63 Steering Column TQ

[Chuck G.]

The column exits through the firewall. The plate on the firewall is semi gloss black. A clamp with a hex head sheet metal screw holds the column to the plate.

What color/finish should be on the clamp? The hex head screw?

Right now, my clamp is natural, as is the screw.

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Chuck, as I recall the clamp is gloss black and the hex head is cad.

Will you be at the National in RI?

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Chuck, as I recall the clamp is gloss black and the hex head is cad.

Will you be at the National in RI?

Thanks, Harry. Yes, Pat and I are coming to the National in RI.

I had to pull the instrument cluster in my 63. To get the cluster out, I pulled the steering column too.

Got me thinking. My clamp is natural.. unpainted... as is the screw. I sorta felt it should be painted, but........

Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Anyone else? One of my 63 buds came by today... and said that the clamp should be natural... and that the hex head screw is black phosphate.

[Loren L.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Two pictures in Noland's book - pages 77 & 126 - 126 ID as a prototype, perhaps NA can ID whether the picture on 77 is his or a factory photo? Both appear to be cad/natural and unpainted, which is what I remember.

[Joe R.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Nolands book is the authority because of the many factory pictures documenting how the general assembled Corvettes. As I remember the clamp is natural and the bolt is cad plated. Again, Noland's book is the authority.

JR

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

The "Fastener Bible"... states that the bolt is black phosphate. The JG does not mention either the clamp or bolt.

The bolt is PN 9417511 5/16 x 12 IHWF Type B Tapping Screw Blk Phos.

IHWF = Indented Hex Washer Face.

Mine (clamp and bolt) were both "natural" . I have the column out of the car as I needed to pull the instrument cluster. I was cleaning things up on the firewall. I can make 'em any color/finish I want. I just wanted to "do it once and do it right".

Thanks for the input, Loren and JR.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Two pictures in Noland's book - pages 77 & 126 - 126 ID as a prototype, perhaps NA can ID whether the picture on 77 is his or a factory photo? Both appear to be cad/natural and unpainted, which is what I remember.

Nolands book is the authority because of the many factory pictures documenting how the general assembled Corvettes. As I remember the clamp is natural and the bolt is cad plated. Again, Noland's book is the authority.



JR

I looked at the photos in Noland's book. The one on PG 77 shows a natural clamp and bolt. The one on PG 126? I'm not so sure. Both look "dark" to me. Painted? Plated?

[Rich Y.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

I looked at the photos in Noland's book..........Painted? Plated?

The photos in Nolan's book are not very clear and are difficult to use for reference.

I removed the clamp from my unrestored and unmolested '63.

The clamp had some minor corrosion but no sign of any paint or plating, so I will say it was left natural.
The hex screw still looks fairly pristine with a nice cad plating.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

The photos in Nolan's book are not very clear and are difficult to use for reference.

I removed the clamp from my unrestored and unmolested '63.

The clamp had some minor corrosion but no sign of any paint or plating, so I will say it was left natural.
The hex screw still looks fairly pristine with a nice cad plating.

Thanks, Richard. Here are links to two bolts on EBAY right now. One is black phosphate, the other is "natural steel" (according to the seller)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301497121623?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191890530980?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The clamp on my 63 is/was unplated.. plain steel.

I have/had an incorrect hex head bolt holding it to the column.

[Rich Y.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

..........Here are links to two bolts on EBAY right now

Chuck,
There is very little that has been disturbed on my car, so I have every reason to believe that my bolt is the original.

I looked at the two eBay listings. My bolt has the same circular recess in the head.
However, it does not have the center dimple or any letters marked on the head.
It is definitely cad plated.

There was probably more than one supplier over the years, hope this helps.

[Marco H.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Chuck,
to my knowledge, the bolt is plated cadmium and the clamp may be natural (dark in appearance) or plated black. The clamp is typically not painted. Also, the bolt is installed on the inboard side, pointing downwards, more or less. Hope this helps,
Marco

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Chuck,
to my knowledge, the bolt is plated cadmium and the clamp may be natural (dark in appearance) or plated black. The clamp is typically not painted. Also, the bolt is installed on the inboard side, pointing downwards, more or less. Hope this helps,
Marco

Thanks, Marco.

The consensus on the clamp is that it should be natural. I glass beaded the SUPERB Krylon Gloss Black finish off of my clamp and returned it to its' natural state.

There still seems to be some controversy about the screw. Most say zinc/cad, while the Fastener Bible says black phosphate. I have a buddy near me who has several original screws. He claims they're all black phosphate. One of those screws is in my future.

[Marco H.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Chuck,
just a couple of thoughts: the term "natural" on fasteners (including clips and clamps) actually is a dark to black finish. Glass beating, wire wheeling or any other mechanical way of treating the surface will not bring the part back to the original "natural" finish. The original natural finish is a treatment to prevent rust. The original part would not have survived 50+ years being bare (what most consider natural) in the engine compartment.

The black bolts are interesting. Any that I have observed were cad. with typical aging. Some better, others needed to be removed to find remnants of plating in protected areas. the big question is, are the black bolts you are referring to from actual factory installations, OR are they over-the-counter pieces that GM sold at the dealer?
Unfortunately, many confuse research of original factory installations, with NOS parts. More often than not, NOS parts and listings in parts catalogs do not 100% reflect the original factory installation. So for research, they are not helpful.
If the bolts are factory installations, I would be interested to know (if possible), what month of production they were installed. Who knows, we may have to start a survey and see if any other examples surface. Such data could be included in a future JG revision.
Marco

[Marco H.]

Re: 63 Steering Column TQ

Chuck, for what it is worth, both eBay examples have been manipulated (probably by wire wheel). They can not be considered as original finish examples anymore. Marco