69 underbody mount plates
I am replacing several underbody mounting plates due to rust etc and have purchased several parts all in different finishes from Paragon and others. Should I worry about the finish on these parts for fleight judging? Score sheets only allocate 3 & 3 pts for originality and condition. Suggestions..... Thanks, Lynn Schwebach
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Re: 69 underbody mount plates
Yes, Lynn.
Those components and finishes are judged under the Chhassis, Underbody & Tank Section, "Underbody fiberglass & attaching reinforcements".
I don't have a Shark Sheet in front of me, but, the M-Y sheet show 17 /17 points.
HaND -
'69 underbody mount plates; need help from chassis judges
Lyle,
I'm facing the same issue on my '66. I bought reproduction seat belt reinforcement plates from Paragon that came with a dull natural steel finish. The original plates on my car were very rusty and pitted and I removed them to be replaced with the repro plates. I've been told that for some years, the plates were zinc or cad plated, but my original plates show no signs of zinc plating, and given their very poor condition I suspect they originally had one of three finishes that didn't hold up well with time: 1) natural steel; 2) black phosphate; or less likely, 2) semi-flat or semi-gloss black paint.
When I judge mid-year cars, I usually see plates that are rusty and I might take a 1-point deduct for condition if I found them very rusty or pitted. If I saw virgin looking natural steel plates that weren't rusty, I think I would not take any deduct for either originality or condition, since I know of no definitive description of what finish they should be. I'd probably also give full credit for originality if I saw virgin, black phosphated plates. The '66 TIM&JG is silent on the original finish, so I think owners have some flexibility in how they restore these plates and judges should have some generosity in judging them by giving the benefit of the doubt to the owner. I've tried to get a more definitive answer to this finish question for several years (yes, years) and I've not yet heard anything this makes me alter my approach to judging these underbody plates as described above.
Any other C2 and C3 chassis judges out there who are willing to offer their view on judging the underbody seat belt plates (Yes, I know the front seat reinforcement plates are semi-gloss black on St. Louis cars and zinc dichromate on AO Smith cars and the rear seat plates are natural.)
Gary Beaupre
Northern California ChapterComment
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Re: 69 underbody mount plates
Hi Gary and Lynn
I will answer Lynn's question first.
Square metal shields mounted under the passenger and drivers side are gray zinc phosphate. I have originals and they are phosphated.
The mounting brackets and the bolt with the captured washer are also gray zinc phosphate.
Forward Triangle left and right shields. If you are restoring these pieces. The rubber moulding was stapled to a clean non painted metal sheet. Then it was painted semi gloss black. The rubber portion was pulled back in hopefully the black would paint paint that area. However what rubber area that was covered left natural steel. There is some paint on the staples too that were stapled 1/2 on the rubber and 1/2 on the metal plate.
Gary
The smaller triangle shield with or without the side rubber moulding is semi gloss.
The larger triangle piece is also painted semi Gloss.
The forward smaller triangle shields left and right are semi Gloss.
I would the old version Krylon 1613 Semi gloss.
Hope this helps. GrantComment
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Wrong underbody plates
Grant,
I wasn't asking about the splash plates, which I know are painted S-G black.
I'm asking about the four seat belt plates (the ones with the cables to the frame) that are riveted onto the underbody, both outboard and inboard, that are about in line with the rear U-joint of the drive shaft.
The ones I got from Paragon might indeed be gray zinc phosphate, since they are sort of a dull gray. Should I leave them with the Paragon finish? That would be easiest for me.
GaryComment
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Re: 69 underbody mount plates
Hi Gary
I was too quick to reply. I think it is a zinc finish. I remember having some of the NOS plates and it had a very light coating of zinc phosphate. It was about 15 years ago having these parts which are no longer in my stash of stuff.
I would just go with paragon coating for now. If it is supposed to be natural finish steel then just take it off with steel wool.
Thanks, grantComment
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Grant; my last follow-up question (I hope!)
Grant,
When you say you think it was zinc and then you mention zinc phosphate, I assume you don't mean the zinc was the silver zinc that many modern bolts are plated. I.E., when you say Zinc phosphate do you mean gray phosphate?
GaryComment
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