Finishes for master cylinder cover, gas cap, and dipstick tubes

[Steve G.]

I am sent bolts out for plating, and am wondering if I should drop some more parts with plater (and hopefully save some money by doing things all together rather than separately). Anyone know about finishes for the following parts (for a '70 BB, auto, with air):

• master cylinder cover - gold plating is wearing on mine, and a couple areas that look 'white-ish'. Am wondering if I should bead blast / wire wheel it, and have it zinc plated with follow up gold chromate - same as my front caliper backing plate?
• gas cap - my gas cap is oxidized, similar to master cylinder above. Am thinking of wire wheeling it, and getting that plated too - is that supposed to be straight cad plating like the dust sheilds? Or zinc plated with clear wash?
• oil and auto transmission dip stick tubes - are these zinc plated or galvanized steel?
• coil bracket - zinc or galvanized?

In looking at bolts on firewall, I see most got painted during black out. However there are a couple of fuses that have bolts that made it thru cleanly (one is for PW, not sure what the other is for). Anyone know which components were added after the blackout process?

thanks, Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Finishes for master cylinder cover, gas cap, and dipstick tubes

[*]oil and auto transmission dip stick tubes - are these zinc plated or galvanized steel?
[*]coil bracket - zinc or galvanized?[/LIST]

thanks, Steve

I'll get some grief here, I have before, but I believe the oil dipstick tube is tin plate over copper plate -- but I am probably int he minority. Wire wheel your tube and you will see for yourself.

Coil bracket is stamped from galvanized sheet. Zinc plate is as close as you can come.

[Steve G.]

Re: Finishes for master cylinder cover, gas cap, and dipstick tubes

Thanks Terry. Any way to restore the dipstick and tranny tubes - should I paint them?

Any thoughts on the gas cap or master cylinder cap? Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Finishes for master cylinder cover, gas cap, and dipstick tubes

Thanks Terry. Any way to restore the dipstick and tranny tubes - should I paint them?

Any thoughts on the gas cap or master cylinder cap? Steve

Paint will NEVER duplicate plating. They can be replated -- you just have to be sure what the plating is. Once tomorrow comes around you will have lots of opinions about the plating. Best to satisfy yourself about what is right for your car.

Without seeing the MC cap and gas cap there is no way for me to evaluate your best course of action. The gas cap is zinc plate, I think. You will have to take it apart and remove the spring inside. The acids used in plating will ruin the spring. Taking it apart is no big deal. Just three bends. Get off the Internet and look at it.

[Steve G.]

Re: Finishes for master cylinder cover, gas cap, and dipstick tubes

Good advice - thanks!

I re-read your earlier post and it reminded me that I have two lines that look 'copper -colored'. One is the vacuum line from auto trans up to manifold. Other is the vacuum line that curls around on itself on top of intake, next to carb. All other lines I have seen look like steel to me. Is it possible these also had copper underneath, and someone wire wheeled mine? If not, I assume someone must have replaced the originals in my car.

Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Finishes for master cylinder cover, gas cap, and dipstick tubes

Good advice - thanks!

I re-read your earlier post and it reminded me that I have two lines that look 'copper -colored'. One is the vacuum line from auto trans up to manifold. Other is the vacuum line that curls around on itself on top of intake, next to carb. All other lines I have seen look like steel to me. Is it possible these also had copper underneath, and someone wire wheeled mine? If not, I assume someone must have replaced the originals in my car.

Steve

The vacuum line from the trans to the manifold should be plated steel. I don't know what it is plated, but it should not be made of copper, nor should any other line on the car. It might be copper plate under tin plate. Check the material using a magnet. The vacuum line that curls on itself is a mystery to me. I have no clue, nor can I picture what you are describing.

If a part is plated copper under something else it is possible some over-aggressive polishing could have removed the original over-plate and exposed copper plating underneath. Some folks like that look. I think it went out of fashion in the 20s and 30s, but there is no accounting for tastes.

In order to identify the exact type of plating one needs a laboratory analysis. The many varieties of silver colored plating defy identification solely by eyeball -- unless you have the skills of Superman.