Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

[James W.]

What is the correct finish for the lower shock mount cupped washer? This is for a 1965.

Thanks,

Janes

[Alan D.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

Also see Suspension Nut & Bolt Finishes '68

Some question on Zinc or just steel from the experts, however found one ref in GM catalog (Master Parts Book X-164001 Sept 63) that it is steel.

[Thomas H.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

I've been trying to sort this myself for the last week or so. First had the deeper cups, found the shallow ones from one of the typical vendors. Received four new cups - two were black phosphate, one was zinc looking and the other was plain steel (already rusting). Called vendor and got sorted.........

In the mean time my interest was piqued so I ordered four more from a different vendor and they all came in with a zinc looking finish.

JG says plain steel

I'm using the four zinc ones and I'll take the point hit if this car ever gets judged.

Tom

[James W.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

Tom,

Are you refering to the spring cushion cups? I am asking about the lower shock washers for the rear shocks. See the picture of the kit from one of the Corvette parts vendors. Other vendors show them being silver/gold cad or zinc plated. I haven't found any natural steel ones. Per the '65 TIMJG the lower shock mount nuts and lock washers are natural.

James

I've been trying to sort this myself for the last week or so. First had the deeper cups, found the shallow ones from one of the typical vendors. Received four new cups - two were black phosphate, one was zinc looking and the other was plain steel (already rusting). Called vendor and got sorted.........

In the mean time my interest was piqued so I ordered four more from a different vendor and they all came in with a zinc looking finish.

JG says plain steel

I'm using the four zinc ones and I'll take the point hit if this car ever gets judged.

Tom

[Gary B.]

The lower rear shock retainer, GM

[Robert P.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

the set i got from LIC last year where natural steel with a little rust starting to show
Bob

[Patrick H.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

Does anyone know who sells a correctly configured washer?

Paragon and Corvette Central sell one that is colored black, and flat with a sharp transition to the curved edge. Originals were much more curved overall as well as different finish.

[Thomas H.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

Tom,

Are you refering to the spring cushion cups? I am asking about the lower shock washers for the rear shocks. See the picture of the kit from one of the Corvette parts vendors. Other vendors show them being silver/gold cad or zinc plated. I haven't found any natural steel ones. Per the '65 TIMJG the lower shock mount nuts and lock washers are natural.

James

Wrong "cup"..... My mistake for not being fully awake before starting to read and/or reply.......

Tom

[Gary B.]

Re: Lower Shock Mount Cupped Washer Finish

Tom,

Just to close the loop on the leaf spring/T-arm retainer cups, the GM production cups and the GM service replacement cups were bare steel. More than a few people have sprayed the GM cups with a satin clear coat to keep them from rusting. With NOS GM cups, they can be sprayed with clear before swaging, and then the swaged portion can be resprayed with clear, since swaging almost certainly will damage the clear coat and expose bare steel.

Long Island Corvette was the first company to start selling the “correct” cups for ‘63 through early ‘67 with the shallow sloped peripheral lip. But LIC decided to (incorrectly) zinc plate the cups, probably so that buyers didn’t receive cups that were already rusty.

Gary