1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

[Scott S.]

There appears to be conflicting information between the archives and the 1967 JG (4th edition) on the 4-speed shift linkage. The '67 JG says: "The shift linkage, rods, swivels, nuts and clips have a phosphate finish." (p. 137) The 1965 JG is quoted as saying almost the same: "the shift linkage, rods, swivels, nuts and clips have a black phosphate finish." ('67 JG omits "black")

All three threads that I found on this subject in the archives happen to be about 1965 shifter linkage, but it appears that 1965-1967 linkages are probably the same. The problem is that there seems to be disagreement between the archive Threads and the Judging Guides. A known original that was an early take-off is described as being natural, while others say phosphate. These are older Threads though, and the 1967 JG itself is from 2005.

What is the current thinking on the shift linkage? I think mine is original, but it's hard (for me) to tell what it looked like new. The 1-2 rod (medium length) and 3-4 rod (longest) are rough, and seem to have some kind of coating on them, unless that's just corrosion. The reverse rod (shortest) is smooth and appears to have a natural finish, but there may be some remnants of black and the rest of it has worn off.

I would like to figure out what the various finishes should be for restoration.

Thanks,

Scott

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

With age sometimes phosphate finishes get confused for natural.

You have plenty of natural rust there, what is not, I'd expect to be phos which did not last 44 years unless hermetically sealed.

Let's see what the 67 SME says, I'd expect phos.

[Ken A.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

They were always natural

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

There appears to be conflicting information between the archives and the 1967 JG (4th edition) on the 4-speed shift linkage. The '67 JG says: "The shift linkage, rods, swivels, nuts and clips have a phosphate finish." (p. 137) The 1965 JG is quoted as saying almost the same: "the shift linkage, rods, swivels, nuts and clips have a black phosphate finish." ('67 JG omits "black")

All three threads that I found on this subject in the archives happen to be about 1965 shifter linkage, but it appears that 1965-1967 linkages are probably the same. The problem is that there seems to be disagreement between the archive Threads and the Judging Guides. A known original that was an early take-off is described as being natural, while others say phosphate. These are older Threads though, and the 1967 JG itself is from 2005.

What is the current thinking on the shift linkage? I think mine is original, but it's hard (for me) to tell what it looked like new. The 1-2 rod (medium length) and 3-4 rod (longest) are rough, and seem to have some kind of coating on them, unless that's just corrosion. The reverse rod (shortest) is smooth and appears to have a natural finish, but there may be some remnants of black and the rest of it has worn off.

I would like to figure out what the various finishes should be for restoration.

Thanks,

Scott

Scott-------


...and looking at these, you can be absolutely sure they were originally natural steel. There's absolutely no way that these were ever originally phosphate-finished.

[Joe C.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

The ones I see look like they are Parkerized, or possibly olive drab green phosphate as they have a greenish cast.

[Dennis S.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

Here are pictures of my original '69 shifter, prior to disassembly and further cleaning. I would say the shifter body may have been "parkerized" (manganese phosphate) because it appears grey, not black. I would say the rods and shift levers look like natural steel. I just cleaned it some more and sprayed it lightly with CRC SP-400 to prevent corrosion.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

Parkerized is the Parker Chemical name for phosphate.

I think what we need to do is look at the original manufacturing process for these parts. They do look to be forged and have some level of heat treat, like engine parts to provide stiffness to bending and wear resistance.

What supplier made these originally?.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

Joe, that is how my originals looked on the 66 I had 32 years ago, I think that was more of a black oxide which would really have been darkening from the heat treat processes, which turned greenish-brown ~~~much like those infamous oil caps~~~ not a specific phosphating action post heat treat. Although, we did phos coat engine parts to provide a break-in coating as I recall, its been a while...

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

Thanks to everyone for the pictures and the comments. This is basically working out the way the Threads in the archives did - the JG says one thing (black phosphate), but the evidence and most people's experience says something else. The current '67 JG will be six or seven years old before the next edition is out. The most current information I could get was the recently released 1966 JG. I haven't had a chance to go through it carefully yet, but it really looks great, with lots of detail information and many picture examples.

Just today I found that the 1966 JG says about the 3-speed and 4-speed manual transmissions: "The shift levers, rods, swivels, nuts and clips have a natural steel finish." (p. 173)

If that was a change from the previous edition of the 1966 JG, then the next edition of the 1967 JG will probably also have this update or change. Can someone confirm that this was changed from "phosphate" or "black phosphate" in the previous edition of the 1966 JG?

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

The new 1966 JG says "The shift levers, rods, swivels, nuts and clips have a natural steel finish." (p. 173)

Can someone with the previous edition of the 1966 JG confirm that this was changed from "phosphate" or "black phosphate" in the earlier 1966 JG?

[Gary B.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

Scott,

The 3rd and 4th editions of the '66 TIM&JG says black phosphate. The newest edition says natural.

Gary

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

Thanks Gary.

It sounds like I should probably NOT have the rods and associated linkage given a phosphate coating, even though the current '67 JG says they should be.

[Ken A.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

The spring c-clips are black, all the rest is natural.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

The spring c-clips are black, all the rest is natural.

Thank you!

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 4-speed shift linkage - black phosphate, or natural / bare metal?

The "cage" that surrounds the shift lever & bracket assembly (not shown in the AIM?) appears to have been painted (flat?) black, both inside and out. Is this correct?