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View Full Version : Hand brake conversion from footbrake (Spirit posibly others)



Speedeuphoria
08-28-2006, 12:30 PM
I have seen a couple of people writing about this(maybe on another site) so I figured their was an interest.

So I have an 89 Spirit
I had rusty wheel wells and floor(not any longer) and when I put new metal in I cut the floor where the cable went and replaced it w/ a solid peice(doesn't really matter, just giving my motive)
I also swaped to 11" vented rear brakes

I stole the center counsole from a 91 Daytona/Lebarron since its the only one that came w/ a hand brake and an Auto trans.

I got the center counsole, shifter, hand brake, and the metal mounting plate underneath it.
I took the old stuff out, noted that the new one wouldn't fit, so I cut the metal that sticks up from the floor then pounded it flat(kinda) enough for the new metal peice would fit.
I also had to drill 2 holes in it where there were studs in the floor. Sits good, so I also screwed 2 more screws to the floor.
I bought some new parking brake cables for a 91 Daytona(the equal length ones) then put them on the brakes. The Daytona runs the cables through 2 rubber gromets in the rear floor, well the Spirit had the same holes w/ rubber plugs, so I drilled holes in those for the cables to fit(3/4" I think) the cables pass through them great w/ the extra rubber sleeves on them makes a great seal also. Hooked it up to the hand brake and I'm in business. Just some ripples in the rear carpet from the cables.

I also have an aftermarket ratchet shifter so I had to do some other work for that as well

I believe the 5spd swap should be the same as long as the center counsoles are similar.

The tricky part is that the Daytona center counsole doesn't go all the way up to the dash and is offset more. The best I could come up w/ so far is to cut the factory counsole off right around where the shifter is, then do some trimming and fitting(in and out of the car). The main problem in my case is w/ my shifter, I have to bolt the shifter down and then the 2 merged counsoles won't fit in place because of the shifter lever(its curved forward) this is why I can't mold them together and paint to make it look like one peice.

I will have pics up soon.

86lance
09-04-2006, 09:16 PM
i was definately thinking about this with my daytona if i opt to keep the body and repair all the rust. So pix would be awesome!

Speedeuphoria
01-24-2007, 02:18 PM
heres a crappy pic from a while ago just to show it mounted

when it gets warm I'll finish the interior and post more
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n314/speedeuphoria/Picture173.jpg

mpgmike
01-28-2007, 11:12 AM
Funny, I'm converting an L body hand brake to a floor pedal. The reason is to move the shifter back to a more comfortable position.

Mike

turbojerk
01-29-2007, 01:39 PM
Funny, I'm converting an L body hand brake to a floor pedal. The reason is to move the shifter back to a more comfortable position.

Mike

Mike, just shorten the stock handle...Much easier to do, plus who likes a foot e-brake anyhow!?!:thumb:


T

capev86
01-31-2007, 01:59 PM
well, seeing as how i have a bech seat instead of buckets and console in my k wagon (and plan to keep it that way for practical reasons) the foot e-brake is very convenient. a little more tough when you have a 5spd, but my car is an auto and i've never had a problem.

i personally think a floor auto is stupid (and a waste of space) but it does make a 5spd conversion easier!

Dave
01-31-2007, 03:40 PM
I'm curious to see how the center console came out.

It would be nice to have a hand brake, but I'd need a tall porno-handle for a van. ;)

mpgmike
02-02-2007, 12:51 AM
Mike, just shorten the stock handle...Much easier to do, plus who likes a foot e-brake anyhow!?!:thumb:


T

Then you have to lean even further forward to hit third.

turbojerk
02-03-2007, 07:42 AM
Then you have to lean even further forward to hit third.

Sounds like you need to adjust your linkage if it's that noticable for shifts 1-3-5....

mpgmike
02-04-2007, 12:24 AM
It's for Kurt's Horizon GLH clone. It's an automatic originally and I'm installing a 555 with G-body cables. Shifting the shifter rearward will take up some slack in the cables and make for a more comfortable shifter location. Plus, it will stand out in a Carlisle crowd.

Mike