69 PB Master Cylinder

[Douglas C.]

I have a 69 L-68 with power brakes, built in Jan. 69, and need a correct master cylinder. Am I correct that I am looking for casting # 5460346 with a PG stamp? And how do you read the date codes / what would be an acceptable date code for my car.

And, best place to find one?

Thanks, Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

I have a 69 L-68 with power brakes, built in Jan. 69, and need a correct master cylinder. Am I correct that I am looking for casting # 5460346 with a PG stamp? And how do you read the date codes / what would be an acceptable date code for my car.

And, best place to find one?

Thanks, Doug

If you got that casting number from the 1970-72 TIM&JG, past posts here indicate it is a misprint. I don't have my TIM&JG handy at the moment, nor do I have the advertisement for the reproduction master cylinders, but past posts here indicate the reproduction has the correct casting number.

Past posts here indicate the date code is a Julian date. Four numbers including the year. I can not remember if the year is first or last, but someone will answer your question. Of course to date no one has been able to tell me what the stamp on my original 1970 master cylinder means. It has just the number 1 and nothing else. I urge caution in reading date codes on mater cylinders, but if reading them blows up your skirt then go for it.

Best place to get them: I have seen ads for the reproductions in The Driveline as well as Vette Vues. The purveyors probably make them available to all the big Corvette parts suppliers. To the best of my knowledge they all come from one source so shop for price and service.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

If you got that casting number from the 1970-72 TIM&JG, past posts here indicate it is a misprint. I don't have my TIM&JG handy at the moment, nor do I have the advertisement for the reproduction master cylinders, but past posts here indicate the reproduction has the correct casting number.

Past posts here indicate the date code is a Julian date. Four numbers including the year. I can not remember if the year is first or last, but someone will answer your question. Of course to date no one has been able to tell me what the stamp on my original 1970 master cylinder means. It has just the number 1 and nothing else. I urge caution in reading date codes on mater cylinders, but if reading them blows up your skirt then go for it.

Best place to get them: I have seen ads for the reproductions in The Driveline as well as Vette Vues. The purveyors probably make them available to all the big Corvette parts suppliers. To the best of my knowledge they all come from one source so shop for price and service.

Terry-----


The casting number is 5460346. Some sources show it as 5480346. Based on some research I did a while back 5480346 was never an issued part number.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

If you got that casting number from the 1970-72 TIM&JG, past posts here indicate it is a misprint. I don't have my TIM&JG handy at the moment, nor do I have the advertisement for the reproduction master cylinders, but past posts here indicate the reproduction has the correct casting number.

Past posts here indicate the date code is a Julian date. Four numbers including the year. I can not remember if the year is first or last, but someone will answer your question. Of course to date no one has been able to tell me what the stamp on my original 1970 master cylinder means. It has just the number 1 and nothing else. I urge caution in reading date codes on mater cylinders, but if reading them blows up your skirt then go for it.

Best place to get them: I have seen ads for the reproductions in The Driveline as well as Vette Vues. The purveyors probably make them available to all the big Corvette parts suppliers. To the best of my knowledge they all come from one source so shop for price and service.

Thanks. I'm looking for a restorded original or an original I can have rebuilt, and still ask if someone can indicate what date codes would be correct for my car. 69 L-68 built in Jan. 69.

Tks. Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Thanks. I'm looking for a restorded original or an original I can have rebuilt, and still ask if someone can indicate what date codes would be correct for my car. 69 L-68 built in Jan. 69.

Tks. Doug

Well Doug you forced me to look at the 1968-69 TIM&JG Third edition Page 67 & 68. There is no mention of the secret code for the date of assembly of the master cylinder. I checked the most recent version I have for the next manual (Full disclosure; I am not 100% sure this will be the final version, but it is the best I have), and it only adds that most dates are a Julian date. Sorry I can offer you no help there. FWIW: There is no mention at all of the date in the 1970-72 TIM&JG. The only other thing I can do is look at my supply of master cylinders in storage (none for sale ).

The general rule of thumb for dates is that they have to be within 6 months of the body build date. We ordinarily take that to be the date on the trim tag. So you need a date within 6 months of your cars build date, and that is 6 months before your car's build date. If you want an original properly dated master cylinder -- good luck. I suspect you will be looking for a long time unless you are very very lucky.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Thanks. I'm looking for a restorded original or an original I can have rebuilt, and still ask if someone can indicate what date codes would be correct for my car. 69 L-68 built in Jan. 69.

Tks. Doug

Doug------


If there is a date on a 68+ master cylinder it will be stamped on one of the master cylinder brake fitting machined bosses. These are stamped in very small, 1/16" font size numerals. The code is julian-style and 4 digits long. The first digit is the last digit of the calendar year. The next 3 digits represent the consecutive day of the year. If your car's body was manufactured on January 15, 1969, then you'd be looking for master cylinder date-coded something like "8190" to "8366" or "9002" to "9010".

Some master cylinders do not have date codes. I suppose these could be considered "wild cards" and used for any car using the particular master cylinder.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Doug------


If there is a date on a 68+ master cylinder it will be stamped on one of the master cylinder brake fitting machined bosses. These are stamped in very small, 1/16" font size numerals. The code is julian-style and 4 digits long. The first digit is the last digit of the calendar year. The next 3 digits represent the consecutive day of the year. If your car's body was manufactured on January 15, 1969, then you'd be looking for master cylinder date-coded something like "8190" to "8366" or "9002" to "9010".

Some master cylinders do not have date codes. I suppose these could be considered "wild cards" and used for any car using the particular master cylinder.

Thanks Joe. There are two 5460346 PG's on e-bay, but 1970 dates. I'll keep looking, maybe I'll get lucky. Doug

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Thanks Joe. There are two 5460346 PG's on e-bay, but 1970 dates. I'll keep looking, maybe I'll get lucky. Doug

The repros are actually quite nice, especially for the price.
And yes, I fully understand the urge to have an original, correctly dated part on your car. Just giving you the info.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

The repros are actually quite nice, especially for the price.
And yes, I fully understand the urge to have an original, correctly dated part on your car. Just giving you the info.

Well Patrick, I see CSSB (Corvette Stainless Steel Brakes) has what they say is a 100% correct repro 5460346 & cap, stamped PG and can add a Julian date stamp, all for about $200.

What do you think of this, would this be o/k for NCRS judging, would I get the poser award for taking the easy way out?

Tks. Doug

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Well Patrick, I see CSSB (Corvette Stainless Steel Brakes) has what they say is a 100% correct repro 5460346 & cap, stamped PG and can add a Julian date stamp, all for about $200.

What do you think of this, would this be o/k for NCRS judging, would I get the poser award for taking the easy way out?

Tks. Doug

It's about 97% correct, as with almost any reproduction.
However, that last 3% isn't enough to warrant any deductions.
I'd buy one, but continue the search for an original. You can always sell the repo and get back some of your cost.

Patrick

[Douglas C.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

It's about 97% correct, as with almost any reproduction.
However, that last 3% isn't enough to warrant any deductions.
I'd buy one, but continue the search for an original. You can always sell the repo and get back some of your cost.

Patrick

O/k, I'll probably do that so I at least have a proper master cylinder. The one on there now is a 5468309, BA stamp, so I can probably get a decent price for it from a Chevelle guy.

Thanks,

Doug

[John H.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

O/k, I'll probably do that so I at least have a proper master cylinder. The one on there now is a 5468309, BA stamp, so I can probably get a decent price for it from a Chevelle guy.

Thanks,

Doug

Doug -

What is the specific Chevelle application for that master cylinder? I have a 5468309 "BA" master on the shelf that would be a good core for someone, but I don't know what its original applications were.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Doug -

What is the specific Chevelle application for that master cylinder? I have a 5468309 "BA" master on the shelf that would be a good core for someone, but I don't know what its original applications were.

John------


1969 Chevelle with disc brakes. As far as I can tell, this was the only application for the "BA"-coded master cylinder.

However, I believe the 5468309 casting was also used for some 68-76 Corvette with power brake applications.

[John H.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

John------


1969 Chevelle with disc brakes. As far as I can tell, this was the only application for the "BA"-coded master cylinder.

However, I believe the 5468309 casting was also used for some 68-76 Corvette with power brake applications.

Joe -

Thanks! It was on my '69 Z/28 when I bought it 12 years ago (and the original 5468309 "US" was in the trunk - just needed sleeving and a rebuild).

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 PB Master Cylinder

Joe -

Thanks! It was on my '69 Z/28 when I bought it 12 years ago (and the original 5468309 "US" was in the trunk - just needed sleeving and a rebuild).

John-----


Is the "BA" cylinder dated?