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Master cylinder/brake line fitting size diff!!

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Old Apr 1, 2007 | 11:18 PM
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Default Master cylinder/brake line fitting size diff!!

I finally got a couple of hours to work on my '80 today, so I thought I'd mount my new master cylinder and brake pads, fill with fluid, and bleed the lines. Sounds simple, but I hit a glitch almost immediately.

I mounted the new chrome plated master cylinder to the booster - no problems, simple. Connecting the brake lines was next, but no joy. The old fittings are 1/2" and the master cylinder takes 3/8". What's with that? When were 3/8" fittings used? When did they start using 1/2"?

I'm not keen on switching the brake lines to 3/8" fitting. I don't even know if that's possible. The brake lines are 3/16" diameter. I'd have to cut the flair off the brake lines without getting metal in the line, slip new fittings over, and reflare the lines.

The other option is to get a new m.c. with correct fitting size. Anybody want to buy a brand new chrome m.c. with 3/8" fittings?
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Old Apr 1, 2007 | 11:29 PM
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$10.00 sez you would be money ahead to get the right one.
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Old Apr 1, 2007 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Big2Bird
$10.00 sez you would be money ahead to get the right one.
That's what I'm thinking too. Bummer.
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Old Apr 1, 2007 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by MN80Vette
That's what I'm thinking too. Bummer.
Send it off to E-bay land.
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Old Apr 2, 2007 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MN80Vette
I finally got a couple of hours to work on my '80 today, so I thought I'd mount my new master cylinder and brake pads, fill with fluid, and bleed the lines. Sounds simple, but I hit a glitch almost immediately.

I mounted the new chrome plated master cylinder to the booster - no problems, simple. Connecting the brake lines was next, but no joy. The old fittings are 1/2" and the master cylinder takes 3/8". What's with that? When were 3/8" fittings used? When did they start using 1/2"?

I'm not keen on switching the brake lines to 3/8" fitting. I don't even know if that's possible. The brake lines are 3/16" diameter. I'd have to cut the flair off the brake lines without getting metal in the line, slip new fittings over, and reflare the lines.

The other option is to get a new m.c. with correct fitting size. Anybody want to buy a brand new chrome m.c. with 3/8" fittings?
The front/rear factory fittings & lines are a different size on my 70.

2 cents.
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Old Apr 2, 2007 | 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom454
The front/rear factory fittings & lines are a different size on my 70.

2 cents.
The front/rear fittings are different sizes on my '69, also. They match up with the fittings at the proportioning block. They were done this way at the factory so the assembly workers couldn't mix up which line goes to the proper (front or rear) master cyl. reservoir.
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Old Apr 11, 2007 | 10:45 AM
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I put a Wilwood master cylinder and after spending some time trying to screw the wrong fitting I realized I was not drunk but front and rear are different!

the proportioning valve has different sizes as well!
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Old Apr 11, 2007 | 09:24 PM
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FYI,
I just bought a genuine GM master cylinder and put the chromy m.c. and booster for one of our sons. He's just starting a '69 Nova wagon project.
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