Ok, I have less than 2 months until my car gets inspected. Actually it should have already, but the old sticker's on the windshield and about to expire. At some point my El Camino had a dual exhaust installed and someone decide it'd be easier to cut the parking brake line than make it work.

Apparently this bracket's loose as well. Can anyone tell me how it's supposed to work on a 5th gen and what I should do to make it able to pass inspection?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3768527/photo/parking%20brake.jpg

You see that cable that is cut at the top. That should extend about half way down the car under the drivers door, it is ran through that hole on the left side. The bottom cable has a threaded end and a but, this is the adjustment for the cables. Now there should be a cable coming from the parking brake at the front. Replace the back cut cable then link the 2 in the middle using a clip. Look at another g body at the junk yard an you'll see what I'm saying. The cable slip into a link at the middle

Thanks tony, so right now I lost track of time and have a little over a week to do this. I'm thinking of buying a front cable, but can someone explain why this is $12: http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts/85/chevrolet/el_camino/parking_brake/parking_brake_cable.html?3593=248025, and this is $65: http://www.elcaminostore.com/el-camino-parking-brake-cable-front-with-automatic-transmission-oe-steel-1981-1987.html

And what's this? http://www.elcaminostore.com/el-camino-parking-brake-cable-connector-1982-1987.html

are there more than just the front and two rears?

The connector just goes on the end of the front cable, to hook it to the center/intermediate cable, which connects to the cables at the rear wheels.

The El Camino store will normally get more for a cable than an auto parts place, if you were to check around for prices. And the Dorman brand front cable is a reliable part usually.

Anybody know where I can get an intermediate cable then? I have no idea why no place sells this stuff, or makes it so obscure. By the way none of the junkyards near me (30 minutes) have any El Caminos/Chevelles, so I'm against the wall that way as well.

NAPA auto parts, reasonable price great quality and will fit. Have purchased parts from other parts stores, had to re-work Chinese parts to fit. NO more just Napa, pay a little more get good quality. I don't work at napa, just tired of getting the Screws.

So, after rewriting Tony's post I reconfused myself. I need a left or right rear cable? also, Coming from the front to within a inch or so of the bracket is another that's cut, I'm guessing that's the part of the line tony was talking about? I really have no other G-bodies to look at as a reference.

Andy I think juggypile is parting out an Elky PM him and see, maybe he has everything from front to back that you need for a decent price.

Andy I think juggypile is parting out an Elky PM him and see, maybe he has everything from front to back that you need for a decent price.

Pm'd him, they were no good. Called several junkyards within an hour or so from my house, nothing. I tried ordering all the cables from NAPA then just returning what I didn't need but turns out they need to be custom made and are non refundable. that said, it seems to me I need a new front cable then I need to some how make a bracket that holds all 3 cables together? I'm thinking a bolt, washer, like 1x3 inch piece of metal, with hole in the middle for the bolt, then cables, then 1x3 inch metal, a washer, and a nut to torque it all together, would that work?

There are actually 4 cables and some associated bracketry from front to back. Cable 1 starts at the ebrake pedal, and runs down the firewall and under the car to a type of clip, where it connects to cable 2. This is located under the drivers floorboard Cables 1 and 2 both have an end swedged on that won't come off. Any time I've seen a rear end removed in a hurry, the quickest way is to cut that clip. Clip is not a very good description, but I don't have a better one. Anyway, cable 2 runs to a bracket that hangs in free air on side A. Side B has 2 cables coming out of it, one to each drum brake. You will need to loosen the adjuster nuts on cables 2,3, and 4 (working from memory, there might not be that many adjuster nut). With the adjusters backed off, you can get enough slack in cable 2 for ir to engage the clip, then tighten the adjusters up until they are tight. You will probably have to fiddle with adjustment until it's right. Cable 1 is usually never a problem, unless the end comes off the cable. So from the front of the car identify the cables, clip and bracket. The clips are readily available, the bracket and cables not so much, and you might have to get them from a vendor.

Did you see my photo in the first post? I think I need a front cable and clips, but I'm not sure.

Yes I did. The item pictured is what I referred to as the bracket and cables 3 and 4, and the nut shown is the adjuster I spoke of. Is that the only components for the ebrake you have?

Yes, and the #2 cable I guess. I haven't seen an intermediate cable sold anywhere, I'm guessing it's just a forward cable and they ditch the intermediate clip

Here you go.
Jack

Thank you Jack, I think I will print that out and bring it to NAPA, see if that will narrow down the parts I need.

Using that pdf file, front to back using my earlier references is cable 1, the clip, cable 2, the bracket, and cables 3 and 4

Just Plain John and I are working on it via PM. I got a big "PASS" next to parking brake on my inspection. Still would like for it to actually work. Once it's figured out I'll post what I did, nothing pisses me off more than a 10+ post archived thread that ends with "Fixed it, thanks guys" with absolutely no mention of the solution. Haven't come across any here yet, just on the rest of the interwebs.