C3 Engine Compartment Blackout vs. Undercoating

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Engine Compartment Blackout vs. Undercoating

Good work! Is it possible that the original finish was the dark gray phosphate, and then once installed black out applied?

Also note the notch in the bracket in the 78-79 version...most likely a safety notch not unlike what was applied to the spring clamps.

[Gary B.]

Re: C3 Engine Compartment Blackout vs. Undercoating

I'll drill out the rivet tomorrow. See what it looks like underneath.
Gary B

[Rick M.]

Re: C3 Engine Compartment Blackout vs. Undercoating

I was curious why the later C3's have a clipped corner on that bracket and earlier don't seem to. And the clipped corner is in the same position-upper right in all the pics I have seen.
My 78 PC bracket was too rusty to tell what the original finish was.

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Engine Compartment Blackout vs. Undercoating

We'll never know for sure but my theory is that GM undertook a safety study of all parts and so the bracket followed the safety measures applied to that applied to spring clamps. Early use of spring clamps were straight edges that were later rounded sometime in mid-70. Same dealer with the heater hose bracket...apparently an engineers felt owners would catch a finger on the edge that protruded once installed. Here's are a couple of spring clamps...unsafe and safety measure

1976 spring clamp
spring clamp_straight edges_76.jpg

Safety treatment
DSC01052.jpg