What is correct finish on 65-69 rear camber bolt?

[Gary B.]

Can some owners of 65-69 cars tell me what their NCRS Judging Guides say the correct finish is for the rear camber adjustment bolt? My 66 Judging guide says the bolt (but not the back side washer or nut) should be black phosphate (the repro companies I've contacted only sell zinc plated bolts). I've been told by Joe Lucia that the original camber bolt on his '69 was silver zinc/cad. So, did GM change the finish between '66 and '69? Can people tell me what the Judging Guides for '65, '67, '68 and '69? And can anyone tell me for certain that '66 used a black phospate finish on the bolt.

Thanks in advance,

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: What is correct finish on 65-69 rear camber bo

Gary-----

It just so happens that just this past week I obtained an NOS GM #3820253 camber adjustment bolt in the GM box. This bolt has a black oxide finish on the bolt, itself. However, and interestingly, the attached cam is bare, unplated steel.

Actually, this is not conclusive proof of original configuration, though. These parts may have been supplied by different manufacturers and it is possible that alternate finishes were authorized on the GM specs for the part.

As I mentioned previously, the original bolt on my 69, which was also the 3820253, was zinc or cad plated. So, at this point, I'm pretty sure that the 3820253 bolt was finished at least 2 different ways. Now, it is possible that certain finishes were characteristic for certain time periods that the 3820253 bolt was in production.

[Robert C.]

Re: What is correct finish on 65-69 rear camber bo

Gary, mid-year cam bolts (with cam) are black phosphate plated. the washer and nut are cad or zink plated. After 67 the whole deal was natural until sometime in 69 or 70 they were(all parts) cad or zink plated. Not 100% sure on the natural in-between finish.


Texas Chapter NCRS

[Mike M.]

Re: What is correct finish on 65-69 rear camber bo

Gary the 65 judging manual says the same as your 66

[Robert Wilson NCRS#1337]

Re: What is correct finish on 65-69 rear camber bo

I had a 15 year old NOS assembly( Yes it is a slow project) and it had black phosphate front cam and bolt, zinc rear cam and natural nut. Does become very confusing. Can any one share a technique to reproduce the natural finish. Haven't had any sucess to date.

[Gary Bosselman (2575)]

How to create natural finish; the $64K question

Bob,

I sure would like to know the answer to this question. In my observations of the discussion board over the few years of its existence, I don't think I've ever seen a good suggestion for how to create a natural, bare steel look. Maybe there's a way to do acid treatment or etching, but bead blasting is clearly not the answer.

Gary