Bounty Hunter Transvair emergency brake set up help needed

[dlyle]

I've got a Bounty Hunter with the Transvair set up and a 110 HP motor. I'm trying to figure out how to hook up the emergency brake. When I got this all the cables were cut.

Does anyone own one of these that can answer some questions for me?

I have both Corvair and VW cables to work with. I can't tell if I use the Corvair cable in the rear and then use the VW cables to tie in to it.

I've got the Corvair cable in there to see what it looks like. It currently runs under the shifter linkage but I assume it need to go over the top since it would act like an arresting wire on an aircraft carrier. Even if it goes over the top it will be real close to the shifter mechanism.

Where do the cables from the front exit the tunnel? This is a Transvair so it is different from a normal VW.

My guess is that on a Corvair the brackets that hold the cables are closer together. The way it is on the Transvair the cable is flat in front and does not come to a point that would be easy to pull. If I were to attach a pull cable it would scrape on the front flat bracket that the transmission mount attaches to.

thanks in advance!

Doug

In this picture below you can see the cable running parallel to the front mounting plate. If I were to attach a cable to this in the middle it would scrape against that plate.

If I were to go to a single cable on each side those little brackets that receive the cable point them right to the front plate.

[GS guy]

Not sure about the Transvair setup, but my 1965 chassis shop manual shows the cable routing similar to most US cars from the 60/70's: the bare cables come together somewhere ahead of the rear axle (near the rear of the tunnel in the Corvair) and combine into 1 cable going forward. A series of guides and rollers under the chassis directs the cable to the parking brake handle under the dash. Except for the rear sheathed part, cables are bare and held taught by the adjustment. You might have to come up with something similar for your BH? My Deserter GS has a simple guide tube system that directs the cables starting just behind the VW brake handle, then up to chassis brackets on either side, where the sheathed part of the cables takes over and directs to the rear brakes. Rest of the restoration is looking good!
Jeff
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70's vintage Deserter GS buggy - undergoing transformation to Super GS!

[BL3Manx]

Doug, You can see that VW had a pair of cable guide tubes anchored/tack welded to a small bracket at the top of the tunnel just behind emergency brake handle. The tubes went aft and exited the sides of the frame horns(which have been cut of on your chassis)

You could bend a pair of guide tubes, tack weld then to a small bracket which you weld inside the top of the tunnel (through a 1/2" hole) just behind the parking brake handle. Right about where #6 is pointing below

Anchor the rear end of the tubes where they exit the bottom rear of the tunnel so the tubes are aligned toward the cable anchor points on the transvair mount plate

I'm sure this is easier to describe then to do but it would be the closest to original and probably most reliable

[dlyle]

Thanks for the pictures Nelson. When I got my car it had the leftover vw cables still attached. Looked like they mad a crude attempt to hook it to the remainder of the Corvair cables.


Rob was nice enough to send me these photos. My cable looks just like this and as you can see it passes or runs parallel to that front plate mount. Once you pull it over the top of the shift linkage it's a little tighter

I don't see a way to attach that to the front vw cables unless I run them separately to the back and drill holes and put tubes at the rear of the tunnel like you explained. I can't really remember where the previous cables exited the frame. I'll double check my photos. Trying to avoid having to have special cables made but that may not be possible

[GS guy]

I think the common cable between the two rear brake assemblies is attached to a clevis of some sort near the middle that allows attachment of a separate cable going forward, which simply pulls against the common cable to actuate the e-brake shoes - for standard Corvair function. I don't recall if you mentioned if your chassis uses the Corvair or VW e-brake handle? If VW, the pull cables would have to go almost straight down or steep angle to connect to the common 'vair cable, and there doesn't seem to be enough free space to actuate/pull the 'vair cable in that manner with your chassis? You might be better served with cables and handle assembly from Lokar or similar aftermarket company, or else fabricate custom guide tubes from your brake handle down to the frame connections on the flat plate. VW has various OEM cable lengths (Bug, Ghia, Bus, etc) which could be customized but I doubtful these would work as-is with the 'vair brake/shoe connection? The good thing is the 'vair side connection should be standard GM, so the hot-rod world should have cables that will connect right up. You could use the buggy cable "shortening kit" ends for the VW handle end once the cables are the proper length.
Jeff
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70's vintage Deserter GS buggy - undergoing transformation to Super GS!

[rayjay]

On that subframe pic I would think there would need to be a couple of pulleys for the corvair cable to pivot on. One pulley on each side of that central tab. These pulleys would be mounted to the subframe on custom brackets. Then one cable from that tab going forward to the handle.

ETA, I looked at the OP's pics and his cables are at an angle, not straight across. Not much room to go forward. Maybe add some pulleys and the single cable from the handle loops around and comes to the Corvair cable from the rear ???

[BL3Manx]

If there is a 3" to 4" gap between where the guide tubes end/exit the bottom rear of the tunnel and the Corvair cable anchor points, you might be able to fit a pair of cable clamps into the gap, splicing the VW cables and Corvair cables

[dlyle]

Yeah seems that the best way may be to go with the guide tubes and separate cables.

Here you can see the old cable locations.

[BL3Manx]

That looks like it puts a sharp angle on the cable from where it exits the cut off frame horn

If you could bend some guide tubes with smooth S curves and tack weld them in place. They could exit out the bottom of the tunnel farther forward and so have a less sharp final bend

I think if the tubes exited right about where the two white marks are

[dlyle]

I will have some extra tube left over from when I do the clutch tube repair. I may move on to the next item on the to do list and revisit the e brake at a later date.

[BL3Manx]

Doug, I believe this system would work well on your Transvair. Its on the Porsche 944. I think there's a guy in Campbell parting one out on Craigs now. There is also a yard in Rancho Cordova with several

The brake lever has just one cable. The inner cable runs through a flexible outer guide tube and connects to and directly actuates the right rear brake.

The rear of the flexible outer guide tube is anchored in a "compensating bow". When the inner cable pulls the right brake, the guide tube pushes equally hard against the compensating bow.

The other end of the compensating bow is connected to a cable which runs to the left rear brake.

When the parking brake lever is pulled, the compensating bow ensures the same/equal pulling force is applied to the cables to each brake

[SBD]

I'm going by memory here. First off, here's a link.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2331811

If I remember correctly, there is a short article on the Hadley (sp?) TransVair conversion in this book. If you look at the cover it says Volksvair? That's the article. I used to have a copy somewhere but have no idea where it would be now. Might have the info you need.
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"

[dlyle]

[SBD]

Was it the article that showed (they mentioned no longer available) a Porsche style set of rear fenders and deck lid to cover the conversion on a Beetle? Had Beetle tail lights mounted sideways on the fenders. Just trying to remember where I saw it. Sooooo long ago.....
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"

[dlyle]

[SBD]

It wasn't wheels. Just rear fenders and a deck lid that gave a Beetle a bit of a 911 look from the rear. I guess you probably had to squint your eyes quite a bit.
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"

[dlyle]

[SBD]