Strut Rod Adjusting Cam/Bolt Finish

[Joe S.]

The bolt and cam that were on my 63 were all zinc plated with two rusty nuts ont he end. The rear cam has a small hole in it (is that the way they came?)

I've refinished them but they are a little on the worn side. I've see repro's but they don't look the same and have strange numbers on the ones I've seen. I've also seen them with a zinc bolt and cam with a black phosphate rear cam, washer, and unfinished bolt.

I've also read on here where the main bolt is black phosphate and teh cams zinc.

Good someone (yo Joe!) elighten me on this. Particularly if 63 was different.

Again, thanks.




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[Joe R.]

Re: Strut Rod Adjusting Cam/Bolt Finish

Joe,

I have noticed several responses to the cam finish on 63's and here's my two cents. I have owned several 63's and not one of them ever had any plating on the cam adjusters. Nothing on the nuts, lock washers or anything. Apparently the 63's I've seen were black phosphate or natural.

The description follows: The bolt and attached washer are plain and have one small hole in the washer. The bolt has an recessed "M" in the center The rear washer is plain with no markings (degree marks) or holes. The nut and lock washer are plain with no markings.

These markings were on four split windows in the following serial number range from 8000 to 17,500.

At least there were four with no plating, no sign of plating and it could not have worn off. These are Southern no rust Vettes. Two even had the frame numbers and shim marks still visible.

Regards,

JR

[Joe L.]

Re: Strut Rod Adjusting Cam/Bolt Finish

Joe------

I have some real old, NOS cam/bolt assemblies (GM #3820253) and cams (GM #3790331)----(they were NOT supplied in SERVICE as a kit with a bolt with 2 cams and nut/lockwasher). ALL of these have a black phosphate bolt and a plain steel attached cam. This cam is the one that faces the front of the car. The seperate cam (that faces the rear of the car) is zinc plated on all that I have.

In mid 77, the cam/bolt assembly changed part number to GM #458979 for PRODUCTION. This assembly uses a zinc plated bolt and zinc plated attached cam. The same seperate cam, GM #3790331, was used with the later part. The 458979 became the SERVICE part for 1963 to early 1977 Corvettes after the GM #3820253 was discontinued.

It is possible that the GM #3820253 were finished in different ways over the years. However, as I say, all of the originals that I have are finished as I described. The original on my 1969 was also finished that way.

The cams do have the small hole in them that you described.