66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

[Bob P.]

I'm looking to purchase a power brake master cylinder for my 66 corvette and was hoping someone could help me with how to identify the casting/manufacturing date. I have found one that I'm interested in purchasing and it appears to have the correct part number on it and the correct Delco Moraine markings etc., but I can't find a date on it. Were is the date located and what is the format?
Thanks for your help!

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

I'm looking to purchase a power brake master cylinder for my 66 corvette and was hoping someone could help me with how to identify the casting/manufacturing date. I have found one that I'm interested in purchasing and it appears to have the correct part number on it and the correct Delco Moraine markings etc., but I can't find a date on it. Were is the date located and what is the format?

Thanks for your help!

Bob------


As far as I know, the 65-66 PB master cylinders had no stamped date. In fact, 1967 master cylinders usually don't have one, either, although late-manufactured may.

As far as a casting date is concerned, there MAY be one on the casting. If so, it will be a 3 digit series found between the impression of 2 slotted screw heads. The 3 digits will represent the consecutive day of the year (e.g. "031" = January 31). There will be no indication of the YEAR of manufacture. If you don't find what I described, then the casting has no date.

[Dick W.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

Also, if you are not aware of it, the '65 and '66 master cylinders appear
to be alike. The '65 has 3/16" and the '66 has 1/4" tube fittings.

SSBC has a perfect reproduction cylinder to keep in mind, before you pay a ton of money for a used cylinder and then have to sleeve it.

[Bill M.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

As far as a casting date is concerned, there MAY be one on the casting. If so, it will be a 3 digit series found between the impression of 2 slotted screw heads. The 3 digits will represent the consecutive day of the year (e.g. "031" = January 31). There will be no indication of the YEAR of manufacture. If you don't find what I described, then the casting has no date.

Here's the casting date from my '65 power master:

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

Also, if you are not aware of it, the '65 and '66 master cylinders appear
to be alike. The '65 has 3/16" and the '66 has 1/4" tube fittings.

SSBC has a perfect reproduction cylinder to keep in mind, before you pay a ton of money for a used cylinder and then have to sleeve it.

Dick------


I think you mean CSSB (the FLORIDA successor to the old Dr. Vette and not the late Hans Jonas' New York-based Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation). CSSB has two 65-66 PB master cylinders available. One is configured correctly EXCEPT it has no Delco logo and casting number. It sells for about 350 bucks. The other has the Delco logo and GM casting number (presumably a GM Restoration Parts licensed piece) and sells for about 850 bucks. Nuances come at a pretty dear price-premium!

[Bob P.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

Thanks everybody for your help. The one that I have found has been rebuilt and sleeved already. It runs slightly, $50 more then the one you metioned. Your thoughts on the going with the new one or the old rebuilt one?

I also know that with the new one you can have it dated for $50, but it seems as if it really wouldn't make a differnce even for judging?

[Dick W.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

I meant CSSB Joe, thanks for catching that.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Power Brake Master Cylinder ID

Thanks everybody for your help. The one that I have found has been rebuilt and sleeved already. It runs slightly, $50 more then the one you metioned. Your thoughts on the going with the new one or the old rebuilt one?

I also know that with the new one you can have it dated for $50, but it seems as if it really wouldn't make a differnce even for judging?

Robert-----


I'd probably go with the sleeved original if the price difference was only 50 bucks. This assumes the casting is in good shape and free from corrosion-induced pitting and can be painted and made to appear as-new.

I don't know how they can date these things. As I mentioned, I don't think these ever had a stamped (assembly) date and any casting date has to be enplaced at the time the pattern is set up at the foundry which would make custom dating impractical. Maybe they just do a stamped date because people like to see dates, whether or not they were ever present on originals.