[sspecialk]

Quick question here for the resto specialists. Did GM originally cad plate parts then paint over them? Specifically things that are typically painted like a radiator cooling fan, engine pulleys, battery trays, sway bars etc? I feel sure that things like the alternator fan and pulley as well as the brake booster would have been cad plated. Just trying to get a handle on how much cad plating was originally used on these cars.

[BlackoutSteve]

Anything cad plated would have left as is. That's why it was cad plated in the first place (so it didn't need paint), and paint don't stick to cad real well either.

[JohnZ]

Cad plating cost FAR more than zinc, and Chevrolet didn't waste money on plating; occasionally cad was shown on drawings as an option vs. zinc, but very few suppliers chose to use it due to the cost penalty. Most parts that people think are cad are actually zinc plated.

[Fred Ficarra]

John, you're saying that all that gold colored stuff is zink?

[BlackoutSteve]

Cad is a "soft silver" color like regular silver zinc. It can also be black or at least charcoal.
The gold/green is also zinc called zinc dichomate.

[Fred Ficarra]

Steve, isn't that the stuff on Holley carb bodies? It doesn't hold up well. The gold stuff on my car is much better, mostly still hanging around.
Here's my original horn relay. See what I mean?

[68zproject]

Originally Posted by BlackoutSteve

Cad is a "soft silver" color like regular silver zinc. It can also be black or at least charcoal.
The gold/green is also zinc called zinc dichomate.

You mean now or then? The boosters were gold cad, but I think now days they use yellow zinc to re-plate them.

[z/27 camaro]

Fred........my horn relay was a silver color.....not gold like yours.....HMMMM. yours is standing up well.

and i agree with those above....anything cad/zinc plated will not be painted over. John z should have a link to a list of all natural or plated parts on a camaro i think? or check out the camaro research group web..they will have it for sure.

[Fred Ficarra]

Yep, John was there when these cars were built. And ALL of my gold stuff is original, as delivered. I would never mess with coolness.

[Fred Ficarra]

Originally Posted by z/27 camaro

Fred........my horn relay was a silver color.....not gold like yours.....HMMMM. yours is standing up well.

and i agree with those above....anything cad/zinc plated will not be painted over. John z should have a link to a list of all natural or plated parts on a camaro i think? or check out the camaro research group web..they will have it for sure.

It's easier to just click on my web site, unless you want to see my stuff over at CRG.

[Sauron67MM]

Originally Posted by z/27 camaro

Fred........my horn relay was a silver color.....not gold like yours.....HMMMM. yours is standing up well.

and i agree with those above....anything cad/zinc plated will not be painted over. John z should have a link to a list of all natural or plated parts on a camaro i think? or check out the camaro research group web..they will have it for sure.

Or you can read this:
http://www.67z28.com/finishes.htm

It's not silver cadmium dichromate it's zinc-plated - no dichromate wash.
It's a misuse of terminology on the chart.

[sspecialk]

Thanks for all the input Team.

[Unreal]

Geez Fred, did you have to bring up that old horn relay thing again???

For those who don't remember, Fred has 1 of 1 gold cad horn relay. All the other 240,000 69's had silver cad ones.

[RamAirDave]

Originally Posted by Unreal

Geez Fred, did you have to bring up that old horn relay thing again???

For those who don't remember, Fred has 1 of 1 gold cad horn relay. All the other 240,000 69's had silver cad ones.

Don't forget the one-off set of black painted hood hinges

[Fred Ficarra]

Originally Posted by RamAirDave

Don't forget the one-off set of black painted hood hinges

Hey now! I never claimed I didn't touch up the hinges.
But I keep 'em lubed. (secret grease) And because they're SS spring-ed, when opening the hood I have to catch it or it flies up too hard. Ouch.
And Gary, you must know that there are gold relay examples on CRG.