Next small project- the master and booster. Someone in the cars past rebuilt the master which isn't an issue. It's the color they painted it. Oddly, a silver color! The master should be black as should the distribution block. The booster looks the part, but I suspect it's a replacement as it doesn't have the delco moraine stamping. I know the stamps are faint, but it ain't there. I did a test and put some lacquer thinner to the paint on the master, and it came off pretty easily. The plan is to remove the master, strip it down and either leave it bare and rusty, or paint it in Sem trim black. Maybe after it dries, take a piece of chain and "distress" it. Jury is still out on that As far as the booster, I have a nice, original booster in the basement im gonna swap in. Stay tuned for some pics! The only problem is I use the csr so much, it's tough to lay it up for a few days? What am I gonna take to home depot? Old pic, but this will give you an idea what we're dealing with
You might want to check the date and codes. Maybe your replacement will be close. EA Code on the 309 master. Booster date on front and part number on back of tag.
I’ll have to disagree on black. Taken masters off junk cars. I even have a spare EA code. Never seen a trace of black on any of them. I would say all were phosphate. Same for distribution valves. Brake fluid will make a mess of the black anyway. I know some guys in shows paint them black but I think that is overdoing it. Don’t do it.
Dave, You are not correct with your statement that none of them were black. I have seen date coded correct 1970 Disc brake master cylinders that were black. These were correctly date coded to the cars they were on. It would appear that some of the Masters that were supposed to go on the Corvettes made it to the Buick lines, or they were painted black by accident before they hit final assembly. Now this was only for the 1970 Disc Brake Masters. Jason, if you are worried paint it natural, but we accept both colors. Duane
I have same going on at core support. Old repair not great but functional. Later down the list for sure. Cars looking good!
I had to have a new master. Sourced from Inline Tube. It came Black (pretty durable). Didn't like it so sanded and painted "cast iron". I've tried Eastwoods M/C (fluid resistant) gray, it's really silver and didn't like it. Sounds like your in luck with 3 options (natural, black, cast iron gray).
Duane, I just haven't seen any black masters. I’ve been lucky enough to see several unrestored GSX’s and all were gray. I’m not saying they don’t exist but they can’t be common. Delco Moraine cast iron brake parts tended to be gray from what I’ve seen.
Now I know this is an Olds but it is the same master cylinder. It’s a vintage 1968 road text, watch for the under hood shot. This master is gray, so this does show Delco Moraine put them on cars that were gray. And no it doesn’t prove they were not black. It’s interesting that the car has the air cleaner lid flipped like Buick guys did. Good shots of correct engine finishes too, listen for the headers when car first pulls up.
Dave, All the 68-72 Buick master cylinders were “gray/bare metal” with the exception of some 70 Disc Brake Master Cylinders. Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t matter if you only find a few examples, as long as you can document a single example then that info must be added as a possibility when judging the car. It might have been only a single batch that was delivered that way, but some black ones were definitely on some of those cars when they left the factory. Just like there are a few documented GSX’s that left the factory with red pin stripes on the rocker panel moldings. Duane PS, I don’t look at Oldsmobile, or GTO, or Chevelle information when I judge Buicks. I look at what was originally installed on the cars from the factory. I also don’t care what NOS “replacement” parts looked like. They often are not painted/plated the same as the original parts installed on the cars. I am also not going to argue with you over this. I am simply telling you what was available for that option on that year A-body Buick.
Master is stripped! What a miserable messy job! I think I'm high on lacquer thinner fumes! Here are some naked pics lol And the EA Code Im not sure if this is conclusive, but I can barely make out flecks of black pani in the crannies of the casting. So I'm going to assume it was originally black. With that being said, im up in the air on painting it. I think if I paint it, it will look "too nice" for my "used GSX circa 1975" look As far as the booster, it's definitely a repro. Tell tail clue- repros use metric studs and nuts for the master. Originals are 9/16" head, repros are 15 mm
Yes, I think it looks great and does look very survivor-ish. I think nearly everyone will assume it's all original. Let me know when I can drop my GSX off for you to put it back to survivor status. Seriously, you've done a great job with your car and the hard work has paid off. What's left to do? Compare the triangles of a reproduction booster to an original Delco Moraine booster and you can spot the difference. Here is a side-by-side comparison with two original booster we just had replated, one of them arrived today.
What's left to do..... Not sure. I got the T-3's installed, an original carpet is now in it. Master and booster is now crappy looking. I think its ready for a survivor gold award next year! I'd like to remove the spatter paint respray in the trunk but I think it'll do more harm than good. Next is to put a little yellow overspray on the backside of the headlight bezel just in the area thry painted it black. Still waiting on my can of 71 corvette sunflower yellow, aka 70 Buick saturn yellow Other than that, not much else is left.
