Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

[Christopher A.]

What should the finish be on the U bracket that holds the rear of the seat track in place? Is it simply painted black or is it black phosphate?

Also, should the retaining plate on the outboard side be black? My inner one appeared to be more or less bare, but the outboard one has more of a black look, but i cant tell if it was painted or if it was black phosphate.

66 Model, St Louis

Thanks

[Christopher A.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

SEAT TRACK U BRACKET

I see that i put seat belt by accident in the topic line,which i assume is why noone has replied. Anybody know? It does not state the finish in the Judging manual for the U brackets, simply says they might have some body color overspray. i did not find any info pertaining to this topic when i performed a search.

Thanks again

[Christopher A.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

SEAT TRACK U BRACKET, NOT SEAT BELT. SORRY!!!

Please help...ready to reinstall seat.

[John H.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

SEAT TRACK U BRACKET, NOT SEAT BELT. SORRY!!!

Please help...ready to reinstall seat.

Chris -

That bracket (and the plate under it) were originally flow-coat primed black, and installed prior to paint; they may have some level of color overspray.

[Christopher A.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

Thank you so much! I could not tell if they were black oxide/phosphate coated, semi gloss, or flat black paint. What exactly is flow coated? Thanks again! Im ready to put my seats back in, but have not been able to find the answer to this question. The judging manual simply states that they may have some exterior color overspray, but does not mention color or finish.

[John H.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

What exactly is flow coated?

Chris -

The hundreds of Corvette steel and cast iron parts that were received raw were primed at the adjacent St. Louis passenger car/truck plant (the Corvette plant had no prime facilities); the main plant used the Chevrolet-standard "flow-coat" prime process, which was similar to dip-priming, except the parts weren't actually submerged in the paint. The parts were either hung on racks or placed in wire baskets (depending on their size) suspended from an overhead conveyor. After going through a hot degreasing system and a hot phosphating system, they went through the "flow-coat" booth, which flooded the parts with black primer from all directions (think many showerheads from above, on the sides, and below); the excess primer runoff went through grates in the floor of the booth into a sump and was continuously recirculated. After the flow-coat booth, the parts went through a bake oven and were removed from the hooks/baskets, segregated by part number in bins, transported across the property to the Corvette plant, and taken to the line for use. That's why you'll find runs, drips, and globs of baked paint on many primed small parts (and wheels).

These small-parts prime systems were phased out of assembly plants in the mid- to late 80's due to EPA VOC emission regulations and the inordinate amount of manpower, floorspace, energy, and maintenance they required, and the parts were purchased already primed from the suppliers.

[Christopher A.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

Great Description. Thanks for the detailed response!

So, i assume the finish on the brackets is more or less a flat black then, is that correct?

[Gary B.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

Chris,

The seat track U-brackets on my '66 had a substantial amount of dull, rally red body color on them.

Gary

[John H.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

Great Description. Thanks for the detailed response!

So, i assume the finish on the brackets is more or less a flat black then, is that correct?

Chris -

I'd call it semi-gloss black (not semi-flat black like the engine compartment blackout).

[Gene M.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

Chris -

I'd call it semi-gloss black (not semi-flat black like the engine compartment blackout).

John,
Since AO Smith did not have the paint system that St Louis did, what were the seat brackets they used? green chromate primer with finish color overspray? Or were they not installed when they did body color paint?
thank you

[John H.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

John,
Since AO Smith did not have the paint system that St Louis did, what were the seat brackets they used? green chromate primer with finish color overspray? Or were they not installed when they did body color paint?
thank you

Gene -

On an A.O. Smith body, the U-brackets and plates were spray-primed green zinc chromate, installed in the Body Shop, and will show color overspray.

[Gene M.]

Re: Seat Belt U Bracket Finish?

Thank you John, that is exactly what I thought it was. Most all original cars I worked on the back of the seat retainer brackets on the floor was disguised by rust.