The Ford Barn

Neal · 08-27-2013, 01:59 PM

I have a '36 that has what looks like the huck cylinders on the front brakes. The car had not been run for years so the brakes now need to be rebuilt. The rear brakes look to be '40 Ford or that era. The system is ran off of '39 pedals.

The front brake linings are like new. Just need to replace the brake cylinders. Is the huck conversion any good? Should I toss them and switch to Ford hydraulics? What experiences have you had?

Thank you. Neal

Bruce Lancaster · 08-27-2013, 02:50 PM

The Ansen conversions for '28-38 Fords used the original type backing plates for the vehicle in question (the actual originals were exchanged for already reworked ones), using the Chevy/Huck cylinders because they contained an integral adjustment provision. The original adjuster was cut out when they made the hole so the Huck stuff was made to order for this. Mechanicals were rotated and redrilled for rear brakes so cylinder would be at the top, and of course original drums were used.
The kits were complete with stock to make lines and nicely made brackets to give the master cylinder a home. Don't know what they did for shoes...probably notched originals to meet the pistons.
The things must have been big sellers as they were in all the speed and JC Whitney catalogs for a long time, but I've only seen fragments in flea markets and I have never encountered, as far as I know, any in actual use.

Mart · 08-27-2013, 03:40 PM

Sounds like it may be simpler to rework with 40's stuff.

Mart.

Bruce Lancaster · 08-27-2013, 04:22 PM

I would think so!

Neal · 08-28-2013, 06:44 AM

Thank you for the replies.

It is tempting to fix them up to see how they work. I don't see why they won't.

I am going to go through my pile of stuff and see what I have that is Ford.

Will keep you posted if I fix them up and how they work.

Neal

Bruce Lancaster · 08-28-2013, 10:11 AM

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Get hold of an outfit like "Chevy of the '40's" and see if you can match up the wheel cylinders for new seals. If you can locate parts counter guy who can log onto a "Catalog", I think the big brake parts companies note diameters of seals...
You said your shoes are good, so no worries there.
The brakes themselves are not Huck and should work fine...the originals were good brakes but potentially troubled by actuator shaft twist and wear in the linkage, all gone with this conversion.

08-27-2013, 01:59 PM	#1
Neal Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 129	Huck hydraulic conversion (Ansen) I have a '36 that has what looks like the huck cylinders on the front brakes. The car had not been run for years so the brakes now need to be rebuilt. The rear brakes look to be '40 Ford or that era. The system is ran off of '39 pedals. The front brake linings are like new. Just need to replace the brake cylinders. Is the huck conversion any good? Should I toss them and switch to Ford hydraulics? What experiences have you had? Thank you. Neal

08-27-2013, 02:50 PM	#2
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Huck hydraulic conversion (Ansen) The Ansen conversions for '28-38 Fords used the original type backing plates for the vehicle in question (the actual originals were exchanged for already reworked ones), using the Chevy/Huck cylinders because they contained an integral adjustment provision. The original adjuster was cut out when they made the hole so the Huck stuff was made to order for this. Mechanicals were rotated and redrilled for rear brakes so cylinder would be at the top, and of course original drums were used. The kits were complete with stock to make lines and nicely made brackets to give the master cylinder a home. Don't know what they did for shoes...probably notched originals to meet the pistons. The things must have been big sellers as they were in all the speed and JC Whitney catalogs for a long time, but I've only seen fragments in flea markets and I have never encountered, as far as I know, any in actual use.

08-27-2013, 03:40 PM	#3
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,752	Re: Huck hydraulic conversion (Ansen) Sounds like it may be simpler to rework with 40's stuff. Mart.

08-27-2013, 04:22 PM	#4
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Huck hydraulic conversion (Ansen) I would think so!

08-28-2013, 06:44 AM	#5
Neal Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 129	Re: Huck hydraulic conversion (Ansen) Thank you for the replies. It is tempting to fix them up to see how they work. I don't see why they won't. I am going to go through my pile of stuff and see what I have that is Ford. Will keep you posted if I fix them up and how they work. Neal

08-28-2013, 10:11 AM	#6
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Huck hydraulic conversion (Ansen) Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Get hold of an outfit like "Chevy of the '40's" and see if you can match up the wheel cylinders for new seals. If you can locate parts counter guy who can log onto a "Catalog", I think the big brake parts companies note diameters of seals... You said your shoes are good, so no worries there. The brakes themselves are not Huck and should work fine...the originals were good brakes but potentially troubled by actuator shaft twist and wear in the linkage, all gone with this conversion.