Interior parking brake handel bracket finish

[Steve L.]

Anyone know if this is natural or zinc plated. This is the bracket that is riveted to the top of the tunnel inside the body. The parking brake handle mechanism is attached to it.

The underneath of mine has spots that look like it is zinc plated. The rest has rust on it.

This is for a 73

[Alan S.]

Re: Interior parking brake handel bracket finish

Hi Steve,
The bracket in my 71 was in good shape and I'd call the finish zinc plating.
Regards,
Alan

[Steve L.]

Re: Interior parking brake handel bracket finish

Thanks Alan,
It looked like it could be zinc. But then I thought that it is odd that a bracket on the inside would be zinc since GM was very skimpy on having zinc plating.

All the underbody brackets should have been zinc, but no, they used cheap paint and in some cases nothing at all.

I wonder if there is some sort of test for zinc plating. I have a hard time indentifying shiny unplated steel and zinc plating.

[Alan S.]

Re: Interior parking brake handel bracket finish

Hi Steve,
I'd think there's a testing procedure for detemining what a plating is, I believe I even remember it being discussed on this Board.
As damp as the interiors tend to be I'd expect to see rust on unplated steel parts.
Regards,
Alan