1967 emergency brake handle style?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?

According to the 1968-69 and the 1970-72 JGs, there is a difference in the raised pattern on the handles--crosshatch vs. parallel dots. True or not? (We need this info for the revision of JG anyway. This is a good time to get it.)

Perhaps Joe Lucia can verify by part number(s).

Reba------


Part numbers are of no help here. The same part number for the lever assembly, GM #3897428, was used for 1967 through 1976, PRODUCTION and SERVICE. Apparently, the nuance changes to the plastic portion of the lever occurred WITHIN that part number, perhaps by official revisions. However, ALL versions use a styrene plastic which is weak and brittle. In my opinion, it was NEVER a suitable material for a handle like this.

GM didn't get this part right until at least 1977 with the release of the GM #378207 lever assembly. This assembly used a different and much stronger plastic for the handle. Why it took 10 years to get it right I'll never know. However, it took them about 50 years to get the oil drain plug and gasket right so maybe, in that context, 10 years is not so bad.