Author Topic: 67 NJ Suspension Finishes  (Read 868 times)

Offline 68 GT

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67 NJ Suspension Finishes
« on: April 16, 2021, 11:27:35 AM »
Have a 67 coupe, NJ car, 289 automatic. Are the finishes on the spindles, front shock absorbers top mounting bracket, leaf spring shackles, rear shock plates, sway bar brackets, strut rods all to be natural finish? Clean them with EvapoRust then use something like T9 on them?
« Last Edit: April 16, 2021, 09:06:28 PM by J_Speegle »
VIN 7T01C246XXX
Actual build date 5-11-67

VIN 8F01J208XXX
Actual build date 6-27-68

Offline 68 GT

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Re: 67 Finishes
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2021, 12:09:18 PM »
Thought of something else. How about the finish on the long plate or clamp, it's about 8" long or so, that holds the fuel line? It is towards the rear of the car where the fuel line runs across the car then turns up the rocker. Is it to be bare metal also? Thanks, hope that part description makes sense.
VIN 7T01C246XXX
Actual build date 5-11-67

VIN 8F01J208XXX
Actual build date 6-27-68

Offline ruppstang

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Re: 67 NJ Suspension Finishes
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2021, 09:15:58 PM »
The spindles are natural cast. The shock caps are phosphate and oil.  The shackles, rear shock plates, sway bar brackets and strut rods are natural steel. The fuel line protector was painted SG black. Yes you can clean them with Evaporust and protect them with T-9.

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: 67 NJ Suspension Finishes
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2021, 09:28:19 PM »
If you mean by "natural" you mean unpainted then yes

Many will have a different look based on the fact that they are different metals and formed/made differently so they will not all look the same

Most owner/builders will plate, coat, treat, die the parts to reproduce the original look of each part.  Then on parts like spindles you have multiple finishes since areas are just cast and quenched but others were machined after they were formed.

- Spindles - Mixture of dark oil quenched cast iron with a coating of a darker layer depending on how dirty/used the quenching oil was at the time with freshly machined surfaces as specific locations 

- Front shock absorbers top mounting bracket - Formed sheet metal brackets attached to the top of the shock towers in the engine compartment. Looking at original cars typically we find semi-gloss black. So since you lack (at least it sounds that way) any evidence otherwise go with typical and normal production practices would be suggested

- Leaf spring shackles- Fresh formed metal with darkened studs/shafts 

- Rear shock plates - Thick formed metal plates. Basically fresh metal look. Slightly shinier along bends

- Sway bar brackets -  Fresh formed steel

- Strut rods - Oil quenched steel normally not as dark as the spindles and without the quench oil layer/coat


Understand that with the update/patch search may not be currently working

There is an article in the Library covering the basics/overview of naturally finished suspension parts

On of a number of prior threads is one for the spindles

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=473.msg34868#msg34868


« Last Edit: April 17, 2021, 12:20:08 AM by J_Speegle »
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline 68 GT

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Re: 67 NJ Suspension Finishes
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2021, 10:31:50 PM »
Thank you both! I really appreciate your help and knowledge. And thank you for the link!
VIN 7T01C246XXX
Actual build date 5-11-67

VIN 8F01J208XXX
Actual build date 6-27-68

Offline ruppstang

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Re: 67 NJ Suspension Finishes
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2021, 11:36:34 PM »
I was reminded that NJ, San Jose typically had SG black shock caps and it was Dearborn that was phosphate and oil. Sorry for the confusion.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2021, 09:15:52 AM by ruppstang »

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: 67 NJ Suspension Finishes
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2021, 12:21:34 AM »
Thank you both! I really appreciate your help and knowledge. And thank you for the link!

There are others (many of your finishes will match what was done in other years) if you do some searches with terms like "natural finishes" or the like
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)