65 Brake Lines

[Lawrence Parisotto]

Good morning,

Can anyone clarify the correct size brake line for standard brakes for a build date of February 16, 1965? Wanting to replace brake lines with a full line kit but catalogs have a vairety of listings for 65E, 65 and 65L with some variation between 3/16 and 1/4 inch sizes. The Power Brake kits seem to be consistent at a 3/16 inch size. From what I can tell, 1/4 seems the corect size, but there are currently 3/16 inch lines on the car.

Thnaks in advance,
Lawrence

[William C.]

Re: 65 Brake Lines

My Jan Build car has 1/4 to the distribution block on the frame rail, and 3/16 to all corners from that point.

[Jack H.]

According to the JG books

Power brake cars in 1965 used small, 3/16" outlet lines with the change to larger 1/4" lines coming for the 1966 model year. Both the '65 and '66 JG books reinforce each other and don't make a distinction between early/late production in a given model year. From the '65 JG:

"Master cylinders use 1/16-inch outlet lines without adaptors or reducers. 1966 master cylinders use 1/4-inch outlet lines...."

[John D.]

Re: According to the JG books

Jack, I believe the some of the late 65 master cylinders DID use the adapter fittings. Have heard this for many years. In fact we discussed this not that long ago either on VH's or our chapter. Known original late 65 cars have had these adapters or reducers as you call them.John

[Ernest S.]

Re: 65 Brake Lines

Lawrence,

I have a May 65 car with power brakes. All the lines are 3/16 inch. The master
cylinder is original and has the adapters for the smaller lines. Is your master
cylinder original/ or correct for your build date? If not,a previous owner could have taken off the power booster and back fitted to regular brakes. I'm
pretty sure 3/16 inch lines were only for power brakes. I don't know if this
has been of any help, but replacing the line on the drivers side is a lot of
work if your not doing a body off resto.

Ernie

[Lawrence Parisotto]

Re: 65 Brake Lines

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses. My car is a 64 roadster and the question here is posted for a friend. He does need to take the body off for sdme work he is doing so we advised this is a perfect opportunity to chnage his old brake and fuel lines, but he just wasn't sure what to order. He is not sure if the master or lines are original to be certain he should match the new lines to the current ones.

From the thread so far it seems he should go with 1/4 inch lines throughout for standard brakes?

Lawrence

[Mike G.]

Re: 65 Brake Lines

On the 3 '65's that I've owned, all with manual brakes, only the line from the M/cyl to the first distribution block was 1/4 inch. The cars are a Nov 64, a Mar 65 and and a Apr 65.

All others are 3/16. All the holding clips are sized for 3/16.