[kk68]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Where did you get an inline tube book? I really don't like their online "flipper" book.

I guess I requested a catalog and they sent it to me. It’s the Pontiac version, says 2014. As has been discussed on this site, I don’t believe everything in it is factory correct, even when stated, but has photos of most every part and is a decent reference if you have missing parts/hardware. A lot of the screws, clips, bracket type parts are listed.

[68ragtop]

Inline has a lot go great parts & wholesales to many of the other parts sellers. But, I hate the verbiage they use calling everything exact factory reproduction. They blanket that term over every part they sell. Means absolutely nothing to me now.

[vidguy]

I have purchased a lot of odds and ends from them on eBay and the parts are always very well made, they ship very quickly, the parts fit accurately and with at least one small photo and a tag describing what they are and showing how they are used, which is handy in a multiple item order. Something I don't get when ordering from certain other suppliers..

NOW I had a terrible experience with them 20 years ago with some lines I bought for my GTO and would not try that again.. But for other small parts, they are well priced and have not done me wrong yet.

[68ragtop]

Don't get me wrong, I buy from them also. I just don't like the terminology they use to describe the parts.
That's all I was saying. No issues otherwise.

[68ragtop]

Still trying to decide if I should paint the double clips yellow. Do you guys think all of these were yellow across the board at the time? Would natural look wrong? my car is a Pontiac MI car if that even makes a difference. What color yellow did you use?

I bought the inline distribution block too, I think the originals were cast or machined steel. Funny that I would want the clips the right color, but haven't decided what to do with the dist block. I have an original one, but not sure the year & the bracket is toast so I bought the repop thinking I could use the bracket & the bracket is non removable from it. Go figure. So I installed it as is for now.

[gto4evr]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Still trying to decide if I should paint the double clips yellow. Do you guys think all of these were yellow across the board at the time? Would natural look wrong? my car is a Pontiac MI car if that even makes a difference. What color yellow did you use?

I bought the inline distribution block too, I think the originals were cast or machined steel. Funny that I would want the clips the right color, but haven't decided what to do with the dist block. I have an original one, but not sure the year & the bracket is toast so I bought the repop thinking I could use the bracket & the bracket is non removable from it. Go figure. So I installed it as is for now.

are you talking about the distribution block on the frame where all the lines connect? It should be brass, with a steel bracket crimped on to it. Or are you talking about the cast steel valve if it was a 68-70 power brake car that mounted below the master cylinder. The brass distribution valve on the frame was the same 68-72 for all standard brake cars, and also the same piece for 68-70 with power brakes. then it went to a cast valve in 71/72 that replaced the need for the proportioning valve under the master cylinder.

[68ragtop]

Yep, that black on the frame. I thought the one I had was steel, not brass.
But, in fairness I am not 100% positive it came from my 68. I also tore down a 69 cutlass many years ago & it might have come from that frame.

I'll post a picture of it later today for grins

[kk68]

The original distribution block on my 68 with power discs was cast steel, not brass. Not easy to see, but attached photo. This is the original part painted steel gray. I do see that the replacements offered by Ames and InLine are brass.

Also took a shot of booster/master setup. These are replacements but I think correct for 68, except for hold off/proportioning valve attached to master, which is 69 version. I need to replace with correct for 68 (like my original shown on top of the wheel well). InLine has what looks to be the correct one (#PR114).

[kk68]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Still trying to decide if I should paint the double clips yellow. Do you guys think all of these were yellow across the board at the time? Would natural look wrong? my car is a Pontiac MI car if that even makes a difference. What color yellow did you use?

I bought the inline distribution block too, I think the originals were cast or machined steel. Funny that I would want the clips the right color, but haven't decided what to do with the dist block. I have an original one, but not sure the year & the bracket is toast so I bought the repop thinking I could use the bracket & the bracket is non removable from it. Go figure. So I installed it as is for now.

Here’s the paint I used for the brake line clips. Like I said previously, my car was heavily under coated, and I painted them yellow and blue based on remnants of paint I found when I cleaned them up. Don’t know if correct at other times and plants (Arlington - April 68). They really aren’t seen after you put the body on, so don’t sweat it.

[dataway]

The frame mounted distribution block for my 68 was brass. PHS said it was a power brake car, when I got the car from the original owner it had manual drums .... so I don't know what it left the factory with.
68 Lemans parts car with power drums had a brass block also. Might be some differences due to supplier of OEM parts etc.

[gto4evr]

Originally Posted by kk68

The original distribution block on my 68 with power discs was cast steel, not brass. Not easy to see, but attached photo. This is the original part painted steel gray. I do see that the replacements offered by Ames and InLine are brass.

Also took a shot of booster/master setup. These are replacements but I think correct for 68, except for hold off/proportioning valve attached to master, which is 69 version. I need to replace with correct for 68 (like my original shown on top of the wheel well). InLine has what looks to be the correct one (#PR114).

hmmm....in all my 35 years of owning, buying, selling, and parting these cars, I've never seen a cast steel distribution block on a 68-72 std brake, 68-70 both std/pwr car. obviously they exist since you have one!

[PurelyGTO68]

My 68 manual disk car had a cast iron distribution block. The reproduction I purchased from Ames is brass. Will use the brass item for now and work on finding a way to rebuild the original when time allows.

The bracket for the distribution block has an assembly number 2226550. The underside of the block has a number that looks like 2225 with 801 below it. In the other end there is an 11 cast in the block. Have no clue if any of those numbers contain a date code...
???

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Yep, that black on the frame. I thought the one I had was steel, not brass.
But, in fairness I am not 100% positive it came from my 68. I also tore down a 69 cutlass many years ago & it might have come from that frame.

I'll post a picture of it later today for grins

I don't remember....which assembly plant did your car come from? I think kk68's car was assembled in Arlington. If so, then we have at least two Arlington cars with cast iron distribution blocks. Seems like one of those items where multiple vendors may have used different materials. Wouldn't be the first time something like this has been uncovered...

[dataway]

From what I have seen, when two different materials were used, the reproduction sources usually pick whatever is the easiest material to use for the reproduction part. Obviously machining from brass stock is easier than reproducing a cast iron piece so that's probably why all the reproductions are brass.

[68ragtop]

Here's mine. I am pretty certain now this was on my 68. It's steel & for some reason had an adapter to drop the rear line fitting down a size.

.

[dataway]

Just goes to show, you can almost never say never when dealing with mass produced products.

[68ragtop]

Thanks to all of your help, I have anther thing taken care of.

I ended up rebedending a lot of the tubes. In the end I used a combination of all of the pictures you guys provided & what I could make fit & look clean & straight.

Thanks again, could not have gotten it to look like this without the help!

[kk68]

That looks sweet! Nice work. Still amazed at the paint finish on your frame.

[68ragtop]

Thank you for the kind words kk68. I spent a ton of time re-doing the suspension parts & frame this year. I had all of it completely finished over a decade ago, but after media blasting it had a lot of left over rust pits. By the time I finished with the body & the tub was ready to be dropped back on I realized I had finished the floors of the car to a higher level than what the chassis was. So, I reluctantly knocked everything back apart & filled the imperfections. It was way more work than I was anticipating. While the car should turn out pretty nice, I have some regrets not making it a nice driver. that was my original intent & somewhere along the line I lost sight of that. I should have finished this car many years ago & been enjoying it. But, I am getting closer, The good news is I have very little paint work to do. I have pretty much everything finished & staged for assembly. Just have to strip & respray the engine & the chassis can be finished up.

Made the mistake of sealing & painting the engine over the top of the "cast blast" type paint the machine shop put on the heads & block. They have couple spots where the rust crept under all of it & made it loose. (more likely was a little rusted under the cast spray.) I Was going to just blast some of it, but scuffling the entire engine for more paint would probably be way more work, than just sand blasting it. Just have to make sure I have everything sealing off 101%. Todays project....

By the way, I was going to paint the clips yellow. I really like that look, I just know those clips are nearly impossible to remove again & I was pretty sure I was going to scratch the yellow off pushing the lines in. I did get the green & blue ones from inline tube I will install, but I had plated the original bolts clear cad, so I either need to paint them flat black, or find adequate replacements.