Booster check valves

[NoYenko]

I was told at the Camaro Nationals I had the wrong check valve on my brake booster and I am confused on which one I need for an early 69 ( Nov 68 ) built car. In the photo #1 is what I had at the show, I thought it was original. #2 is on my friends 4-69 built car, #3 is what I have seen in some other posts on 68-69 cars. I couldn't find any discussions here so I thought I ask, what have you seen or know to be correct. George

[Camarocards]

This is what I have on my 68 SS L35 which I believe to be original to the car.

Bob

[68camaroz28]

George, your #2 posted would be the correct one.
What Bob has is of course correct.
Oh, and the reason you see so many of the third picture you showed is due to that is what you normally get back on a restored booster.

[68camaroz28]

George, some examples include this one on a Power Booster dated 5/31/68.

Late Dec67 built 68Z with the same valve.

Late 07D 68Z/28


I had posted this pic in my build thread showing what is normally seen in cars and had noted the middle one was correct. Check out post #814 http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584&page=55

[NoYenko]

Guys thanks for the quick response, would anyone have an extra #2 check valve they would want to sell, send me a PM. Thanks. George

[KurtS]

#2 is commonly seen, but again, there were multiple suppliers.

[68camaroz28]

#2 is commonly seen, but again, there were multiple suppliers.

Sure there were Kurt as just about everything else did but what did they look like? I've been looking for two plus years and only have noted the aforementioned #2 on cars that had a high degree of being un-molested. 

[cook_dw]

Not that it matters but I have seen a few like the #3 (less than 5).  #1 never.  Most of the time its been #2.

[KurtS]

I recall also seeing another design. I'll have to look.
#3 is from the 70's, IIRC.

[ZLP955]

Can originals be rebuilt, or are they non-serviceable?

[Camarocards]

Inside of the check valve is a spring and rubber diaphragm. The ribbed cap is glued (epoxied) to the body capturing both the spring and diaphragm. There is no way to remove the ribbed cap without totally destroying it.

You might might, however, get lucky like what happened to me. The ribbed cap on my original valve was not epoxied very well and literally just fell apart. This happened about 25 years ago. I was silly enough to put the body and cap (the spring and diaphragm were long gone) in a zip lock bag and threw it in my parts stash. Fast forward 25 years. When I discovered that all of the reproductions are not manufactured to appear as the original, I purchased a reproduction valve. Using a Drexel tool I carefully cut off the cap on the reproduction valve, removed the spring and rubber diaphragm and then reassembled them into my original valve using super glue to adhere the cap to the body. It now looks correct and functions perfectly.

If you're looking for correctness in your restoration, your best best is to scour the junkyards and swap meets and take the route that I did.

Good luck,

Bob

[8ballracing]

From 1969 10E Z28 Hope it helps with the disscussion

[melav8r]

I recall also seeing another design. I'll have to look.
#3 is from the 70's, IIRC.

Did you ever find a picture of the other design?

[Pacecarjeff]

You can tell those guys at the Camaro Nationals that your check valve is perfectly correct for 1969.
There were like 6 different vendors making those for GM at the time.

Generally I like to see #2 on 67's and 68's as well as lots of different versions for those also. 1969s generally got the #1 in your pictures
There where many additional versions that are completely acceptable for all those model years.....
ie: Flat with diamond in center / Flat with no diamond, Ridged and tapered.

It was all a big transition during that period for that item.
The multiple circles #3 was adopted after 1974/5 or so.  And then there were a few versions of those also --the center circle got deeper.

I Have so many different designs of these things that It is clear that these were produced in HUGE quantities by many vendors simultaneously.

[m22mike]

IMO, #2 is the only assy line correct for 69. I have sourced a handful of the first one at a salvage yard from early/mid 70 cars, and as mentioned 3 is much later.
Mike