Power Brake Booster Valve: A Comparison between Original vs Reproduction

[70z28lt1]

We are a strange crowd I think...Pay good money for a shiny new white valve and then spend much time and money on figuring out how to make it change color!  It does keep it interesting.

[68camaroz28]

Due to a Team Camaro thread I recently purchased a power booster valve that had more of a vanilla appearance off ebay to review as Liked the color of it compared to the refrigerator white looking valve and wanted to compare it to our NOS valve shown earlier that came off the May68 dated Delco Remy power booster/master cyl. assembly purchased from Jere Stahl (RIP). I just placed this information in my build thread but thought it should be posted here as well.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/29-forum-classifieds/425201-wtb-correct-68-power-brake-booster-check-valve.html
Original valve attached to hose. The repro has both a shade darker and the three circular dots are more pronounced but it looks very nice.

[ZLP955]

Looks good Chick, thanks for the comparison - certainly getting closer to the original aren't they.
I don't have one of the latest repro pieces myself, but from the photos, it looks like there are a couple of differences that are probably only noticeable when side-by-side with an original:
- the orientation of the 3 dots relative to the vacuum hose spigot varies (but that 'clocking' may even vary from valve to valve as part of the manufacturing process to join the two parts of the valve body?).
- some original valves seem to have a letter or number on at least one of the dots.
- the dishing of the hole in the center of the original valve seems a little deeper than on the new one.
- the inner raised ring appears thicker on the reproduction.
- the original valves seem to have a 'wavy' line (highly technical term!) around the face, between outer and inner raised rings; can't see clearly if the repro also has this.

[ko-lek-tor]

link to one such animal http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-1967-Corvette-Brake-Booster-Check-Valve-100-Correct-/121968615746

[68camaroz28]

Looks good Chick, thanks for the comparison - certainly getting closer to the original aren't they.
I don't have one of the latest repro pieces myself, but from the photos, it looks like there are a couple of differences that are probably only noticeable when side-by-side with an original:
- the orientation of the 3 dots relative to the vacuum hose spigot varies (but that 'clocking' may even vary from valve to valve as part of the manufacturing process to join the two parts of the valve body?).
- some original valves seem to have a letter or number on at least one of the dots.
- the dishing of the hole in the center of the original valve seems a little deeper than on the new one.
- the inner raised ring appears thicker on the reproduction.
- the original valves seem to have a 'wavy' line (highly technical term!) around the face, between outer and inner raised rings; can't see clearly if the repro also has this.

Dang Tim you really studied it. Yes there are some other differences as you noted but on the car they would be very difficult to review so my main concern was color as overall appearance has the correct look. My guess or assumption is the #1 on our original was a mold as they had to be making a ton of these for all the GM cars back in the day. Orientation of the 3 dots on the repro closely resembles some other originals I have and do note the original May68 time frame valve is somewhat different but that might have to do with which mold was used. I would not be surprised to know these valves are being made by the original supplier. Have to check out two Nova's that have original valves as well and friends 68 & 69 survivors.

[KurtS]

That's much closer. I really notice the surface finish is different - I wonder if maybe they aren't using steel molds....

[ZLP955]

.....and as stated in the Team Camaro thread linked to in Chick's post, credit goes to Bentley for finding and tipping us off to the latest reproduction valve, as per his ebay URL just above.

[68Zproject]

Chick, Do you know if anything has changed from when this thread was last posted as far as a correct valve?  I was looking over threads on the boosters and found an amusing (to me) back and forth from some restorers on the correct finish of the booster and there was a reference to maybe getting Right Stuff to make correct components.  I searched their site and came up with nothing.  Just wondered if there were any being made that might be even closer to your original valve?

[68camaroz28]

Chick, Do you know if anything has changed from when this thread was last posted as far as a correct valve?  I was looking over threads on the boosters and found an amusing (to me) back and forth from some restorers on the correct finish of the booster and there was a reference to maybe getting Right Stuff to make correct components.  I searched their site and came up with nothing.  Just wondered if there were any being made that might be even closer to your original valve?

What we have listed is the best repro that I'm aware of and is very close to originals. The new close looking one listed is a fairly new valve I believe.

[cook_dw]

I just ordered one a couple weeks ago.  Here it is installed.  Nothing has changed from above posts.

[BULLITT65]

Good update.
Cook I like it when my Booster and master cover, match the bling on my teeth...( just messing with you cook) 

[ZLP955]

Looks good Darrell!

[cook_dw]

Good update.
Cook I like it when my Booster and master cover, match the bling on my teeth...( just messing with you cook) 

Looks good Darrell!

Thanks Tim.

[BULLITT65]

Good one Cook. That guy freaks me out man...