TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Dec 05, 2003 6:06 am

This beater t34 I've been getting back together is running well now thanks to a gas tank transplant and some time with bailing wire and the long metal fuel line, they left a full tank of gas in it when it was parked in the early 80's, what a mess. I've never seen so much goo in a gas tank!!
Anyhow, it has no brakes - because it had no master cylinder! I stole the one out of a 64 square that's a parts car but naturally it's shot. I found 2 more in parts boxes that came with the 34 but they are rusted inside. I found a new t1 cylinder in another parts box, wonder if the guts are the same?
Where do I find a new one, or a rebuild kit? Why can't we just go to the parts store and get one for 20 bucks like all the other vw owners?
I'm hoping the front cyls are ok, don't even want to think about that one yet.
The car is a beater, rusted and bent, but complete, so I'm trying to go cheap for now, trying to put it back together from spare parts and fixes. The PO was going to part it out but I'll save it! Even in it's sad state it's better than any bug!

Fri Dec 05, 2003 7:00 am

Cheap early Type 3 master cylinders are hard to find but I do them appear on eBay from time to time.

I don't know why they stopped making them, it would be nice if they were $24.95

You could try honing it out and rebuilding it, if it's not heavily pitted.

Fri Dec 05, 2003 6:11 pm

If it is not of the upmost importance that it be correct, you can use a later T3 M/C, maybe not cheap, but they are, or at least were recently available new.

you will have to block off the extra holes with brass plugs, use a T to make two lines from the brake fluid resoviore, and you will need two brake light switches, hooking the wires up to the brake light switch nearest the firewall so they will light up as you touch the brake pedel.

Yea, I hope your wheel cylinders are ok too. they aint cheap and there are 4 of them on the front. you should be able to find rebuild kits for those (and maybe your M/C too) at bill and steves in downey ca

Sat Dec 06, 2003 6:16 am

Good idea Eric, for the price it would be worth the plugging stuff and rigging to use the later one, Everett, I'll be looking for the t3 brake parts on ebay, I could use some spare parts. Not sure if Bill & Steve have the rebuild kits, BFY doesn't.

I was working on a job yesterday, good mood cause it was friday and I was makin good money so I said F*** it! Picked up the cell and called Bill and Steve, ordered a new one for only $195! That's about what, 10 bug master cyls for the price of 1 type 3. Probably cheaper than the one on my newer Toyota though. No wonder people are parting these cars instead of restoring them. I decided I'd pull the one off the T345 that will get restored someday and put the new one on it and the old one on the beater. Now we'll see if those wheel cyls have any life in them, or if I have to rape the parts car again.