Today I took off what remained off the brake-pipes and hoses, which all came off surprisingly easily. Only one of the metal clips sheared off the chassis while opening it, but it can be pop-riveted back on as two other ones had been at some point in the past. Those had to be drilled out - I hope the pop-rivet gun turns up or I'll be using self-tappers.
I salvaged the two brass union-couplings and they've kept well. The 3-way one, above, splits the pipe from the front between the two rear brakes. The 4-way coupling, below, splits the master-cylinder between the two front brakes and the pipe to the rear. Couldn't be more basic.
I gave the couplings a good wire-brushing and they came up great. The threads are pretty clean, but the pipes still had a little fluid left in them so I've given the couplings a good flush and left them soaking in methylated-spirits over night.
The only part of the old brake system that didn't just come off reasonably easily was this nut that connects to the end of the rear brake-hose and holds it in place. It's never been touched since the car was born in 1959, so it's been painted over more than once and now both the nut, washer and the end of the old brake-hose [cut off so I could get a socket either side] are totally seized to the bracket. Last night I basted it in WD40, but today it still wouldn't budge and I can't put enough force on the nut, even holding both sides, without kinking the rear sub-frame it's attached to. I have tried hack-sawing the hose-side nut a bit, but it stopped play today so tomorrow I will be drilling and hacking in a last ditch attempt to save cutting the bracket off. Hopefully the new pipes and hoses can go on too tomorrow as I'm back in work for a bit after that.
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