the left parking brake cable replaced, dunno how much I trust him, he seemed to do a lot of things half assed. But does that bracket need to be attached to something? I guess the main cable can pull the bracket which then pulls the other 2 cables but it seems to me it'd be really flimsy and the OEM way has the bracket bolted to something and the main cable pulls the other 2, which is the way I think I've seen it done. I ordered a bunch of tech manuals I could take a look at them when they finally arrive.


This Thread was closed due to the postings that were getting more & more discourteous and downright rude. Those involved need to re-read the posting rules.................Ken