C-3, 1970 hood hinges/latches color

[D S.]

The 1970-1972 Corvette JG says that the hood hinges and latches are black phosphate so I assume that the female hood latches are to be totally that finish and the male latches on the body is to have the base as being black phosphate but the cone, spring, and cup is natural. Where do I get the black phosphate? Is there a paint that will suffice?

Thanks,
Scott

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3, 1970 hood hinges/latches color

Scott-----

I don't think that the hood hinges were black phosphate. I think that they were zinc plated.

The lower hood latch bracket was black phosphate. The spring was also black phosphate and the latch bolt was black phosphate, too, although the head of it wore off quickly and became "natural".

The seats were zinc plated. The lower cups might have been natural, but I think most were zinc plated.

To obtain a true black phosphate appearance, you must use the phosphating process and not paint. There is a paint which very closely duplicates a black OXIDE finish; there is no paint that I know of that duplicates a black phosphate finish.

[D S.]

Re: C-3, 1970 hood hinges/latches color

Thanks, again, Joe. They were all semi-painted (chipped, worn) when I bought the car so I bead blasted them. I thought they looked good all natural but then I pick up the JG and read how they are supposed to be. If they are going to wear the finish off anyway why not leave them natural and coat them with clear? Makes a nice contrast against the black out.

[Tom R.]

Re: C-3, 1970 hood hinges/latches color

Scott:

Check out the archives...just recently (last month or two) one of the guys took us through a guided tour of plating hinges/latches. Pretty interesting.

[Tony Merendino]

Re: C-3, 1970 hood hinges/latches color

Scott you can do whatever you think looks best. Paint them pink if you like. If they do not have a black Phospate finish they are not correct. Restoration is about making everything look the same as when it left the factory. That is what the R in NCRS stands for. What originally came from the factory was not always what looked or worked best but that is not the point of restoration.

Many people change their Corvettes for safety(seat belts, disc brakes, roll bars) and others change them to look better(metalflake paint, custom wheel flairs, wings, base & clear coat paint). All of which are about personalization of the automobile but none of which are about restoration. Remember where you are posting.

[Tom R.]

Pink won't work here!

Scott...I think Tony got caught up on the wrong forum...don't do pink. We know if you're posting here...you're asking on the basis of NCRS standards rather than personal preference.

[D S.]

Re: Pink won't work here!

Pink? Not worth the response on that one.
Yes, most folks who know me personally also know I am big on restoration and all things being correct especially when the tools, expertise, and parts to do such is readily available. But to have to order a cadmium kit here and a black phosphate kit there from several different firms makes it frustrating and difficult. And I don't have an NCRS friend nearby who has the stuff to plate any items either. I guess in lieu of pink I could shoot them with barbecue pit black and lightly mist them argent silver.