Installed the master cylinder on my '83 today. Everything went smoothly despite the 30° temperature.
I can now step on the brakes with confidence!

 

How difficult and how long did it take you? I am ordering mine in about an hour. I'm also going down to Pep Boys to pick up my Haynes so I am a bit more guided. Congratulation on the stoppability!
-Stu.

 

I usually get my Haynes at Wal-Mart. Oh, wait. I think we're talking about 2 different things

It took me about an hour. Installation was easy. If you can change a tire, you can do this. Remanufactured is definately the way to go because of ease of installation. Here's a step-by-step (actual write-up with pictures will be completed sometime next week):
1. Disconnect the 2 metal lines from the master cylinder. Use a 10mm flare-nut wrench to do this because they are in there tight.
2. Remove the cap from the fluid resevoir.
3. Remove the plastic hose clamp from the MC side of the hose at the fluid resevoir. In my case, I had to cut it off because the screw was rusted so bad, I couldn't get a screw-driver to grab. Have a small container handy to catch the fluid from the resevoir.
4. Once all the fluid has drained from the resevoir, use a 19mm socket and extension and remove the bolt from inside the resevoir.
5. Seperate the resevoir from the MC and clean thoroughly with brake parts cleaner then set aside.
6. Remove the four 12mm nuts holding the MC to the booster. Use the power of suggestion (a small hammer) to seperate the MC from the booster.
7. Use an awl or bent scribe to remove the "boot" from the old master cylinder. Note it's position before doing so as this is the position it will need to be installed on the new master cylinder.Be careful not to tear or poke holes in the boot. Reinstall the boot on the new master cylinder.
8. Re-install the new MC on the booster.
9. Re-install the resevoir on the new MC. Make sure that the inside is completely dry and no brake cleaner remains. Then, re-install the hose from the resevoir to the MC.
10. The new MC should have come with 2 plastic barbed nipples and 2 short lengths of clear hose. Screw in each of the plastic parts into the MC where the metal brake lines would go. Fill the resevoir with new brake fluid. Secure the clear tubing onto each of the plastic barbs and submerge the opposite end in the resevoir.
11. Pump the brake pedal slightly. You do not need to press the pedal to the floor, only about 3 inches or so. Pump once, then let it sit for 10 seconds. Pump again and let it sit for 10 seconds. Watch the clear hose as fluid is drawn into the MC and air is pulled out. When all of the air bubbles have been evacuated, remove the hoses and plastic parts and reinstall the metal lines.
12. Bleed the entire system.

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me:
have_blue *at* earthlink.net

 

You're cool I wil be ordering my MC on Monday. It hasn't gone out yet and I have finals this week so it better wait. Thanks a lot for this pre-write-up. If I have any hang-ups I wil hit you up via email.
-Stu.