Restoration of BringaTrailer 240z - HLS30-35883

[inline6]

15 hours ago, Mike said:

@inline6  nice work, she's looking good!  Quick question, where'd you get that beautiful brake light switch (looks like a proportioning valve)?

Mike

I think you are right - it is a brake light switch (not proportioning valve).  That is the one that came with my car.  I disassembled it, sent off a few internal and external parts to get them plated, and glass bead blasted the body.  I glass beaded it at 90 psi to clean... and then another pass at about 50 psi to give it a smoother finish.  

 

9 hours ago, grannyknot said:

Beautiful, the brake switch does have that small rubber O ring but the top of the body is machined flat as is the bottom of the sensor so I put in a crush washer just to be sure.

Interesting.  Maybe I will do the same for a measure of safety.  Having brake fluid squirt all over the engine compartment and the damage that would cause... 🥶

I feel a little uneasy about reusing the original o-rings, but that is what I did.  I don't know how to source suitable replacements that would meet the performance criteria?  

 

[grannyknot]

39 minutes ago, inline6 said:

 

I feel a little uneasy about reusing the original o-rings, but that is what I did.  I don't know how to source suitable replacements that would meet the performance criteria?  

 

I know, I hear it too, "always use a new crush washer" but for the same reason as you mentioned, I have had to reuse crush washers so many times I can't count them all.

I've never had a leak out of them, aluminum or copper.

[Mark Maras]

 They make new crush washers?

[inline6]

6 hours ago, grannyknot said:

I know, I hear it too, "always use a new crush washer" but for the same reason as you mentioned, I have had to reuse crush washers so many times I can't count them all.

I've never had a leak out of them, aluminum or copper.

Ha!  Good to know... as I reused the original aluminum crush washers too.  I am less worried about those leaking now, given your experience with that.  Thanks for sharing.  

Wonder if there is a way to determine suitable replacements for the o-rings...

Edited October 4, 2023 by inline6

[grannyknot]

7 hours ago, inline6 said:

Wonder if there is a way to determine suitable replacements for the o-rings...

Never throw them away😉

 

[inline6]

4 hours ago, grannyknot said:

Never throw them away😉

Nice collection.  Those are the crush washers of course.  The o-rings I am wondering about are inside the switch.  

[SteveJ]

Brake fluid resistant o rings: https://satoriseal.com/epdm-o-rings/

Possible source: https://www.globaloring.com/product-category/o-rings-standard-sizes/epdm-o-rings-70-duro/

Also Grainger: https://www.grainger.com/category/hardware/o-rings-and-o-ring-kits/o-rings?attrs=O-Ring+Material|EPDM&filters=attrs&gucid=N:N:PS:Paid:GGL:CSM-2296:9JMEDM:20500731&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmvSoBhDOARIsAK6aV7hsgn4gz-ujED1fAZtebKNIUrXo8v9nFtvHkkFkzsinR_BlCy2wcGcaArBbEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/191606666667?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOor_yVAmh3TJG4uEj6AhV9ox_DipN4S0kR0MRQJokpwBeTghkeCWF7A&com_cvv=d30042528f072ba8a22b19c81250437cd47a2f30330f0ed03551c4efdaf3409e

Finally McMaster-Carr: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/o-rings/

[inline6]

Thanks Steve.  I will check those out.  

Tonight, I put the differential strap in. 
    

 

I reused the original differential arrestor strap.  It is in decent shape - it even has original yellow paint dabs on it.

    

One of the things that really excited me about this car was that it spent all of its time prior to my ownership in AZ/CO.  The restored hardware is so nice - not pitted from rusting.

    

 

    

 

As these parts go back on the car, some pictures capture the resulting "art":

 

 

[Patcon]

I love those pictures!! Especially the detailed pictures of the proper bolt head details

[emccallum]

Beautiful! 

[inline6]

Thanks guys!

I had some fun this week end with some Krylon flat black paint.  I sprayed it into a small cup and then used a paint brush to attempt a similar look with the "black out":

   

    

    

    

 

Whoops on the runs and drips - ha ha ha 😆

Here are my original reference pictures:
 

    

    

    

    

 

      

 

     

 

It was fun attempting to replicate the original "black out"

[inline6]

In addition to the black out, I had the drums "turned" and then I glass bead blasted them:

    

    

 

Unfortunately, I previous owner banged pretty hard on them with a hammer around the outer circumference.  But, that is not seen when the wheels are mounted.