66 Standard Brake MC Cap

[Dave K.]

I purchased a replacement mater cylinder cap for my 66 from a reputable C2 parts house and was comparing it to my original cap. I noticed that the spring lock clips on the replacement were wider than the original clips as were the ears on the mastrer cylinder that retain the clips. My original cap and spring clips are painted black while the repro's top is zinc or cad dichromate with natural spring clips. I'm aware that the JM accepts both painted and plated caps.

Are the differences that I observed typical of the repro caps?

Regards,
Dave K.

[Tim E.]

Re: 66 Standard Brake MC Cap

Dave - Here's a picture of my original (also from a '66). It clearly has remnants of black paint. The reproduction I have is as you describe. It is currently natural (not painted) and has been judged twice without a deduction. I can do a closer comparison when I get home. Tim

[Geoff C.]

[Dave Suesz]

How about this one...

Comes in yellow or chrome.

[Tim E.]

Re: 66 Standard Brake MC Cap

Dave - The reproduction cap I have is remarkably similar to my original, I was actually impressed with how close it was! I don't normally get to say that about repro parts. As I recall, I bought this cap from Lone Star Caliper for $25 when they were set up in Houston for the Corvette Chevy Expo a couple years ago.

The spring lock clips are the same width on both, the only difference is the amount of "bow" in the clip. The length of the clips is the same but the repro has more "bow".

The ears on the cap itself are the same on both as is the style and size of the stamped lettering.

It's very possible that there is more than one manufacturer of the repro caps or the design has changed since I bought mine.

I went thru a similar headache with the pump-to-carb fuel line recently. Bought one from C-Central and it wouldn't fit (too large a bend radius where it enters the carb) and then destroyed it trying to modify it. Bought one from Paragon...same story but worse. The (*$%&#) metric tube was too small for my flaring tool and I destroyed it too. I was going to bend and flare one myself and have it chromed but decided to try once more. Bought one from Zip and it worked perfectly ($100 later)!

Tim