1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

[Rick L.]

I have a Sept 67 built 1968. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the wiper door actuator was gray early on then changed to gold. I found a gray one at Kissimmee that still works, but is rusty. Would this be the correct actuator for my car, and what would be the best way to restore the finish? Latest Judging Guide doesn't mention the color change and calls the actuator a valve.

Thanks,
Rick L.

[Bob D.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Rick

I have been associated with vacuum actuators for about 7 years now and have not seen or heard of early '68 wiper actuators being gray. The actuators I have seen were all the gold dichromate finish. That does not mean that I am correct, just that I haven't seen or heard of any. Perhaps someone else has more information on that. Regarding calling the actuator a valve, that may be confusing the actuator with the valve. There were two valves made of plastic and metal that were used, one for the wiper and one for the headlights. Hope this helps.

Bob

[Terry B.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

I have seen very old actuators where the finish had worn off that looked gray but not one that started out it's life as gray. I think you will be safe having your wiper actuator with the gold dichromate finish. Maybe others will have more knowledge.

Terry

[Dick W.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

They were ALL cadium dichromate. The degree of gold depended on how fresh/clean the plating chemicals were. The gray you are referring to probably resulted in someone cleaning it with a solution that contained some sort of acid.

[Jack C.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Here is mine from a Jan 22 1968 built car which the cannister is unrestored. Worn but looks a little grayish after all these years.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

I have a Sept 67 built 1968. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the wiper door actuator was gray early on then changed to gold. I found a gray one at Kissimmee that still works, but is rusty. Would this be the correct actuator for my car, and what would be the best way to restore the finish? Latest Judging Guide doesn't mention the color change and calls the actuator a valve.

Thanks,
Rick L.

Rick,

The actuator is shown in Jacks photo. The valve is not visible in his photo and in this case is behind the passenger side wheel house. I hope the new manual doesn't call the actuator a valve, but if you find that -- let us know what page it is on so that we can change it next time around.

[Henry J.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Terry:

In the new TIM&JG, the actuator is referred to as a valve. See page 84, Section 22, under the heading, "Vacuum Actuator and Relay", second paragraph.

Also, in paragraph three, the last two sentences appear to relate to the relay, which is discussed in paragraph one.

[Rick L.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Terry:

In the new TIM&JG, the actuator is referred to as a valve. See page 84, Section 22, under the heading, "Vacuum Actuator and Relay", second paragraph.

Also, in paragraph three, the last two sentences appear to relate to the relay, which is discussed in paragraph one.

Correct. "The valve is a cylindrical-shaped canister (similar to a coffee can)..."

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Now I am puzzled. The coffee can (later two pie plates) is the actuator.
The illustration on page 84 is the relay, sometimes called a valve.

I am at a loss as to where the actuator = valve comes from.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

I have seen very old actuators where the finish had worn off that looked gray but not one that started out it's life as gray. I think you will be safe having your wiper actuator with the gold dichromate finish. Maybe others will have more knowledge.

Terry

Terry and Rick-----


I'm confident that's what happened. The actuators were originally plated with cadmium or zinc. Then, a chromate "overplate" was applied which gave the part the "gold" appearance. The chromate "overplate" is somewhat "fragile" and will "wear through" in time. As Dick mentions, if any sort of acidic solution was applied (like various spray cleaners designed for wheel use), the "gold" will be almost instantly removed and what you're left with is the cadmium or zinc primary plating. Enough "acid treatment" and that will go, too. Then, rust ensues.

By the way, the finish that I've seen on the reproduction actuators is not quite like the original. The original finish was not glossy, at all. It was a rather dull, very slightly rough finish. All of the reproduction actuators and re-finished original actuators I've seen have a very shiny, smooth finish.

[Bob D.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Joe

While I know you are an expert on parts, I have found that the finish on actuators varies greatly. I have several NOS actuators that range in finish from very shiny to very dull. I have also noticed that the gold finish begins to deteriorate almost immediately. I have seen some original actuators on cars that had different finishes on the both headlight actuators. On the wiper actuators I have seen the front portion on both the coffee can type and pie plate type have slightly different finishes which may be due to the heat coming from the engine compartment. I think the finish, as Dickie said, was dependent on the chemicals and the surface finish of the part at the time of plating.

[Dale C.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Mine looks kind of grey but you can still see the old gold tint. Jack, how did you get the big picture on the page?
Dale2 A pic of eng.jpg

[Jack C.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

PM send on pix posting.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Joe

While I know you are an expert on parts, I have found that the finish on actuators varies greatly. I have several NOS actuators that range in finish from very shiny to very dull. I have also noticed that the gold finish begins to deteriorate almost immediately. I have seen some original actuators on cars that had different finishes on the both headlight actuators. On the wiper actuators I have seen the front portion on both the coffee can type and pie plate type have slightly different finishes which may be due to the heat coming from the engine compartment. I think the finish, as Dickie said, was dependent on the chemicals and the surface finish of the part at the time of plating.

Bob-----


Are you referring mainly to the "dual pie-pan" actuators (L69-72) or the "coffee can' (1968-L69)? The "dual pie pan" did vary a lot and some were shiny. Also, they were manufactured for a lot of years and the finish varied over the years. The last SERVICE pieces were quite shiny and smooth.

I was primarily referring to the "coffee can" style in my previous post and I've never seen that type with anything but the dull, sort of "rough" finish. I have two NOS examples [not for sale] and they're both identical in finish to the way my original 1969 actuator originally appeared.

[Bob D.]

Re: 1968 Very Early Wiper Door Actuator Color

Joe

Yes I was referring to the dual pie-pan wiper and headlight actuators. Those vary in finish greatly from shiny to slightly dull . The coffee can style wiper actuators were as you describe, dull with a sort of rough finish.