66 Idler arm finish

[Brian K.]

I've checked the archives and it looks like the latest info is the Idler arm was painted black, was the whole Idler arm black on power steering cars or was the part that bolts to the frame left natural. Thanks in advance sincerely Brian

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

I've checked the archives and it looks like the latest info is the Idler arm was painted black, was the whole Idler arm black on power steering cars or was the part that bolts to the frame left natural. Thanks in advance sincerely Brian

Brian------


The frame bracket component of the idler arm was not coated black.

[Brian K.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Thanks Joe!!! I just wanted to be sure I got it right. Sincerely Brian

[Rich P.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

The arm that bolts to the frame was cad plated, the arm that mounts to the center link was natural forged steel, the ball stud that attached to the center link was cad plated and the 2 caps pressed on to retain the frame arm and the ball stud were natural stamped steel.

[Paul O.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Photos all were this finish

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Photos all were this finish

Paul------


All looks correct to me except the slotted nut on the idler arm. That nut was a PLAIN finish, not zinc plated. At least it was that way for 1966-82. I'm not 100% sure about 63-65 but I expect it was the same.

[Brian K.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

I thought the idler was paint black with asphalt paint and the power steering bracket was also?!?!?! now confused

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Brian,

Visualize this: The completely assembled frame coming down the line just before body drop. Black-out worker has been told to black out everything not already painted. Remember now that the frame is upright and NOT upside down. Do you think this Union Worker is going to get down on his hands and knees to paint the idler and the PS bracket???? Not a chance!!!!!!
These cars were assembled in production for GM and NOT as the NCRS wanted!!!!!
Get the picture??????

JR

PS. And yes the odds are 100,000 to 1 that the Union Worker did get down on his knees so you will see that one Corvette built to NCRS standards!!!!!!

[Brian K.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

So if I don't paint the idler arm and the power steering bracket will I get a deduct in judging? Sincerely Brian

[Paul O.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Paul------


All looks correct to me except the slotted nut on the idler arm. That nut was a PLAIN finish, not zinc plated. At least it was that way for 1966-82. I'm not 100% sure about 63-65 but I expect it was the same.

Joe you are correct was just trying to show the idler arm finish.

[Gene M.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Here is a response From John Hinckley from a while back that I saved:


As far as I know, the '65-'67 process was the same - my guys dragged these sticky black assemblies out of the Buffalo gondolas 65 times an hour. The manual assemblies were hung on the Buffalo paint line through the hole in the pitman arm, and the power assemblies were hung through one of the bolt holes in the idler arm bracket. The threaded/tapered outer ball joint studs (and the fine-threaded end of the relay rod on power steering assemblies) were masked with cardboard tubes or red plastic push-on caps. I've already submitted the change request to Nick on the idler arm finish. The idler arm and bracket were part of both the manual and power steering linkage assemblies from Buffalo; the bracket portion that bolts to the frame can't be separated from the idler arm (without destroying it).
The steering linkage was manufactured at Chevrolet-Buffalo, and the assembly was painted there with cheap, sticky black chassis blackout paint before it went into a gondola and was shipped to St. Louis. It consisted of the relay rod, left and right tie rod assemblies, steering idler arm, and the pitman arm (except on power steering linkages - the unique P/S pitman arm was installed at St. Louis, and was unpainted).

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Idler arm finish

Joe you are correct was just trying to show the idler arm finish.

Paul------


Yes, I understand. I was only pointing this out as incidental to the purpose of your photo. Also, I have found that most of these zinc plated slotted nuts are either SAE grade 2 or are ungraded and are identified only as "steel". The latter says nothing about them since the vast majority of nuts are steel. The original slotted nuts used for this application on 66-75 Corvettes were GM 286M material grade (SAE grade 5) and on 1976-82 Corvettes they were GM 301M material grade (SAE grade 8). All of the 66-82 nuts for this application were PLAIN finish.