1953 Cadillac series 62 sedan emergency brake help

[thinxman]

Hello, this is my first 53 project.  This car has been sitting for 34 years in a damp leaky garage.  All 4 wheels are locked and i think the e-brake was set when it was stored.  Im looking for ways to undo it so I can roll the car. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you

Tommy

[Quentin Hall]

34 years is a long time. Release the brake and take the car out of reverse which is park on the hydramatic cars.( there was a fire at the hydra mastic plant aug 12 53. Subsequent cars had Buick dynaflow boxes. Dynaflow cars have Park on the selector.
    With brake released and neutral selectedyou should be able to rock the car and if not you may have no option but to drag it unless you can pull apart each drum manually.
If you must drag it make sure to put the chain around the lower control arm or the diff. Don’t put it around the bumpers as they can get damaged.
     Sometimes a drag might be enough to break free the offending stuck shoes.
Definitely make a full brake rebuild your first port of call.

[Quentin Hall]

The park brake only holds the two rear drums. So if the fronts are stuck then it is the shoes binding on rusty drum faces. Spray some penetrant in to help loosen the grit and grime.

[V63]

You could ‘try’ and retract  each brake adjustment star wheel until it bottoms. If ithey will even turn. You could also remove the wheel cylinder retaining bolts, and grind the hold 2 shoe hold down pins from the back side. This might allow enough movement to pull the drums. If you drag the car...it’s best to do so in reverse. Drum brakes ‘leverage’ tighter with forward motion.

Your situation sounds like these wheels are REALLY seized!

I found myself in this conundrum once. I was traveling and trying to transport the vehicle home. I tried everything to get the drums s off. Finally, What I did was shatter the drums with a hammer. The inside assembly looked like all was coated with coffee grounds (rusted). My subject was a 1958 Cadillac. With the outer drums ‘gone’ the wheels were free to turn.

[Quentin Hall]

Post some pics of the cars position where it is and where the access for a tilt tray is. You are best getting the car up on a hoist so that you can get access.

[thinxman]

thank you for the replies.  One of these weekends i will try to get the brakes free.  I got the car last week and this past weekend i spent looking the car over and putting air into the four flat tires.

thank you

tommy