I recently had a question about the positive identification of the proportioning valve for a 1969. Well I was looking thru my assembly manual and I can across something that has me puzzled. Appearently what I thought was the proportioning valve is really just a distribution block (it bolts to the frame down by the firewall) and the real proportioning valve is a cylinder shaped affair that is in the front brake line only, and mounted near the master cylinder. Is this correct? I mean, if I understand this correctly, a proportioning valve's job is to delay the front brakes a fraction of a second so that rear brakes work at the same time as the fronts, right? If all this is correct, then all I really have is a distribution block and I still have to get a proportioning valve. Are these cylinder shaped valves available anywhere, or should I just suck it up and buy a newer type proportioning valve that does the valving and distributing in one unit? I'm not worried about originality, I just want to stop! Any help?

Dave

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Team Chevelle #373
69 SS Convertible

Dave,
You are correct about the dist. block & prop. valve. I think the valves are pretty hard to find. Do a search on "proportioning", I recall seeing a post naming a place that sometimes sold used ones.
Phil

First, this piece under the master cylinder is not a "Proportioning Valve" it is a metering valve to delay the front brakes. A Proportioning valve goes in the rear brake line to decrease pressure to the rear brakes. Chevelles did not come from the factory with a proportioning valve. The later 71 and 72 Chevelles came with the metering valve built into the distribution block and have a larger rear brake line fitting. The 69 distribution block is very small and brass colored and the 71 to 72 dist. block has a rounded section where the metering section is inside and it is made of cast steel or iron.

Bob,
My research tells me that you are quite correct. However, everyone calls the metering valve, a proportioning valve. When I spoke with folks, "metering valve" drew only questions then I would mention proportioning valve & all would click. So, "when in Rome......."



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Phil Wise
67 SS Convertible
(now on the down slope of the resto curve)

Dealers usually want 100-125 dollars for these "side hanger" proportioning valves when they can be found used..There are 2 styles, 69 has a large hex head like a nut where the outlet is, 70 is a one piece cast unit. Both work the same but the hex is correct for your car if thats what you want. Personally I would just go get a 71-72 chevelle or monte proportioning valve and be done with it.

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70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv

Thanks for the reply's everyone. I found a 71-72 style replacement proportioning valve in the new OPG catalog for $69.95. I think I'm going to go that route.

Thanks Again,
Dave

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Team Chevelle #373
69 SS Convertible

Actually, I believe 69 was the last year for the golfball metering valve. 70 used a combination metering/proportioning valve/distribution block.

Larry, the combo valve started in 71, my earlier reply is correct..if I had a scanner I would post pictures of the different year parts, maybe soon...

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70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv