Spark plug sheilds

[enio45]

Can anyone please tell me the correct plating for the 69Z spark plug shields and where would you recommend to send them?

[Pacecarjeff]

They are common Zinc plated.
Any plater can do them.

[Salvatore]

Ed, email this guy: [email protected] He does this work on the side and is a good man. I bought and had a few things done by him. I think his work is real nice. His name is Brent Roby. His number I believe is (614)471-4883. Sam

[enio45]

ok thanks alot - i think they call the plating clear zinc, correct?

[rszmjt]

Is it zinc or is it galvanized?

[drdave69]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it zinc or is it galvanized?

[/ QUOTE ]

Zinc is the ingredient for galvanizing.

[mrrec]

You need a galvanizer, not a plater. Most platers don't galvanize.

Technically, galvanizing is not plating as plating refers to an electro-chemical process. Galvanizing is a "hot dip" into the zinc alloy. I believe the spark plug shields were stamped from galvanized sheet. That means the edges are raw steel, but since zinc has a tendency to heal itself, the edges don't rust right away. Pretty tought to duplicate the original spangled galvanized coating by regalvanizing the finished part. Galvanized usually has a very bright appearance when new and gradually dulls and grays with exposure to the atmosphere and its' self-sacrificing nature.

Zinc plating is, however, a plating (electo-chemical) process and does not have the spangled appearance. Big difference. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

Dave

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Did the originals have the little screws, or were they spot welded?

[Mr70]

They should have a screw,you.

[enio45]

So, what is the recognised approach for plating or dipping process to restore a set of originals?

Thanks for the advise

[BillD]

69's may be different, but on 68's 2 are spotwelded and 2 are screwed.

[Denis]

For 1967, the two shields on the passenger side are spotwelded and the two on the driver side are screwed. The brackets on the driver side are engine color (chevy orange).

In Member's Rides from 2 years ago, Jon Mello's survivor Mountain Green 67 Z28 had the best photos I ever saw of "Day 1 takeoffs" of these brackets, removed when the headers were installed at the dealership:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/X%20%20%209-15-04%20Jon%20Mello%2067%20Z%2028/tn_scan0.jpg

Experts tell me these should be galvanized (the new reproductions are galvanized) but if you look again at the photos above and other originals, it looks more like plating to me.

When I did my 67, I started with some originals and had them silver cad plated at a local aerospace plating place (where they did my jack mast, coil bracket, and a few other things)--I still think it looks more correct/original than galvanized, and they've held up pretty good after 3-4 years now:

http://www.67z28.net/images/Shields.jpg

Like mrrec says, good to see others taking interest in the details.

[enio45]

Nice pics and details....whats the situation for a 69Z...are they screws for all and are the mounting brackets plated as well? It would be great if we had a picture or two like the above....thanks again

[jl8z28]

69s two are screwed and two are spotweled,and they are galvanized. the galvanize that they do today does not look the same. D&R makes a real good reproduction that is corect.

[firstgenaddict]

Here is the pass side on KP 18k mile 69 Z.

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/533/medium/Z34.jpg

Drivers

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/533/Z35.jpg

They appear to be the same.

[Pacecarjeff]

The drivers side are screwed, the pass side is welded.
The reason is that you can't get to the attaching bolts at the drivers side once the engine is installed.
Anyone who has tried, knows what I mean. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Also, I have seen some examples where the rear drivers is a bit wider, without the cutout.
I have never seen them painted.

Nice Z. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[mrrec]

Those 67 Z take-offs definitely appear cad plated - not stamped from galvanized sheet as the repros are and as I stated I believed the originals were. I forgot I had seen these photos and some real live pieces. At this rate, my memory failure will be complete in just a few more years....
Dave