I recently had my Brake Booster re-plated. The man at the plating shop seem to know just what was needed. He said I needed gold dichromate #2. I was impressed with his knowledge.
After getting it back, I discovered what I felt was a look I didn't expect. The appreance was one of a dull gold color. It certainly did not look like the ones on the "brakeboosters.com" site.

This past weekend I toured Floyd Garret's "Muscle Car" museum in Sieverville, TN and looked at several ultra low mileage, unrestored originals. Guess what? The boosters on these primo cars look much like mine.

What I am looking to find is, just how should the boosters look? The brakeboosters.com pictures show beautiful glossy boosters, but should they look that way? I'm inclined to think they too pretty for an original look. If "good" looks are all that matter, some people might choose chrome, an anodized finish in the color of thier choice, or something esle fashionable. I want the original look, that is all.
Do any of you have an idea as to what that original look is. Have the boosters on "primo" cars that I saw aged poorly? Perhaps my booster was plated just as it should have been.

Thank You for your help

Yellow dichromate is a standard industrial coating. It's not really a plating - it adds virtually no thickness to the metal - it just reacts chemically with the surface metal and converts the surface so it's less prone to rusting than unfinished steel.

The auto manufacturers spec this stuff on all kinds of parts that are unpainted (motor housings, etc.). It it not supposed to be shiny - at least not "glossy" and smooth like gold anodizing, or something - it's not meant as a cosmetic finish, purely an in-expensive rest-preventative. It's kind of a dullish yellow/gold (really, metalic yellow)that frequently has some reds and blues in it as well. Sounds like you got exactly what they would have done at the factory.

Thanks Huck.

I first was disappointed it the finish, but felt better after the look at the originals.
Your comments seem to be just what I was looking for.

The booster on the right is a NOS booster I've had since 1970. The plating is silver with just a tinge of gold or yellow. The booster on the left is a weathered old one.
Consider clearcoating the booster to keep it from corroding and dulling.
The super gold looking boosters are not the correct color for a factory finish. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/twoboosters.jpg
David

------------------
Check my web page for First Gen Camaro suspension info:
David's Motorsports page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/)
First Gen Suspension Page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm)
67 RS 327
69 Camaro Vintage Racer
65 Lola T-70 Chev 350 Can-Am Vintage Racer

[This message has been edited by davidpozzi (edited 07-19-2001).]

The "rainbow" effect gold boosters (like you see on brakeboosters.com) are actually gold zinc.

------------------
Steve McCorry - Central Ohio Camaro Club
'69 Camaro RS/SS-350 - Daytona Yellow
'95 Camaro Z-28 - Sebring Silver
click here to see my webpage ---> www.mindspring.com/~mccorry (http://www.mindspring.com/~mccorry) (updated 5/18/01)

But David, what is the Booster on the left ?

I guess I should read these after I post them! http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif
I fixed it now.
David

------------------
Check my web page for First Gen Camaro suspension info:
David's Motorsports page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/)
First Gen Suspension Page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm)
67 RS 327
69 Camaro Vintage Racer
65 Lola T-70 Chev 350 Can-Am Vintage Racer

I also had my brake booster done by brakeboosters.com. It looks nice, but in my opinion, not like the original. If I were to do it over, I would have it had it done with the original look.

Here's my 2 cents.....First of ANODIZING is a process done to aluminum.....and in the Case of Camaros not positive but on 1970 and up the window trim was "brite-dip" anodized aluminum, NOT chrome or stainless...same with 70' headlight bezels so dont try polishing, you cant (UNLESS you remove anodizing first), soooo with regards to ANY steel part forget the term ANODIZE......
Now then, on Brake Boosters, I've come to learn that Cadmium II (process 2) is the correct finish....Not YELLOW ZINC.....and the original GM Cadmium plating was of a type that met Military Specs and contained Cyanide (yeah the deadly stuff) and in todays EPA world not too many platers offer that process, but it is still being done....alledgedly the cyanide has alot to do with the appearance that people are alluding to, i.e. rainbow effect.....Sure wish a real old time plater would post "the truth"........Chuck S

I got a rebuilt booster from D&R 6 months ago and it has a vivid rainbow affect, but has a grainy texture to the touch. My original booster, though the color is faded has a much smoother texture to the touch.
My theory is this booster was replated overseas or in Mexico, because the two studs were replaced and have 10MM metric threads. I am not thrilled that I had to put metric nuts on with a 15MM wrench.