Not many zinc plated parts

[Steve L.]

There doesn't seem all that many parts(other than a small number of washers,nuts and bolts) for a 73:

It would be good to have a list so that all parts can be brought to the platers at one time.


Rolling chassis:
Front caliper bracket(zinc plus yellow chromate)
Front wheel bearing caps
Strut rod/shock mount
Rotor backing plate front and back
Strut rod adjusting cam-the loose cam attached to the bolt

Under body:
Lap belt center tunnel mount bracket(horseshoe shape)
Lap belt cable anchors brackets mount to tunnel bracket
Shoulder belt reinforcement bracket mounted in rear wheel well
Antenna ground plane plate

I must have missed some parts?

[Edward J.]

Re: Not many zinc plated parts

Steve there where a few in my engine compartment that come to mind.

The alternator adjuster bolt and flat washer, if the car has a/c those bolts that attach the compressor where all that way, ( Im not sure if 73 is that way, my 72 has a a-6 compressor).

look at your rear bumper hardware sometimes they have zinc bolts and washers, but I have heard in the TDB that black phosphate also, as which my 72 has.

[Steve L.]

Re: Not many zinc plated parts

There isn't even that many nuts and bolts that are zinc plated.

My list shows:
TA to frame pivot bolt, washer and nut
Strut mount bracket to differential bolt,lockwasher,flatwasher and nut
Differential snuber bushing bolt, flat washer, but not the nut
Front stabilzer to frame bolt
Idler arm short upper bolt
Tie rod nuts
Power steering pump pulley lock nut
Spare tire lock nut
Alternator pivot bolt
Shoulder belt reinforcement in rear wheel well bolt

I got this list from different posters over the years.

I seem to remember a poster a few yrs ago showing a whole bucket full of parts he was taking to the platers.

Seems GM was very frugal when selecting parts for zinc plating. When you look throught the list, they tended to select parts having to do with seat belts. the rest looked very random.

[William C.]

Re: Not many zinc plated parts

Exterior parts in the early 70's generally were cad plated to meet the GM corrosion standards. Zinc was more generally used in areas where corrosion was less obvious (door lock actuatiors for example) somewhere in the early 80's as I remember cad was flagged on the hazardous materials list and parts transitioned to bright tin over time. Some to zinc, but mostly to bright tin for better corrosion resistance.