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#1
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Valve Cover Screws - Original Finish
Per Mar. '69 MPC, there was one part # for the Valve Cover Bolt...
# 9776669 ('64-'69 All exc. RAIV) Trying to determine what the original factory finish was. Some say silver zinc plated, others say black phosphate. Road Test article pix from '67-'68 show black screws. Survivor, unrestored '68 Firebirds & GTOs I've seen have black screws. AMES & Inline Tube claim they were zinc plated. Thoughts? References?
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John '68 Firebird Ram Air 4-spd Conv. John 14:6 Semper Fi |
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John '68 Firebird Ram Air 4-spd Conv. John 14:6 Semper Fi |
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John '68 Firebird Ram Air 4-spd Conv. John 14:6 Semper Fi |
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John '68 Firebird Ram Air 4-spd Conv. John 14:6 Semper Fi |
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John '68 Firebird Ram Air 4-spd Conv. John 14:6 Semper Fi |
#6
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Great pics! A benefit to anyone working on these cars!
Tim |
#7
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I always recalled zinc plated bolts on my 68. Checked the 68 MPC and it lists the same part number but as "Zinc".
Maybe a factory or vendor choice. Page was revised 1-1-68
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Ed 1968 GTO (Thanks Mom) 2006 Silverado 2007 Cadillac SRX 2015 Chevy Express |
#8
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I've got a cup full of valve cover bolts from mostly painted valve cover applications, I'll sift through the ones that have obvious original engine paint on them and see if under the paint they are zinc or black...
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
#9
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In Catalog #36 Ames says zink plated screws for 1968 and later models with chrome valve covers.
All others uses black valve cover screws. |
#10
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I'm assuming that the chrome valve cover and painted valve cover engines would have all used the same bolts. Then the engines with painted valve covers would end up with blue paint on the bolts. Is this a reasonable assumption or did they use specific bolts when chrome valve covers were installed?
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
#11
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Quote:
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Ed 1968 GTO (Thanks Mom) 2006 Silverado 2007 Cadillac SRX 2015 Chevy Express |
#12
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So, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I do not see a listing as Silver Zinc for these bolts from our host or elsewhere. There is black zinc coating also - consisting of black chromate coloring applied to the bolt after zinc plating. My two survivor cars (54K miles and 67K miles have "blackish" bolts. The bolts show as black on Ames' website.
https://secure.amesperf.com/qilan/Se...er+bolt&sort=0
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'68 GTO 4-spd Hardtop (11) '68 GTO Convertible AT (1) '70 LeMans Sport Land of Lakes Muscle Car Classic Facebook Event Facebook Wall (Kurt Smith,Minneapolis) |
#13
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I looked at a bunch of original bolts, all my cars are 69's but my spares came off parts cars from 68-70. Clearly looks like they used both, my survivor cars have both but always all the same on a given car. I guess they had a corrosion resistance spec and the manufacturer could choose so long as he met the salt spray standard.
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
#14
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Quote:
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#15
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I know Zinc, it's what I do
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
#16
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Curious...
Assuming "zinc" can apply to different colors. Therefore, if the Jan. '68 MPC lists the V/C Bolt as "zinc" could this have been black? Most of the bolts I have and see on survivor cars (pre-'69) definitely have a black finish, not shiny silver.
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John '68 Firebird Ram Air 4-spd Conv. John 14:6 Semper Fi |
#17
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wasn't something like this covered a while ago, and it was shared that there were a couple suppliers of hardware, and that the coating was mostly about rust protection, so there could be variance in the colour?
Subscribed, because I am interested - I have always used original hardware when ever possible.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
#18
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The "Black Zinc" coating is quite common for hardware. Basically a zinc plate with black conversion treatment. Similar to the various other zinc conversion coatings like clear chromate etc.
Do a search on the phrase Black Zinc Coating and lots of info will come up. The factory literature might not specify what type of zinc coating. |
#19
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Pictures from prior posts, 1968 GTO's in original form, not sure if these help but someone may benefit.
Notice the last picture above looks like it could be the "D" marking inquired about in a earlier post. Frank
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Poncho Huggen, Gear Snatchen, Posi Piro. |
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