one or two brake reservoirs

[Bella68]

I have a 1968 850 Sport Spider, front disc and rear drums. The "Autobook" that I have only refers to a single reservoir to the master cylinder, and a master cylinder with one inlet and one outlet. However, my car has dual reservoirs, and a longer master cylinder with dual inlets and 3 outlets. Is this stock? A typical upgrade? An unusual upgrade? If it is a typical upgrade, what is it typically an upgrade to? In other words, if I wanted to buy replacement parts, how do I know what year, make and model it has been upgraded to. I have also read about a rear brake compensator valve on later models of Fiat, but my manual does not indicate that I have one. I didn't know if my "dual master cylinder" was designed to address that compensator. If anyone can shed light on my 1968, related to the above, I would love to be educated! Thanks.

[bobplyler]

I think dual master cylinders were required in 67 or 68.

[spiderdan]

Hi Bella
I can only speak about my 68 124. When I got it the 2 mods my Fiat mechanic made was to put in an electronic distributor (from a later model X19) and a dual brake cylinder. The way he put it, with a single cylinder if one brake fails they all fail. No regrets on those two upgrades which were done 15 years ago. My 68 does not have a brake compensator. I have to assume he got the dual cylinder from a later model Spider since he usually has Fiat parts in stock.
Hope that helps.

[Bella68]

I agree that having a dual reservior/MC set up is much safer. I upgraded my single MC on my '55 Bel Air for the same reason. One bad leak, and you lose all brakes.

I am looking into buying another manual for the 64-74 Fiats, and I am hoping I can figure out if my MC has been upgraded. It is possible that it was, as I can see that the sheetmetal area above the MC in the front "trunk" (is the front "trunk" still called the trunk, and is the cover still the "hood" in a rear engine car?) has been cut out to access that MC more easily. At least I assume it was cut out, it could be stock but I don't know. I just know that the MC is partly visible when I have the hood up and the triangle battery cover is removed.

[kmead]

The US market 850 came with a dual circuit master cylinder fed by two fluid reservoirs. This was a factory standard feature. The MC would be visible with the battery cover removed as standard.

The Haynes manual covers the 850 well as do the later Autobooks manuals. The most preferred manual to have would be the factory manual which can still be bought new/reproduced or used. I have all of the above manuals and reference them all.

As regards to the replacement parts just utilize the year. Is your car one with faired in glassed over headlights or raised projecting headlights? I would assume the raised given the year but some ‘68s had the enclosed headlights.