Finish rear strut arms and front & rear stabilizer bars

[Erik S.]

Working on the chassis restoration for my 68 and not sure about the finish of the rear strut arms and both stabilizer bars.

The manual (70-72 as this manual has the detailed finish list) and Tripoli say natural / unpainted, but looking at the pictures taken by Stephen Byrd of the 300 mile ZR1 I would think the finish is black (see link for his pictures). Searched the archives and no conclusive answer here as well (natural or dip black)?

http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o263/BunkyByrd/2010%20NCRS%20Regional%20Florida/

So - what to do? To paint (black) or not to paint black? Your help is appreciated.

Erik

[Terry M.]

Re: Finish rear strut arms and front & rear stabilizer bars

Working on the chassis restoration for my 68 and not sure about the finish of the rear strut arms and both stabilizer bars.

The manual (70-72 as this manual has the detailed finish list) and Tripoli say natural / unpainted, but looking at the pictures taken by Stephen Byrd of the 300 mile ZR1 I would think the finish is black (see link for his pictures). Searched the archives and no conclusive answer here as well (natural or dip black)?

http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o263/BunkyByrd/2010%20NCRS%20Regional%20Florida/

So - what to do? To paint (black) or not to paint black? Your help is appreciated.

Erik

Believe the pictures.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Finish rear strut arms and front & rear stabilizer bars

I'll point out that Terry's answer is a bit brief, so...

Rear strut arms are an "as forged" finish. If yours are at all original you may see some dark finish and/or gray finish from the forging process still on the strud rod.
There are processes people use to try and mimic this, and you can search the archives.

Front stabilizer bar may be as-forged, may be painted black. Most people paint them black because it's far easier to replicate.

I'm not at home to check references on the rear bar. However, as Terry did mention, the photos of the 300 mile car will show what I'm describing.

Patrick

[Lawrence M.]

Re: Finish rear strut arms and front & rear stabilizer bars

There was an excellent article in the Restorer a year or 2 ago on recreating the original as forged look on the strut rods.

[Lawrence M.]

Re: Finish rear strut arms and front & rear stabilizer bars

The article was in the Spring 2010 Volume 36, Number 4 issue. The article is titled Refinishing Forged Steel Strut Rods 1963-1972 by Stephen Boyd.

There was an excellent article in the Restorer a year or 2 ago on recreating the original as forged look on the strut rods.