When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
Been wondering about this, were our cars painted underneath, or is that some natural metal color we are looking at. For example, I'm seeing a dark/blue grey on some steering parts. Just ran across these two conflicting articles, one says naturally formed from forged steel, other says painted. different era's of course. but its a start.
Haven't ever seen any on these cars that were any kind of blue, but I've seen quite a few pieces that were satin black. Some not painted at all. The K member in mine had some sort of waxy black stuff on it.
Frankly, unless you're trying to enter a Concours type of "show" where you get "points" for it being exactly factory, it makes no sense to worry about it. I go for protection and longevity... POR-15 or equivalent, and black chassis paint (which is kind of satin).
That is paint. You can clearly see in the photo where is it chipped. The parts are probably painted at the factory prior to being shipped to the assembly plant to deter corrosion during transport and storage.
GM put just enough effort into finishing the suspension parts to keep them relatively presentable long enough for the car to sell. Sometimes it's a light coat of paint or preservative other times it was whatever oil treatment from manufacturing. Most people that try to paint and protect every little part go off the deep end into overkill. GM didn't really give a rip. That's why you've got some parts that are zinc or phosphate or oxide plated, and some that were essentially bare steel.
04-23-2019, 01:13 PM
