It sounds like you are missing a couple pieces.  There is a lever that goes under the drive shaft and pivots in a bracket on the right side of the car.  The lever is a piece of about 1X1/8 flat bar maybe ~8" long that is twisted at one end with a slotted hole through a "dished, curved" form.  The cable from the hand brake (under the dash board) threads into a half round piece and forms part of the adjustment. This  is to the left hand side of the car. The other end of the lever seats in a slotted bracket on the chassis so that the ~5/16" hole in the lever is directly under the drive shaft.  Then there is a L shaped piece of 5/16" round bar that is threaded 5/16" 24.  The long threaded end of this round bar goes into the horseshoe that is on the cables to the rear wheels.   The other end of the L goes into the hole in the lever and is held by a cotter key.  The lever serves to increase the force from the hand brake handle to the shoes in the rear drums.   I am sorry I do not have a picture of it all.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

I have a pretty new project (56 Fairlane) and had to fabricate a cross member for the trans. There is a bracket on the handbrake cable, under the body, but no visible place to mount it either on the cross member or frame. This bracket mounts before the adjustment threads which tightens the e-brakes, just can't identify the location. Does anyone have a pic they can send me?  Thanks