Over the weekend I picked up a NOS Wagner F1 master cylinder, almost for free. Should I still put a rebuild kit in it and hone it? What color would it have been painted originally? It's not here yet but wanted to get a view from you fine folks.

JB

 

I doubt a Wagner is NOS, it would be NORS if anything. (New Old Reproduction Stock)

If it's been on a shelf for all this time, yes, I'd put a rubber kit in it.

 

Genuine Ford:

A0-2140-A .. Master Cylinder / Obsolete = 1948/52 F1.

MILLER OBSOLETE PARTS in Binghamton NY has 1 = 607-722-5371.
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A0A-2004-A .. Master Cylinder Repair Kit / Obsolete = 1948/52 F1; 1953/56 F100.

MCDONALD OBSOLETE PARTS in Rockport IN has 1 = 812-359-4965.

KLIMESH MOTOR SALES in Calmar IA has 2 = 563-562-3241.

CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 2 = 800-476-9653.

MILLER OBSOLETE PARTS has 4.

 

I've never seen a manual brake master cylinder that was painted. Any fluid spill would take the coating off.

 

As for painting, Eastwood makes a Spray Gray Cast Steel Replication paint that is recommended on many sites but if you go to the bottom and read their responses to the question of brake fluid damaging the paint they indicate that it is a problem for most paints (meaning this one also):

 

Pete, that response doesn't appear to be made by Eastwood. That paint may well resist brake fluid.

 

The Eastwood brake gray paint says it resists dot type 3 fluid. I think that is what I will go with.

JB