Braking system complete!! But not quite bled.

I brought the final brake system parts and Dot 5 silicon brake fluid down to Chris to find that more progress has been made than I expected.

He finished all but one brake line, the one that connects the master cylinder with the three way connector. The company sent him the wrong size tube meant for a right hand drive car, but then rectified the situation by sending the correct line to him for free. That will be the last part he will install before the brake system gets bled. While waiting for the correct brake line, he made up the new fuel line and secured it in place and bent the driver’s (left) side hydrolastic pipe to its proper position and secured it in place, also.

 

He also inspected the rear brake shoes, adjusters, hand brake mechanism, and rear drums as he was installing the new wheel cylinders and rebuilt “brake slave cylinder/ proportioning valve”. It all looks great!

 

Although a bit blurry, the new brake lines and hoses look nice and clean on the car compared to the rusty stuff that was taken off.

 

He gave me the proportioning valve that was on the car which was used for only a few years on Austin Americas. I will clean it up, inspect it, and put it up on the eAuction site as I do not need it. I just saw a NOS one sell for $100. On the other hand, it seems the parts that I am selling cheap ($9.99 starting price just to get rid of), attract no attention.

 

This week I will have to order a few more bits and pieces as usual and then hopefully take another ride down to Chris’s this weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Braking system final bits and pieces

I finally received the last parts to finish off the braking system.

I was going to rebuild the rear wheel cylinders but they were in terrible condition as the picture shows. So I just bought new ones from Moss Motors (in picture above the old one). They are Delphi Lockheed, close enough to the originals, and as I said before, no one will see them anyway.

 

Since I was missing one, I also bought the last flexible rubber rear hose. It is a Brovex not a Lockheed like the other four NOS hoses. Again, I figured I am in a bit of a rush and do not have time right now to find an original. No big deal for now.

 

After these get installed, we can bleed the brake system. I hope Chris lets me do that with him.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Another Old Biddy visitation.

Went back down to Chris’s to deliver the parts that he needs and to check on progress. We also collaborated on what both of us need to do next.

I brought the rebuilt rear brake limiting valve and the passenger’s front side brake shoes that I kept forgetting to install.

 

He received the brake lines from England…

 

…and began to install them in their proper place.

 

I also brought the dash pad that I bought a couple weeks ago to test fit. It looks perfect! Once Old Biddy comes home, it will be the first thing that gets installed.

 

I was sent home with homework. Since I want Dot 5 silicone brake fluid in the system, Chris had me buy new rear wheel cylinders. Long story short…the old ones would have to be rebuilt and there is no guarantee they will not leak. I wanted the original Lockheed 4212-239 ones that were originally in the car, like the one in the picture. But they are extremely expensive so I opted for the cylinders from Moss Motors. No one will see them anyway...as long as they work...

 

I also bought new copper nickel ¼” pipe for fuel line. Once the parts come in I will be making another trip down there.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Rear brake pressure compensator regulator slave cylinder

Since Chris is waiting for the brake lines to arrive from England, I also had my work to do in order to complete the braking system. Old Biddy also needs the correct rear brake “slave cylinder”. It has many names; pressure compensator, pressure regulator, diverter, reducer, limiting, proportioning valve, cylinder, etc...making it difficult to verbally identify the part officially known as Lockheed part no. 7313-761 and/or 31G380 in the parts book.

Back in September I posted this picture, which shows the rear cylinder that is on the car now. Just like the front pressure valve, this one is also incorrect. It is located in the upper right part of the picture.

 

I knew I had saved the original one. It just took me a couple days to find it.  I decided to perform some surgery on it to see if it was salvageable.

 

I took it to John’s since he has the proper tools to get the rusted fittings to break loose from the cylinder body. I then sandblasted it to clean it up and brought it home to take it apart and inspect it. It basically just needed a good cleaning and a rebuild kit.

 

I did find a rebuild kit, a genuine Lockheed SSB 803 over at Hewi's Classic Spares in England. DISCLAIMER: This picture was actually his picture of the part which I copied for this posting.  These cylinders are no longer reproduced as the clutch slave cylinders are, so I was lucky to even find this!

 

Once the cylinder is reassembled, it will be taken down to Chris for proper installation. Now I have to be patient. I may have to wait a couple weeks for it to swim over here by itself!

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy