Ken Etter injured in an accident at Fontana

[W J]

Originally Posted by Run to Rund

It seems that the catastrophe started with the master cylinder push rod coming out. 67-72 GM A-bodies with manual brakes have a retainer like a cup plug with an O.D. flange that traps it between the cylinder and the firewall. The pushrod is flanged and won't fall through the center hole of this retainer. This part is hard to find these days, but should never be left out. Earlier single GM master cylinders use a big snap ring to hold a plate in the back end of the cylinder and trap the flanged rod. I don't know how Mopar, etc. do it, but some positive retention of the pushrod is clearly essential.

Wow, tough to believe that this pushrod could come out of the master cyl. on braking system, and that this safety problem hadn't been adressed years ago---either by the automotive industry, or the governing bodies of drag racing. It would seem a easy fix..... WJ