Homemade Girling Reservoirs

[Eric]

Girling master cylinder resevoirs. Thanks to Larry for pointing out that the Girling cans are the same as PVC cement cans. I was able to make these rather inexpensively. Thanks Larry!

Mike or Larry,

This is a great example of being resourceful and saving some significant coin.

[Paul Proefrock]

Eric,
I'll throw in some info:

The lids are available from FinishLine, Moss Motors, Pegasus Racing or Victoria British. They are used on a lot of British vehicles.

The port on the bottom of the can is a Metric to AN type adapter for brake calipers. Nut goes inside the can with a copper/aluminum crush washer on both sides of the can.

I haven't found a silicon that will hold up to brake fluid. Eventually it will fail leak. Crush washers are the only positive seal.

The original cars had taller brake reservoir cans but they are very difficult to find. The clutch can is the same size as the cans that PVC solvent for plastic plumbing comes in. You can clean them, take off the labels, punch a hole in the bottom and you're good to go. (I was lucky and found a set of the taller cans on EBay. They are about 2" taller than the clutch can)

Most of the lids you buy are painted black. If they are powder coated, it is resistant to brake fluid. If it is just black epoxy paint, the brake fluid will attack it. I opted to remove all the paint and run silver cans and lids. The only hassle I'll have to fight then is getting the bottom seals to make up. If you've ever done crush washers, they aren't user friendly.

Hope this helps.

Paul
HM1078

[jwd]

Eric

I got the lids from Pegasus, the cans from Home Depot and the fittings from a local hydraulic supply company. The cans may be a mm shorter and a different shade of black but he11, it's a replica, not an original.

Jim

[66rdster]

Hi Eric,
I did the same as Jim except I got my lids from Cobra Restorers. I believe the lids are cheaper from Pegasus though.
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/home.asp
I was able to find fittings, similar to what you have pictured, at a local farm supply store in the hydraulic section.
I hope that helps. If you need more info, let us know.

Mike

[LMH]

Not much I can ad here that hasn't already been said. Good luck!
Larry

[Eric]

Thanks for all the good info, guys.  Very helpful.

-Eric