[PaulatFast]

Originally Posted by g68mike

I have several original cars with documented power trunk release and all have overspray on the portion sticking out and clean no paint on the upper half inside lid. I have pulled tons from salvage yards from Olds, Chevy Buick Cadillac Pontiac and all have overspray. These were installed before being painted at the assembly plant. As was previously mentioned the wiring was also installed before paint. I believe this was a popular convenience option and was added by many owners after purchase thus resulting in the un painted latches seen. To add the option, the wiring can be routed through the trunk lids, sometimes not easily, but can be done. Just like door hinges being installed to firewall and doors and door latches being installed into doors prior to paint, the trunk latch was installed into trunk as well trunk being bolted to hinges, resulting in clean bare metal underneath. Dont forget the assembly process already had body data plate assigned to VIN, confirming what options, paint etc were assigned to each car. GM would not install a incorrect part just to remove it and switch it back out, when already knowing what proper piece was going to be installed.
Heres a pic of a couple, note, where the paint stops is pretty much the same on all.

I only see overspray on one of those releases in your pic? I've never seen an original with paint on it. As far as the GTOAA Judging goes, no paint on the power release.

[g68mike]

Look closer, all have same overspary pattern.

['ol Pinion head]

the one with yellow paint came of an original no repaint car? the others I have a hard time telling.

Have the original release out of my '69 428HO GP. (decklid was rusty in the seam so swapped on another deckid) it has no burgandy paint on it. My T-37 post has its original decklid & original trunk release, can double ck it again, but swear, no cardinal red paint. The T-37 is Pontiac plant car, the GP is Arlington plant car. Currently, I have a Lakewood (atlanta) built '71 GP parts car that still has original deckid & power trunk release, will ck it as well.

[nytrainer]

The side that shows on those 5 release mechs. that g68Mike posted (thanks Mike) is really the side that is almost impossible to see without really stretching. Isn't the other side the side that shows when the trunk is open?
Those pics helped though because as you can see in mine there is a broken bolt sheared off in the top hole. Also, and it worries me a little, is the hole where the actuating rod from the lock cylinder goes looks a bit hogged out compared to Mikes units. I would have blindly proceeded with the install only to realize I had to drill out the broken bolt and probably would have then installed it only to find the rod spins in this oversized hole without opening it.
Thought of swapping the non remote's "hole" but I don't think I can take this apart with those special rivets. I'll probably add some material to the rod so that it fits the hole better I guess. Mike, what do you normally sell those for? $

[gto4evr]

Originally Posted by PaulatFast

I only see overspray on one of those releases in your pic? I've never seen an original with paint on it. As far as the GTOAA Judging goes, no paint on the power release.

Paul, if they expect no paint on the power latch for judging, then what about the bolts that hold the latch in? (as in, if the latch wasn't there at time of paint, then should there just be natural bolts holding it since those wouldn't have been there during the paint process?

It does seem strange they'd paint it with the standard latch then remove later for the power. So what would happen to the unused painted latch, get put back on another car and go down the line for a second color over it? Doesn't seem reasonable that they would do that. I've been adding this option to all my cars for years and usually get them off a swap meet table so no pedigree proof but I can say the three currently in my possession don't have any overspray on them. Rust yes, paint no!

[My442]

I worked on the line at GM Framingham in 1972.

My job was on the body line: installing door hinges, doors, trunk lids, etc.

The standard latch was installed in all the cars for adjustment purposes. I know because I did it...

The interior options were done much later in the soft trim area, and these options were added then.

[PaulatFast]

Originally Posted by My442

I worked on the line at GM Framingham in 1972.

My job was on the body line: installing door hinges, doors, trunk lids, etc.

The standard latch was installed in all the cars for adjustment purposes. I know because I did it...

The interior options were done much later in the soft trim area, and these options were added then.

Period. Discussion over. There's the facts straight from the source. At least at the plant where 442 worked. Thank you for posting.

The informaton we have on these cars keeps getting better. Not worse. All current GTOAA Judges that I know communicate very well and talk frequently, even when Judging. As a matter of fact the Judging sheets are scrutnized to ensure they are consistant accross the board.

As far as I'm concerned, Power latches shouldn't be painted. I respect others opinions on the subject. It is something I will be watching more closely when I come accross original cars.

[gto4evr]

Originally Posted by PaulatFast

Period. Discussion over. There's the facts straight from the source. At least at the plant where 442 worked. Thank you for posting.

The informaton we have on these cars keeps getting better. Not worse. All current GTOAA Judges that I know communicate very well and talk frequently, even when Judging. As a matter of fact the Judging sheets are scrutnized to ensure they are consistant accross the board.

As far as I'm concerned, Power latches shouldn't be painted. I respect others opinions on the subject. It is something I will be watching more closely when I come accross original cars.

okay, I accepted that, but as to my original question -- what are you expecting when you have a correctly UNpainted power latch in the car for the bolt finishes? Painted with scratches meaning they re-used the original bolts that got painted when the standard latch went down the line or unpainted bolts to go with the unpainted latch?