anyone know what color 1971 brake lines were.... i am cleaning all mine up but not sure exactly what to repaint them to be close to OEM

thanks

The hardlines? IIRC they are were not painted, I think they should be yellow plated, painted would look wrong. To me it would showcase too much haste in painting the chassis.
 

The painters on our house did that, the window trim on the patio is not painted white, it looks wrong everyone I see it. 

I believe OEM was yellow zinc plating or cadmium, I have done black paint on them in the past but it really doesn't look right. Most zinc platers can replate them for you although you will probably have to fold them in half.

I don't know for the early z's but later 70's datsuns had olive green brakelines for sure!  Last year i restored a 280zx (1979) and it has still the original olive green brakelines

Here a pic taken from the internet (from this site!) 😊

31 minutes ago, dutchzcarguy said:

don't know for the early z's but later 70's datsuns had olive green brakelines for sure!

Mart,

I am leaning toward the Japanese Imperial Army green as being the correct color. None of the several Z cars I have owned and / or dismantled over the years has shown evidence of yellow zinc or cadmium plating.

The color is the same as the seat slider mechanisms. I've never seen or heard a definitively sourced statement as to what is actually correct.

@kats may be able to inform us

There were no traces of green paint on any of my lines when I stripped my car some years ago, but there was lots of evidence of yellow plating as it was flaking off.

We are very fortunate to have an excellent plating company in my area and they have the large tanks to accommodate long lines without bending. Several buddies currently doing restos have had their lines replated with outstanding results and they handle all the smaller items for my hobby business.

I was on a strict budget for my restomod years ago, no allowance for getting the lines plated. I thoroughly stripped them and painted in metallic silver topped with clear. - it worked out pretty well. Everything is still fresh and bright 10 years later.

I agree with @grannyknot and @jfa.series1 that the brake tubes originally were yellow cad or zinc plated. Here is a picture of one of the original tubes that I have recently removed from my 7/70 car. They were covered with under coating and as I scrape it off there is lots of evidence of yellow colored plating.

 

Edited January 20, 20214 yr by CanTechZ

8 hours ago, dutchzcarguy said:

I don't know for the early z's but later 70's datsuns had olive green brakelines for sure!  Last year i restored a 280zx (1979) and it has still the original olive green brakelines

Here a pic taken from the internet (from this site!) 😊

I thought that looked familiar, I recognized my outdoor work bench.

I see mine occasionally but it's always "shouldn't look this way".

 

On the stripping/cleaning aspect, what is the most efficient way to clean them up in preparation for plating/painting?  I did my fuel rail with scotchbright pads and it took FOREVER!  I’d like to do something with mine while the engine is out but that level of tedium hurts my head. 

49 minutes ago, Trnelson said:

On the stripping/cleaning aspect, what is the most efficient way to clean them up in preparation for plating/painting?  I did my fuel rail with scotchbright pads and it took FOREVER!  I’d like to do something with mine while the engine is out but that level of tedium hurts my head. 

Some plating companies will do everything for you, clean, buff and plate but it's a much safer bet to prep everything before you send it to them for plating. The plating layer is very thin and hides nothing so for the best results clean and buff your pieces before you send them.  A bench mounted wire wheel makes fast work of everything except for the heaviest rust.

 

22 hours ago, Zup said:

Japanese Imperial Army green

Yeah, what i meant to say was it's LIKE a sort of olive green.. Not specific the olive green.. (and at the end what IS olive green...?  british racing green is  a good example i think.. also a color that has a lot of different shades.. one is lighter or darker than the other.. I've seen different brands of cars with all different colors of British racing green.)