1964 brake booster

[Rex T.]

I am preparing to begin the restoration of my 64 and just noticed that the power brake booster that came with the car when I purchased it (already restored and plated, but no numbers stamped on it anywhere) appears somewhat different than an ORIGINAL booster that I purchased at Bloomington this year. The purchased booster has the number 4311 on the tab at about the 10 or 11 o'clock position and the number 104 is stamped into the tab at the 4 o'clock position. I think 4311 is the correct number for 1964. Does the 104 represent the Julian date? I have another 4311 booster with the number 238 stamped into the 4 o'clock tab. Also, how do I tell if the "restored" booster that came with the car is an original or a reproduction? There is an obvious difference in the bracket rivets on the back of the booster....................flat head rivets on the booster that came with the car and round head rivets on the other two boosters with numbers.

As always, thanks in advance for everyone's help and advice.

Rex

[Alan Drake]

Re: 1964 brake booster

My Mar64 car has the markings as you describe for the two that are off the car. Believe you are correct in that the 3 digit number at 4 oclock is a julian date.
Would guess the two units off the car are originals and the one on the car is NOT

My booster was also a silver color in 2004 and always appeared to be that finish since Aug 67. However when I took it apart there was a light rainbow of primary gold inside. Some research has shown that it did have a very very light gold color in 1964, but faded very rapidly. Such fading has already occurred on the rebuilt 2004 booster which never sees the daylight or heat from driving. My MB cap also was silver and showed no indication of any gold, however its light gold now.

Hope some of the above detail helps in determining which is right.
Do you have standard or J65 brakes?

Alan

[Rex T.]

Re: 1964 brake booster

Thanks Alan. Actually, the car is one of the original 29 built with J-56 brakes. The booster that I bought at Bloomington is a silver color, very nice condition cosmetically. I was considering having it rebuilt, but if I can get it apart, I may use the diaphragm out of the new reoproduction booster that came with the car. Thanks for the information.
Rex