My new project: 1969 dead for 20+ years...brakes?

[DeadStang]

1969 with front disc brakes.  This car was dead in central Cali for 20 years or so and has somehow found its way into my garage.  It has no brakes (expected) and the M/C is bone dry.  How do I know if I need to replace the hard lines?  I know all wheel cylinders, soft lines, the M/C (and booster?), etc. will need replacing.  Also, how do I know if I need to rebuild the proportioning valve? :boohoo  Thanks!

[Fast68back]

First, it does not exist, or it did not happen without pictures, 2nd, isnt the relative low cost of new hardlines worth the peace of mind?

Congrats!

[DeadStang]

I hear you!  The amount of work to get this thing moving again w/o the come-along is (almost) overwhelming...  Surely I can replace the hard lines myself--can't be too hard, right?   :roulette

[Waffles]

Really? Those are the only two crummy pics we get? (Though I do like the bumper sticker)

[silverblueBP]

Damn, cut the guy some slack...besides, when you've seen one 69, you've seen them all  :run



Seriously, replace those hard lines! What good is a car if you're not sure it will stop? Those old lines could have a pin hole ready to blow the first time there is pressure put back in the line.

[daveSanborn]

How do I know if I need to replace the hard lines?

When "because I said so" just isn't good enough..... try this:

1.  Remove the long hard brake line running along the tunnel completely from the car.

2.  Stand holding the brake line out in front of you with your hands grasping the line palms down and at shoulder width.

3.  Attempt to bend the line forming a 180 degree bend.

4.  If the brake line bends to form a 180 degree bend without kinking, straighten the line, re-use it if you must, and assume that all of the other brake lines are of equal integrity.

5.  Likely, the brake line will not bend smoothly, but instead the corrosion thinned wall of the weakened soft metal tubing will develop a kink, proving that the metal has weakened from the "inside out" and therefore justifying the replacement of all of the brake lines.


Yes, replacing the hard brake lines is something that even the novice car owner can accomplish.  Purchase a 30' roll of 3/16ths tubing from your local auto parts store (AutoZone, et al), rent their "loan-a-tool" double flaring kit and have at it.

[DeadStang]

Alright--thank you!

[Midlife]

When "because I said so" just isn't good enough..... try this:

1.  Remove the long hard brake line running along the tunnel completely from the car.

2.  Stand holding the brake line out in front of you with your hands grasping the line palms down and at shoulder width.

3.  Attempt to bend the line forming a 180 degree bend.

4.  Continue bending the line until it breaks.

5.  Replace Line.

There, Dave...I fixed it for you.

[daveSanborn]

4.  Continue bending the line until it breaks.

Therein lies the determining factor for whether or not the line needs replacing.

With a new line.... you should be able to put a 180 degree bend into the line without it kinking as the metal has not deteriorated.

A deteriorated/rotted line will kink rather quickly..... usually well before reaching the 180 degree bend.

[lethal289]

Damn, cut the guy some slack...

how do you know its a guy?     I seem to recall his wife posting a time or two....

[silverblueBP]

how do you know its a guy?     I seem to recall his wife posting a time or two....

SWAG

[lethal289]

you know what they say about when you assume

[DeadStang]

SWAG

Huh?

[DeadStang]

how do you know its a guy?     I seem to recall his wife posting a time or two....

My husband doesn't post much here.  He is something of a Corvette/Nova guy, although he does have a couple of Mustangs.  These are my cars that I ask about...I like to drag home dead and/or ugly Mustangs that "need rescuing" IMO.  The uglier, the better.

[Sluggo]

Huh?

Scientific wild ass guess.

Not much science involved since he is completely incorrect.

Lotsa little hidden details gettin overlooked here.

[tarafied1]

...I like to drag home dead and/or ugly Mustangs that "need rescuing" IMO.  The uglier, the better.

Can I get you to talk to my wife?  :crazy

[silverblueBP]

Huh?

While Sluggo is "technically" correct, he is really wrong....again, I was using it as:

Stupid
Wild
Ass
Guess

I must have missed a post somewhere and made an incorrect assumption, please accept my apologies for referring to you as "he/his  :doh

Makes me feel like  :bike

[dm289]

I would replace the lines if for no reason that they are atleast 20 years old.  Brake lines may look good from the outside but are probably corroded inside.  I am not familiar with 69's but I changed the hard lines on my 66 coupe in my garage with the car on 4 jack stands.  The only tuly difficult one was the front to rear line as I had to drop the exhaust to get it in place.  Good luck 

[lethal289]

Mark, told ya so  :bow  :bird

[DeadStang]

I would replace the lines if for no reason that they are atleast 20 years old.  Brake lines may look good from the outside but are probably corroded inside.  I am not familiar with 69's but I changed the hard lines on my 66 coupe in my garage with the car on 4 jack stands.  The only tuly difficult one was the front to rear line as I had to drop the exhaust to get it in place.  Good luck 

I'm in the process of pulling the engine (seized) and transmission.  The exhaust is ancient, so that's history as well.  It will also be up on #4 jack stands once the motor is out for me to work on.  Did you rent a flare tool, do you have one, or did you buy pre-made lines for the '66?

[Midlife]

The pre-bend 1966 fuel lines fit like a glove, and are easy to install with the engine and exhaust removed.

[dm289]

Did you rent a flare tool, do you have one, or did you buy pre-made lines for the '66?

I bought pre-made carbon steel lines, well worth the extra money.

[tarafied1]

I bought pre-bent stainless steel lines for my 67. They fit great. The only one I couldn't use was for the 8" axle since I have a Varsailes 9" but well worth the money.

[daveSanborn]

"If" you are using a completely stock brake system.... even if it's not the stock system that came with your particular car.... then you can use a pre-bent line kit.

Pre-bent line kits become useless when you upgrade the brake system outside of the factory design.  Such as with Rick's example of using a Versailles rear-end.... no kit is available for a stock application, but using a Versailles rear-end.  If he'd of gone with an after market proportioning valve to manually adjust the pressure to the rear disc brakes, it's likely that some of the front lines supplied within the kit would not work/fit either.

[Fast68back]

"If" you are using a completely stock brake system.... even if it's not the stock system that came with your particular car.... then you can use a pre-bent line kit.

Pre-bent line kits become useless when you upgrade the brake system outside of the factory design.  Such as with Rick's example of using a Versailles rear-end.... no kit is available for a stock application, but using a Versailles rear-end.  If he'd of gone with an after market proportioning valve to manually adjust the pressure to the rear disc brakes, it's likely that some of the front lines supplied within the kit would not work/fit either.

Craig, Rick, same thing......