Relay Rod Resto

[Dennis S.]

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.]

Re: Relay Rod Resto

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

[Terry M.]

[Michael H.]

Re: Relay Rod Resto

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??

[Terry M.]

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.

[Michael H.]

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.

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.

[Michael H.]

Re: Relay Rod Resto

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??

[John H.]

Re: Relay Rod Resto

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.

[Dennis S.]

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.