Hi Guy's,

Ok so I've spent the best part of a year slowly but surely rebuilding the rear end of my Firebird as the drum to disk conversion ended up with me changing just about everything back there on a "while I'm here basis"
Most things have gone ok but some things have really pushed me to the edge. The 'Right Stuff Detailing' disc kit was no end of trouble trying to fit right, ranging from warped backing plates to holes that had to be enlarged to get bolts to fit. I also had ended up ditching the summit stainless steel brake pipe kit as a) it just didn't fit my car, and b) the ends were a single flare fitting but the right stuff flex hoses were double! $30 wasted.

I replaced the entire rear fixed brake hose and also decided to replace the master cylinder and brake combination valve as they're now 25 years old and full of gunk. The only problem was that I just couldn't get the rear brake pipe union nut off the valve. So as I'd already got the new line in up to the valve, I cut the old one off. I also found that as I got the left front brake pipe nut off the valve it brought out some of the threads from inside with it!

But right on cue to save the day my new brake proportioning valve arrived from summit..... but I noticed straight away that this wasn't going to fit even close, despite it being for the Firebird drum to disc conversion!!
Fittings are all in the wrong places, and again, all my original pipes are single flare and the fittings within the valve are double! AAAAARRRGGGGG!!
So now I've got two brake combination valves, one doesn't fit (and will cost ££ to send back to the states) and the other is full of gunk AND damaged!

This is like the last straw, my heads dropped and I've just about had enough.

I've just spent the afternoon looking for OE Brake Proportioning Valves and come up with absolutely nothing! No, tell a lie.... JC Whitney have a picture of my exact valve but they don't have one for my year!

Good grief!

 

I think GM discontinued that part. http://www.flynbye.com/ may still have some. You can inquire with them and see if they ship to your location. Another option is ebay for a used one.

There are also some threads here on TGO about just swapping over the prop valve spring instead of the entire valve when doing a drum to disc conversion. Search on that, see what you find.

 

Sounds like your buying universal fit parts or parts for the wrong year cars. These cars use metric bubble flares, not single or double flares which are older sae threads. So I'm not sure what u bought.

 

If you have need of a stock proportioning (disc/drum) valve from a 91, I have one available for the cost of shipping. I bought a replacement (disc/disc) for my swap and have no need for the old one. Incidentally I'm also using the same Right Stuff kit for my rear brakes.

Might come in handy if you decide to go the spring replacement route. PM me if you are interested.

 

Thank's for the reply guy's,

Thanks for that offer BovineZro, I'm going to keep looking to see if I can find a new one (if possible!) but would it be ok if I pm'd you later on if I don't have any luck?

Yes that's right my car does have the bubble flare metric pipes (Thought they were single flare ) But I always buy parts at Summit for a 1991 Pontiac Firebird, and this particular part said in it's application list that it did indeed fit my car.... yet it sooooo doesn't!

I've been buying parts for my car from the states for 14 years now and the service has been so much better than here in the UK for that time, but recently I've noticed the vendors over there have been very hit/miss in what I've been sent lately.

Last year I ordered spark plugs from Rock auto (up until then perfect with every order) and found that they were far too long in reach for my engine! Thank god I didn't fit them. To make matters worse when I emailed them they said that European cars had different engines to the one's in the U.S. something even I know is complete bull!

It's good to hear that GM have stopped supplying the valves, that's just been my luck this year I guess!


Speed.

 

Sure, just let me know if you need it. It's not going anywhere. It did come off a 91 Camaro but I'm fairly certain the fittings should be the same for a Firebird of the same year. If you decide you want it I can send over pictures first just in case.