Hood latch mechanism - factory finish?

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Wed Feb 09, 11 1:41 pm

Here's one for you resto types...

Any idea what finish the hood latch/catch assembly should be on our Satellite?
I presume it had some kind of plating when new.... zinc?
Clear as opposed to colour?

I think someone said recently (Jim?) that the spring should be black? Is that plated?

And if the mechanism is plated, does it need completely dismantling first or would it bind up when operated, if we just get it plated as-is?

Cheers

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Wed Feb 09, 11 8:26 pm

Cant be sure as its a satellite (and i know nothing about them) but i think they were a dark brown type of zinc plating.

I ended up doing it in matt zinc then using a zinc blackening solution. Which came out sort of blackish brown!

You dont need to strip it, but the rust needs to go. You need some de-oxC. which is what you should have put your manifolds in

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Wed Feb 09, 11 8:27 pm

Not certain if your is the same but the 70/71 EBodies had a strange colour, I've heard it referred to as black zinc but it is more brown in colour. I got mine plated with black zinc and it is waaaay off. That's OK, I knew that before I had it done, but I don't know if anyone over here can do the 'correct' finish.

eg

Jules the Wipeman does it... http://www.julesdaddio.com/index.html

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Wed Feb 09, 11 8:50 pm

Bare metaled mine and put a clear laquer over it.

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Fri Feb 11, 11 1:38 pm

Roger wrote:Cant be sure as its a satellite (and i know nothing about them) but i think they were a dark brown type of zinc plating.

I ended up doing it in matt zinc then using a zinc blackening solution. Which came out sort of blackish brown!

You dont need to strip it, but the rust needs to go. You need some de-oxC. which is what you should have put your manifolds in

I think the 69 Satellite/roadrunner/GTX would have been the same as the Charger - ours looks the same as Derek's in these pics, except ours has a 'dog-leg' in the release lever. The finish would have been the same, surely?!

Looking on that Jules Daddio site, there seems to be versions, but neither are as dark as black zinc.

Olive drab zinc looks a bit closer? But again, that can vary in colour

Might end up just cleaning and laquering - I dont think it's visble from the front thru the grille