Manual steering gear decal
 

I am restoring a 1969 manual steering gear box and noticed this outline. The original owner painted everything black which covered the (I think) decal and left this outline but the decal was long gone. Has anyone ever seen a decal on these gears in this shape? 1970 Chevelle manual gears used a hand stamped "DL" in the corner (see third photo) and I have only seen an oval decal on the power steering boxes. Any help would be greatly appreciated especially from the 69 gurus.

Hi Rick. My car (69 Z) with manual steering had less than 23k on the clock when I got it. I am 99% certain it did not have a decal on the box. Sure looks like that one did.

I don't remember ever seeing a decal on a manual box from that era.

I can safely say I have NEVER seen a decal on a manual box but believe this engine compartment was spray bombed early in its life and cannot imagine what else that is. Did your Z have the ink stamp?

Could that have been an early part number tag? Looks about the correct dimensions of the old square ones... maybe it was a replacement part?

Could it be? Possible but highly unlikely as this car is too original and unmolested but who knows.

Take a tag (or measurements) and line it up... not many know everything that's been done / happened to their cars in fifty years... I'm curious myself now... let us know.