69 Washer Solenoid Finish

[Erv M.]

Is the metal bracket on the wiper solenoid silver zinc/dichromate or gold zinc/dichromate that is applied to the wiper door actuator?

[John H.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Is the metal bracket on the wiper solenoid silver zinc/dichromate or gold zinc/dichromate that is applied to the wiper door actuator?

Erv -

Here's a photo of one from a '69 Camaro (the RS Camaro used the same solenoid for its headlight washers); it's gold dichromate.

[Erv M.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Thanks for the information John.

The million dollar question; are there any shops around that plate gold dichromate in the houston area. Or any place I can send a single piece to?

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Thanks for the information John.

The million dollar question; are there any shops around that plate gold dichromate in the houston area. Or any place I can send a single piece to?

Erv------


Irridite (gold) overplating of zinc or cadmium plating is a very common process and I'm sure there are lots of shops in the Houston area that could do it. The main problem you're going to encounter is that associated with "single piece". Most platers have a minimum order/minimum quantity and it's usually quite stiff. So, whether you do 1 part or 50+ parts you pay the same price. I'd guess it would be in the $300+ range by now.

[Erv M.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Joe,

Is the plating gold irridite or gold dichromate?

[Jack H.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Question is a wording 'hodgepodge'. Both zinc and cad plating leave a silver colored surface.

Both can be post plate 'washed' in a bath of chromatic acid. That process leaves the surface with a gold tone finish. It's done to 'seal' any residual pores in the underlying zinc/cad plate surface.

The process is known by several names including irridite and dichromate. The degree of gold tone uniformity and amount of 'rainbow' hue that results from the final wash depends on the quality/uniformity of the underlying zinc/cad, the strength of the chromatic acid bath and the time the part spends in the bath.

Typically, a freshly plated cad or zinc part that's NOT been left to oxidize needs only to dipped for a matter of seconds into a bath of chromatic acid to render its finish 'gold cad' (another layman's description of the process).

The same technique is used on various alloy cast parts (like a carb body or air horn). It's done NOT to make the part look 'pretty' but to seal surface pores to prevent the gasoline from 'wicking' into the surface and/or cavitating during fluid flow...

Bottom line, a given part can appear gold/silver mottled, uniform but 'slightly' gold, or VERY rich/dark gold with 'rainbows' of red and blue....

[Erv M.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Erv -

Here's a photo of one from a '69 Camaro (the RS Camaro used the same solenoid for its headlight washers); it's gold dichromate.

John, Thanks for the photo. I need to have a rubber stamp produced to stamp my bracket. Do you know if you numbers within the picture are the correct part number for a February 69 corvette.

[Jack H.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

10/28/68 vs. a 2/69 built car IS within the general 6-month rule regarding dated parts...

[Erv M.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

10/28/68 vs. a 2/69 built car IS within the general 6-month rule regarding dated parts...

Jack,

I understand the six month rule, however I was also inquiring if the part number is correct?

This is from a 69 Camaro and wanted to be sure GM used the same part number for corvettes.

Thanks for your input.

[John H.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

John, Thanks for the photo. I need to have a rubber stamp produced to stamp my bracket. Do you know if you numbers within the picture are the correct part number for a February 69 corvette.

Erv -

I don't know if the part number was the same or not - I don't have that information for the Corvette.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Washer Solenoid Finish

Jack,

I understand the six month rule, however I was also inquiring if the part number is correct?

This is from a 69 Camaro and wanted to be sure GM used the same part number for corvettes.

Thanks for your input.

Erv------


The original valve on my 1969 is apparently configured the same as John's Camaro valve. Unfortunately, the ink stamping on mine was "smeared at birth" and is essentially unreadable. However, from what I can make out of the number, it appears to be different. I don't understand why it would be different, though.

I can tell you this: I can find no information that GM #4919508 was ever available in SERVICE. It certainly was never available as part of a motor assembly since no SERVICE motor assembly included the washer pump, let alone the valve.

However, there was a piece GM called a "check valve" which was part of the headlamp washer system. This valve was GM #4919503 and the same part was used for 1969 Camaros and Corvettes. I just don't see how the part in question could be called a "check valve", though. The part in question was a "splitter" valve or solenoid that allowed one port of the washer pump to be utilized to serve the TWO headlight washers. I don't see how it had any "check valve" function, at all. For Corvette, it was eliminated for 1970-E71 by the introduction of the 5 port washer pump. For Camaro it was eliminated by the dropping of the ridiculous headlamp washer system for 1970.

It is still possible that the GM #4919503 and 4919508 were the same piece. In other words, the 4919503 could have been a package containing a 4919508 + another part (like a clip). However, I'm still skeptical. The 1969 cost of the 4919503 was $1.19. For comparison, the washer pump piston was $3.31 at that time. It would seem like this electromechanical "splitter" valve would have been a higher cost item than the pump piston.