69 tie rod sleeve finish

[Greg L.]

Just wondering what the correct finish was for the tie rod sleeves and their two clamps for a 69. The TIM&JG only describes the bolt and nut finish. Thanks again.

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

I would think that you should expect to see the adjusting sleeve painted a satin black finish.

[Chuck R.]

Re: I believe natural up-painted for both Greg *NM*

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Not to contradict my blue friend , but my experience is that original C3 steering linkages are covered with a petroleum based black slime that I would hesitate to call paint. I'm not sure what it is, but a former employee of Saganaw did call it paint. His story, and he stuck with it to his death bed, is that ALL the steering linkages were coated with that stuff by Saginaw.
Must have been a chore in the pit making the final toe adjustment. If he was right they had to go through a lot of gloves, unless the gauge setting they made was spot on, and the guys in the pit did nothing most of the time.

I have seen this finish on many Bow Tie cars, so there may be something to it. The ones without it, when the owner is pressed, reveal a clean freak was at work.

[William C.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Look at the assy manual, if it's like the '65, the grease fittings were installed at st louis and would not be "painted"

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

The spec sheets from GM to the vendors called for a finish.

[Chuck R.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Hmm must be Joe Tripoli's book (1953-1972) is in error on this point then.

Hey it wouldn't be the first (and certainly not the last) time I metally stepped in it

Chuck

[John H.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Don't know about C3's, but C2 steering linkage was made at Chevrolet-Buffalo (where all Chevy steering linkage was made in those days), and Buffalo sprayed it with a gooey, sticky "chassis black" paint (that never dried) after it was assembled, with protective covers over the outer tie rod end studs; it was hung on the paint line by the hole in the pitman arm, which showed very little paint. Everyone in the plant that touched it went through terrycloth gloves at an astounding rate, especially the guy in the toe-in pit.

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Thanks guys but now I'm kinda confused. I personaly tend to think that the sleeves were some type of black(maybe phosphate) and the clamps natural or possibly black phosphate or oxide but this is just a guess. The black goo from what I understand was a C2 thing but Terry makes me wonder if wasn't a C3 thing as well... Would it be okay for me to e-mail a judge that does the 69s to get his opinion on this or would this be out of line? Thanks

[Gary #41345]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

By all means ask that's what they are there for.....who would have more knowledge?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Greg,

Here is a picture of the bottom of my 72. Note how the tie rods remain (soprt of) black, despite the finish wearing off many other front suspention parts. I looked through other photos I have as well, and it is quite obvious that the tie rods and steering linkage were (and still are) black.

Patrick

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

There are a lot of opinions as to where they had a black finish or not. The next edition of the 68-69 and 70-72 TIM & JG will list the finish as black. Ask me how I know

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

Thanks guys and Patrick for the pic. Dick...please don't tell me that I'm restoring my 69 to a soon to be out of date TIM&JG...please.
Black it will be then...would that be paint,phosphate... So when do you figure the latest and greatest version for the 68-69 TIM&JG will be avialable?

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 tie rod sleeve finish

The most recent 1968-69 TIM&JG is the third edition (purple cover). Printed Summer 2001. If you don't have that one, you have an out of date manual.