C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

[Brad K.]

Can anyone give me some detail on the appearance of the original flexible brake hoses on a C1 ? There is no info in the 58-60 TIM/JG so my assumption is they are not judged....however I have a few "nit-picky" questions anyway (some might call me anal!)

-Were the fittings plated?
-Was the rubber hose fluted or smooth?
-Were there numbers or dates on them?
-Does anyone care??

Thanks,
Brad

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

Brad-----

1) The fittings were zinc plated. I don't think that originals had the chromate (i.e. "gold") overplate, but most SERVICE replacements do;

2) The hose on later C1s was ribbed. I don't know if the hose on earlier C1s was ribbed or smooth. I have seen some GM SERVICE hoses that were smooth but I don't know what period that they were used in PRODUCTION, if ever;

3) My recollection is that there was some "writing" on the hoses, but I don't know if it was true for all C1s. Later ones with the ribbed hoses had it;

4) I have no idea if anyone cares, or not.

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

1953 to 57 was smooth that I know of, no writing and zinc, but later ?

[Paul M.]

Re: C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

All flexable brake hoses are smooth until some time during the 60 production year. No markings and the ends are a zinc or clear CAD finish. Sometime in 60 the hoses went to ribbed and the brake bleeder style also changed.

[Rodney R.]

Re: C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

Does anyone know if the ribbed style are available? I have a March built 1960 that had ribbed hoses, but I need to replace them.

Thanks, Rod Reid

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

Rod------

The ribbed style are what you'll mostly, if not exclusively, find today. However, the other features of the hoses may not be as-original. For one thing, most current hoses have the chromate (i.e. "gold") overplate of the zinc plating. The chromate is VERY easily removed, though. Usually a very quick immersion in a mildly acidic solution followed by a flushing rinse will remove it.

[Brad K.]

Re: C1 - Flexible Brake Hoses

Paul,
What do you mean when you say the "brake bleeder style" changed in 1960?
Brad