I've pretty much got the new tunnel design done. I say pretty much, because I decided to test out my donor hand brake assembly and make absolutely sure it would fit before finalizing the design and doing new drawings.
My memory was that it was an easy fit, but my memory is a scary thing to base a welded steel design on. So, I spent an hour digging everything out of storage. Of course, the hand brake was at the very bottom of the last storage tub I pulled out of the racks. The silly thing fits, but isn't appropriate for the tunnel top, which is where I planned to put it (photo). It sticks up too far (the photo shows it as low as it goes) and is going to be a comfort and safety issue. Besides, the silly thing weighs a ton. It's at least 3X the weight of the steel it would be mounted on. I'm going to find an alternative to it that's smaller and lighter and has a lower profile.
Attachment:
Mustang-Handbrake.jpg
I got to thinking about a '40 Ford hot rod I had years ago. The previous owner had put an electric emergency brake in it. You pushed on the brake pedal and threw a rocker switch, and it was on. Taking it off was just the reverse. Put pressure on the brake pedal then throw the switch the other way and it was off. He was a truck driver and said he got it off a truck. I have no idea which truck, but I'm going to poke around the Internet and see if I can find such an animal. If not, I'll look for a mechanical setup that fits my tunnel better, or will mount along side it, not on top.
Attachment:
3rd-Gen-Tunnel.jpg
I'm thinking a piece 1/2"x1/2" (19mm x 19mm) of RHS placed inside the upper rectangle of 1"x1/2" RHS on the tunnel top at both sides will finish this design structurally. It should be very strong indeed and I was hoping to mount the hand brake to tabs welded to it and the 1"x1/2", with the handle fitting at least half an inch or so down into the tunnel top. I'll see what I can find today and then finalize the design and do the drawings. Then I've got to build it. Too bad there isn't 3D printing for space frames yet. It would be done in an hour or two in that case. I can make an STL file easily.
Cheers,