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Relay Rod Resto

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  • Dennis S.
    Expired
    • April 1, 2004
    • 228

    Relay Rod Resto

    I'm getting ready to put the steering linkage back together. The tie rod ends and sleeves have been brass wire brushed to natural finish and preserved with CRC SP-400. The sleeve bolts have been re-plated black oxide and the nuts re-plated zinc. The relay rod has been cleaned, but I am not satisfied with the appearance...clumps of some sort of cast-in greyish finish intermingled with bare metal. The JM doesn't address this part. What is the correct way to restore this?
  • Graeme B.
    Very Frequent User
    • October 23, 2007
    • 213

    #2
    Re: Relay Rod Resto

    Dennis, this is the hot forged finish of the part. Some say it has blackout on it. Cheers,Graeme.

    Comment

    • Terry M.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • September 30, 1980
      • 15595

      #3
      Terry

      Comment

      • Michael H.
        Expired
        • January 29, 2008
        • 7477

        #4
        Re: Relay Rod Resto

        Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)
        Dennis, it sure sounds like you are describing the "as forged" finish on the relay rod. .
        I have an NOS 63-67 relay rod here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it and get a pic or two. I seem to remember that it appeared mostly dark grey from some heat treat operation??

        Comment

        • Terry M.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • September 30, 1980
          • 15595

          #5
          Re: Relay Rod Resto

          I wouldn't expect the steering parts provided in SERVICE to be coated like the ones provided to the assembly plant. That stuff makes a horrible mess when it is fresh. That is another reason not many restorers want to duplicate it.
          Terry

          Comment

          • Michael H.
            Expired
            • January 29, 2008
            • 7477

            #6
            Re: Relay Rod Resto

            Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)
            I wouldn't expect the steering parts provided in SERVICE to be coated like the ones provided to the assembly plant. That stuff makes a horrible mess when it is fresh. That is another reason not many restorers want to duplicate it.
            I agree. Parts of the steering linkage that were sent to service, were sent uncoated.

            The coating would only have been applied to complete steering linkage assemblies that were shipped to the assembly plant.

            Comment

            • Michael H.
              Expired
              • January 29, 2008
              • 7477

              #7
              Re: Relay Rod Resto

              Originally posted by Michael Hanson (4067)
              I have an NOS 63-67 relay rod here somewhere. I seem to remember that it appeared mostly dark grey from some heat treat operation??
              An NOS 63-67 (and 68?) relay rod, as shipped from GM parts many decades ago. (I robbed the ball stud and seal years ago) Some rust but a lot of the black is still showing. It's not paint of any kind as lacquer thinner won't remove it. Could be from the forging process, or some sort of quick plating??
              Last edited by Michael H.; January 23, 2010, 11:18 PM.

              Comment

              • John H.
                Beyond Control Poster
                • December 1, 1997
                • 16513

                #8
                Re: Relay Rod Resto

                Originally posted by Michael Hanson (4067)
                An NOS 63-67 (and 68?) relay rod, as shipped from GM parts many decades ago. (I robbed the ball stud and seal years ago) Some rust but a lot of the black is still showing. It's not paint of any kind as lacquer thinner won't remove it. Could be from the forging process, or some sort of quick plating??
                Michael -

                Typical scaly as-forged finish; at Buffalo, the blank was heated red-hot (REALLY hot), got smacked through 3 or 4 progressive dies in the forging hammer, then got tossed in a gondola, then went through the heat-treat furnace, annealed, then machined. After assembly, the midyear linkage assemblies were painted with good old cheap, sticky "chassis black" and piled in the shipping gondola. Made the terrycloth glove suppliers rich at St. Louis, and many guys cut the thumb tip and first two fingertips off the gloves with dykes.

                Comment

                • Dennis S.
                  Expired
                  • April 1, 2004
                  • 228

                  #9
                  Re: Relay Rod Resto

                  Thanks guys. Here is a picture of the relay rod, as well as the steering knuckles and the tie rods/coil springs after restoration. Probably just going to coat the relay rod as well with CRC SP-400 to preserve it. I sorta like the way the stuff looks...kinda yellowish and sticky at first, but seems to fade with time and harden a bit. Besides, it can be quickly removed with any solvent. Clear spray paint is out of the question and I'm really not interested in black slimy stuff. I just want to keep the rust away and not do anything incorrect or hard to reverse.
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