66 master cylinder

[frank clark]

I am having a 66 power brake car shipped from california to georgia and the original master cylinder is bad. I need to have the master cylinder fixed prior to shipping. Is there a interchange part that can be bolted in place or do I need to rebuild the old one?
Thanks,
Frank

[William O.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Replacment are avalible from many C-2 corvette parts house, such as Long Island. www.licorvette.com

If you want to rebuild.. Whitepost is probally the best but expensive. 2 weeks.

whitepost.com.

Regards,

Bill

[Donald L.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

If its a correct 66 Delco Power brake M/C , guard with your life. This M/C is one of the hardest M/C to find. Get it rebuilt and sleeved . White Post and Apple Hydralic are two respected rebuilders.

[frank clark]

Re: 66 master cylinder

I'll call LI Corvettes tommorow.
Thanks,
Frank

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Frank-----

For a power brake 65-66, you've got a problem. Those master cylinders are VERY hard to come by. The core charge for these is usually about $500-700. I am not aware of any reproduction yet on the market.

As far as another usable master cylinder, I THINK that you can use the 67-76 1" master cylinder (casting 5455509--code "DC") as a functional replacement. This master cylinder was used for 1967 J-50 applications and I think that it will work for 65-66 applications, too. The problem is that the brake lines to the master cylinder will likely need "adaption" as to fittings and configuration.

You can get one of these at most auto parts stores in rebuilt form for a very inexpensive price. Just ask for a master cylinder for a 1967 Corvette with MANUAL brakes. Actually, the 1967 master cylinder for J-50 power brakes is the same. Howver, auto parts stores and rebuilders catalogs have a lot of confusion with respect to 1967 with power brakes. They'll often sell you a 1-1/8" master cylinder which was, for 1967, only used for J-56 applications. I think that it would work ok for you, too, but I'd stick with the 1" bore size, as-original.

[William O.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Joe is right, hopefully they are avalible from a local parts if not, Long Island Corvette, has a replacement avalible:52-17F
It is a 67' dual reservoir.

http://licorvette.com/master.htm

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

William-----

There shouldn't be any problem getting this one at an auto parts store. The Cardone or other rebuilt line will likely have one at a very economical price. I don't like "auto parts store type" rebuilt master cylinders, at all, but for a temporary installation they'll probably be alright. Bad to worse, they'll be able to order a NEW Raybestos or Wagner unit and probably have it there the same day. The part numbers are as follows:

Raybestos (new)----MC 36367
Wagner (new)-------F 64980
Wagner (rebuilt)---R 64980

[William O.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Your the man Joe! all he needs is a replacment part to get by.

Thank you as always.

[frank clark]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Joe and all. I appreciate your help. The 67 type available from LI Corvette parts seems to be a bolt in. (Ihope) If not I will probably go the part store route and replace the lines. I will post what I learn.
Frank

[William O.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Frank:

If you go the LI way, call them and ask how there adapter works?

"REPL COMES WITH ADAPTER TO FIT ORIG LINES AND 67 ONE PIECE STYLE CAP"

Good luck.

Bill

[Allan Hein]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Joe Ray (Ebay user 70stingray, Grayson, Georgia) should be able to fix you up with a replacement style '67-'76 Master Cylinder (Ebay Item 7959317157). My '66 had a Wagner '67 style M/C but the previous owner had kept the original which I had rebuilt. At the time, the local shop could not re-sleeve but has since purchased the equipment to do so. Mine does leak a small amount (1-2 drops) when the brakes are first used after sitting anextended period of time.

[Donald L.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

Dunno your time frame but White Post can usually sleeve and rebuild your original
within 24 hours after they receive your M/C.Assuming you use priorty mail both ways thats about 8 days turnaround. I live about 60 miles from White Post and when I mailed my M/C to them I got it back within 3 days.

[John H.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

A '67 replacement master cylinder may present another problem - '67 was one of the very few years where manual and J50 used the exact same master cylinder (5455509-DC), and it had the "deep" hole in the rear piston due to the manual brake usage. Most master cylinders for power brake applications have the "shallow" hole in the rear piston - don't know if the '66 J50 master cylinder has the usual "shallow" rear piston and "short" booster rod or the "deep" rear piston and "long" booster rod. If the '67 replacement master cylinder has the same "deep" rear piston hole the production part did and the '66 booster has the "short" rod, that's not going to work. As I said, I don't know which setup the '66 booster has.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 master cylinder

John-----

I considered that possibility, too. However, I don't think that it will be a problem. Here's my reasoning: the 1966 and 1967 power brake boosters were functionally identical. So, if a 1966 power brake booster will work with the 1966-stlye master cylinder (which it, obviously, will), then it should work with the 1967 style master cylinder, too.

Using the 1967 1" master cylinder as used for 1967 manual and J-50 power brake applications should preserve the same brake performance and characteristics as the 1" 1966 PB master cylinder. However, I believe that the 1-1/8" 1967 J-56 master cylinder would work, too. That master cylinder was originally installed on the same booster as used for 66-67 J-50 applications. However, using this master cylinder I would expect somewhat higher pedal effort.