As the fluid was crystallized the Treadle Vac will need rebuilding. You might be able to fill it,have the brakes work fine and 5 minutes or 50 miles alter have no brakes. Safety first, doubtful it is the steel lines that are clogged, 800psi from then master cyl will take car of that.

If the MC is shot then it is likely so are the wheel cyls. Remove a drum and shoes and peel back the wheel cyl boots, if it is wet or has crystallized junk in it, they also neeed rebuilding or replacing

Sometimes they are dry but the pistons are frozen. Try pushing on the metal piston, it should move freely, try both ends. If not you know what to do.

Brake failure is often attributed to "that damn Treadle Vac" in these forums. If an engine failure were attributed to "that damn engine" that the owner had not changed the oil in 30 years and had not topped it up regularly we would know it was the owner's fault. Same with the brakes but much more convenient to blame the Bendix Corp.

The grease fingernail shadow is well re-established and goes well with any wardrobe. The chassis will be sandblasted in short order and I have started same on front suspension components.

I want to return the car to exactly how it was brand new in 1952. We have in stock NOS drums, backing plates and all suspension arms etc, all are unpainted except the drums which are semi gloss low-lustre black.

Does anyone have definitive info as to what the original finish of those other components was?? They had little rust, were coated with grease but I found no trace of being painted black underneath.

I will be painting the pan in front of the radiator a semi-gloss black, we have NOS inner fender panels from 41-56 to replicate the finish. Likewise the air cleaner, heater blower etc will not get the Deltron high gloss "Blinding Black" finish, we have nos items to use for reference. One semi-gloss will be used in all locations appropriate.

Seeking info please. Thanks

I think that we can have a running, driving (in our parking lot) whole car with 4 doors that open and close and are properly gapped in 7 weeks.