Frequently asked questions about 4 speed parts..PLEASE ADD TO THIS!!

Well, I have a few questions. I know many of you stated that the brake pedal on a 4spd with power brakes did not have the metal power brake insert. Have all factories Flint, Freemont, Leeds, etc... been validated to prove that metal power brake insert was not installed? I will have in my possession the original 4spd brake pedal cover for my car that has the insert in it. I spoke with the gentleman who pulled it off the car in the early eighties. I trust his word as he has no reason to lie to me about it. The car sat since 76 and the car had 44k miles. It is a leeds car and will have it replaced when I get closer to restoration.

 

With the milage as low as it is and the word of someone I trust. I believe it came on my leeds built car. Much of the information we have is based off of the flint cars. I can understand that. But this was an early built car with all the early built stuff. I can understand things change but for a 5 year old car from rural texas to have changes is limited but possible. I will still have the pad for review. Does the pad have a part # on it?

 

Thanks Jason, I appreciate your thoughts. I am checking with a few more Leeds built 4speeds to see if they have the pedal.

 

Jason, since this was an early built 70 do you think by chance the pad was updated to the solid rubber pad. Just trying to figure this out.

 

I agree with your comment about the assembly manual and as far as the production leeds built a fair share of the makes offered by GM during the time. So it is likely that if the brake pads were not available they may have used Chevy pieces. That makes it wrong for the books but not wrong for how the car was built. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

What are the markings next to my vin stamp? the vin matches the car the other numbers and triangle stamps I dont know what they mean May 1970 build (Flint)

 

Cork, could have been stamped for another car, and the triangles were used to "strike out" that VIN. Since the E's are so prominent, I would make a guess that this was POSSIBLY a service replacement trans. Since service replacement engines were stamped with "E"'s, I would think that is the case with this trans.

 

I thought it was strange that the actual vin is at the right location and other numbers stamped over with the triangle stamps.

 

Phil - I had a 69 Sky that I bought with 34K miles from the little old lady original owner. Car had never been touched .. It was a non-a/c car but the passenger side dash vent was an a/c style one with the on-off slider built into the vent. It should have NOT had this control and been a straigh through vent with the pull knob on the kick panel controlling the flow (which it did have as well ..). I was of the opinion that since the car was manufactured that way, it should be correct.

.. Asking Duane and Brad and a couple others more in the know than me (who have judged at events) they stated - 1) there is no proof that it was made that way, and 2) even if it was made that way, it is incorrect and shouldn't be .. so therefore points would be deducted (if noticed).

In all probability, it rolled down the line, they stuck their paw in the non-a/c vent basket and came up empty so they slammed an a/c vent in it and kept the line moving

 

Alan, you mean disc brake pad, not vent/ AC dash pad/ non-AC dash pad, correct?? Good thing you're on vacation... LOL

 

Thanks for the great conversation about the brake pad. I will end up using a plain black rubber pad on it. I find it interesting the variability of parts used in order to keep the cars rolling down the line. Thanks everyone for chiming in.

 

Phil Green,
The brake pad in your car is the Chevy Style. The Buick style "Disc Brake Trim Ring" is just that, it's a ring with a circle of rubber sticking thru the middle. Yours is a solid metal insignia, and is not the Buick style. Buick never made a stick brake pad with the trim ring.

Now I am not saying that it is not original to your car. Did Leeds make cars other then Buicks?

Maybe that is the answer, and they simply put on one from another make. It certainly would not have stopped me from building that car if I was working on the line.
Duane

 

Duane,

Here is the information I am aware of

General Motors maintained the two division production at the Leeds Assembly plant for 40 Years

The Fisher/Chevy Wall in the Leeds assembly came down in 1969 when the General Motors Assembly Division (GMAD) was formed. This consolidated all assembly operations under one division. General Motors divisions (Fisher Body, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and GMC) were divested of assembly responsibilities. In the 1970s Leeds produced the classic Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the Chevrolet Malibu, and the Chevrolet El Camino.

 

Well then that's what they probably did, installed a Chevy style pad on the car and kept on going.
Duane

 

I think so too, I got the original clutch pedal pad today. I will post the picture of it. shortly

 

Here is the brake pad taken off my car in 1982.

 

I better get on this thread for when I ever put humpty dumpty back together again