New (but correct) MC - painted black, bare, or ?

[barsteel]

Hello -

I've given up trying to solve the problem with my right rear brake locking up by going at it piecemeal.  Since I want the car to be as correct as possible, and most of the brake parts on the car should be replaced anyway, I bit the bullet and ordered a correct date coded booster and disc brake coded MC for my car, along with all the missing brackets for the prop. valve and splitter block, along with all new steel lines and hoses.

Question - how should the MC be prepped for a correct engine compartment?  Is it painted black, or left as a bare casting.  If it's bare, would painting it with cast iron paint be a no-no?  If it's painted, are the bleeders painted as well?  Anything else I should know?

I've heard that the booster should be left the original gold finish, so that's what I'm going to do, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks...

Chris

[68camaroz28]

Hello -

I've given up trying to solve the problem with my right rear brake locking up by going at it piecemeal.  Since I want the car to be as correct as possible, and most of the brake parts on the car should be replaced anyway, I bit the bullet and ordered a correct date coded booster and disc brake coded MC for my car, along with all the missing brackets for the prop. valve and splitter block, along with all new steel lines and hoses.

Question - how should the MC be prepped for a correct engine compartment?  Is it painted black, or left as a bare casting.  If it's bare, would painting it with cast iron paint be a no-no?  If it's painted, are the bleeders painted as well?  Anything else I should know?

I've heard that the booster should be left the original gold finish, so that's what I'm going to do, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks...

Chris

The Master Cylinder should be black. Might want to start using that search key both here and team Camaro as many of these answers can be easily found. No the bleeders are not painted as the casting was painted and then it was machined and assembled. So where the tab is in the front where stamping took place and where the two brake lines attach on the side are bare. (examples of machined areas). Correct on booster!

[watk69]

I've seen many survivors that I believed to be bare, or rusted through whatever paint on them. Jerry's book said either or, so in my mind its not cut and dried...... Guess that part of his book needs to be amended if the consensus is black paint

[68camaroz28]

The for sure survivors I've looked at have had the master cylinder painted. According to the latest new addition NCRS 68/69judging manual it states the following: "The master cylinder was painted a low-gloss or foundry black. A semi-circular machined area at the front of the casting was machined after painting and so should be natural finish. The flat at the front has PG stamped in it for power brake units and DC for manual brake units." And "The boss that the brake lines thread into is machined flat after painting and will be natural finish." JohnZ has stated “I was there in the assembly plants in the 60's, and Delco-Moraine painted the master cylinders and brake calipers black prior to machining; I never saw one unpainted.”
I purchased a late May69 power booster/master cylinder from Jere Stahl that had been given to him from Delco Moraine Engineering. On the production parts list sheet it calls for it to be painted black (see item 24).

[ko-lek-tor]

Hard to argue line 26, thanks Chick.
Guys, On my own car, I have never seen any evidence that it was black, nothing in a crevice or cavity and,yes, I know the M.C. is original to the car. I certainly do not have the agglomeration of documentation that Chick possesses. I would certainly give Chick 's knowledge credence. 

[69Z28-RS]

After 30, 40, or 50 yrs with brake fluid dripping over the paint...  is it any wonder that some cars have no paint left? 

[169INDY]

Another point to consider is the vintage Car mags w/ engine compt photos. Most if not all (Hate to say that ever) the Master Cyl appears black, or Black & rusty from spillage of brake fluid & casting rusting.

Ref:

[KurtS]

It was the cheapest paint and stayed on about a week.
If you look in Corvair trunks, the master often will still have paint.

[68camaroz28]

Opps, just to correct a typo, the sheet I posted is from May68, not May69. In the lower right corner.....

[cook_dw]

[Stingr69]

Great information.  I have always thought they were natural.

[BillOhio]

So the calipers should be black also?

[cook_dw]

Yep.

[BillOhio]

I am happy to read this now than after they are back on the car.

[BULLITT65]

I would have to concur about the black paint, there is still remnants on my original master cylinder.