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I have been forced to leave my 73 Vert outside because of another vehicle I adopted. I have an excellent Cover Craft Cover that fits the side mirrors and rear luggage rack perfectly. At the local car show this weekend I notice the master cylinder is covered with a very red coat of rust. The car has power brakes and the black vacuum assist tank is ok. The master cylinder must made out of some type of cast iron. I don't want to remove the master cylinder, and wondered if I could clean it with a wire brush, then spray it with lacquer. I guess sitting in my garage for two years, limited the amount of humidity that caused the rust. Everything else under the hood looks ok.
When I replaced the master cylinder on my '73, I sprayed it with VHT clear Caliper paint and it's held up pretty well - not perfect, but since it's clear, you can be less precise with masking off areas.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
I remember when these C3 Vettes showed up brand new at the dealership on the truck transports. Right off the transporter, the master cylinders had surface rust, as did the majority of the steering linkage components and other bare cast iron parts and hardware in the engine compartment. The cars were rusty as delivered right from the factory, so you should be given extra "correctness" points for your rust.
Lars
I remember when these C3 Vettes showed up brand new at the dealership on the truck transports. Right off the transporter, the master cylinders had surface rust, as did the majority of the steering linkage components and other bare cast iron parts and hardware in the engine compartment. The cars were rusty as delivered right from the factory, so you should be given extra "correctness" points for your rust.
Lars
Interesting perspective, Lars. Likewise, since NCRS wants the judged cars to be "as they left the assembly line", they should also have the paper floor mats, protective plastic film and all the "loose" items (center caps, license plate screws, etc) packaged and stowed as they were delivered to the dealer.
Not sure that is per NCRS rules, though...........
1973 master cylinders were painted a gloss black. They were painted then the were machined. Over time the paint would slowly be removed due to brake fluid. Any machined area would start to rust.
7T1vette
Those are Bloomington judging guide lines as it left the factory. NCRS is delivered to owner after normal dealer prep.
Photos are from very low mileage unrestored 71 and 72 Corvettes
Thanks for everyone chiming in on the subject. I was looking at my 2001 Camaro this morning and noticed that it has a similar cast metal Master Cylinder. The Master Cylinder is original and has not shown any signs of rust, unfortunately I can’t say that for the strut towers, or other areas under the car. The Camaro stays outside, under a cover, and the MC looks like the it just came off the assembly line in Canada. I would guess there had to be some type of rust preventive applied to the metal. Under the hood various fasteners, hose clamps, and metal pieces show signs of rust.
Thanks, never thought about it being aluminum. I guess that’s why my newer cars have pristine master cylinders, although the bolts that attach them to the booster are rusty.
I have had a Pirate Jack Racing aluminum m/cyl for years now, stock pistons/rings/seals like from iron OEM, and I run DOT 5 fluid...silicone so no rust issues in lines/calipers/etc.....
thing that bugs me most is the brake squeel from light touch braking like when pulling into the garage, I don't notice it so much on the roads.......I write it off a Floriduh weather and maybe China steel in the rotors, as wife's car does the same, only worse even.......
Mine looks like revitup's now, because I used the same Eastwood paint on mine. Recently, when my distribution block drained all of my rear brake fluid, the more I worked on the brakes, the worse it got. I hope to finish it off this weekend but she now has a completely new bumper to bumper brake system. Back to the master cylinder, I took it off, brushed it of with a wire wheel, and painted it with the gray Eastwood brake paint. Long story, but my new calipers came in with Eastwood gray, so that is what I put on the master. I guess if the rusted look is original, way cool, but I honestly didn't like it.
Master Cylinder Rusting
