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Cadium Cadmium plating

7.5K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  Unreal  
#1 ·
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.
 
#3 ·
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.

:beers:
 
#4 ·
John, you're saying that all that gold colored stuff is zink?
 
#6 ·
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?:D
Image
 
#8 ·
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.
 
#10 ·
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.;)
 
#9 · (Edited)
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.