Author Topic: '69 distribution block color  (Read 12077 times)

rtcat

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'69 distribution block color
« on: March 19, 2016, 05:02:57 PM »
Getting ready to clean up the distribution block on my '69 manual drum car.

What is this part's finished surface?   60% gloss black?  Sandblast and clear coat?   other?



1969 Garnet Red base camaro, V8, vinyl top, 4sp. Restoration in progress

69Z28-RS

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2016, 06:50:56 PM »
Definitely do not sandblast it....  but maybe beadblast lightly would be OK... with a fine dustlike material..
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
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Mike S

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2016, 07:20:34 PM »
 I agree, don't sand blast it. That will only give an unnatural grayish appearance. I rebuilt mine with new internal seals so when it was apart I put the body it Evaporust for a couple of hours and it came out with its natural raw iron look.  All I did additional was to use a 3m 6448 Scotch-brite pad to give the machined surfaced a slight shine as if they were just cut. After it was re-assembled I coated it with Rust Preventative Magic and put the inspectors yellow stripe back on.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

rtcat

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2016, 08:29:18 PM »
Ok.  I'll skip blasting it and instead hand clean/bristle brushed with parts cleaner. 

Thanks.
1969 Garnet Red base camaro, V8, vinyl top, 4sp. Restoration in progress

Danzo

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2016, 10:16:20 PM »
Mike, can you post a picture of the inspector's yellow stripe? Thanks.

169INDY

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2016, 12:01:06 AM »
60% gloss black
Jim
68 SS/RS L35 Th-400 LOS
69 Pace Car L48 Th-350 LOS
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Mike S

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2016, 10:26:48 AM »
 Danzo,

   Here is a picture I have that shows the block and mark. This is on my 67 NOR car. My 67 LOS car doesn't have the mark. Also notice the natural raw look of the metal that blasting would otherwise give a gray look to. I was careful to put the same shape of the line back on (it had a rounded top). The center retaining nut for the indicator light was silver zinc chromate finished so that's how I re-plated it. As for black or not, I didn't find any signs of black under the blocks retaining bracket which is an area I look being it's one of the few areas protected by the brackets metal so I left it natural. Same for the round brake hold-off valve. 1969 may have been different.
  The other parts in this photo I took to track my progress are items also restored to their original appearance. The steering joint also had a larger yellow mark along the retaining bolt to the shaft clamp that I still have to put back on once I get it mounted. I'm not sure if the yellow color itself was significant for what it indicated.
  Now for a promotional plug to the brake valves rebuild kits, I get them from Scott at: https://www.musclecarresearch.com/
In as much as I don't normally promote any particular vendor, but when it comes to safety I'll make an exception. Muscle Car Research looks to be the only one who sells these rebuilding kits. I was surprised of the crud and also deteriorated parts in the three valve types I rebuilt so I highly recommend to rebuild them no matter how good on the outside they look.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

Danzo

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2016, 11:40:48 PM »
Thanks Mike!

Edgemontvillage

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2016, 03:52:33 PM »
A superior method of restoring cast iron and other ferrous metals is old school electrolysis. Regardless of how media blasting is stepped down (low pressure, low abrasive media), it involves cleaning the surface with a media applied at pressure which risks leaving the surface"greyed out" removing the natural cast color which is in the dark brown to dark grey range. As electrolysis is a non-abrasive cleaning method involving submersion the cast part is effectively deep cleaned including passages and cavities where media cannot access while restoring the natural cast surface to a fresh cast appearance with no residue. Here is the result I obtained with my 1969 distribution block using electrolysis:

Before



Electrolysis


Heat Seasoning

Restored Distribution Block Casting






 

z28z11

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2016, 09:29:54 PM »
I like to use this on really thin sheet metal parts (like radiator tags, headlight buckets)too, as it doesn't remove metal or iron oxide, it replaces it on the ionic level. It doesn't plate, but it is really simple to use on any rusty part (steel or iron). Won't do aluminum or brass/bronze, ferritic based only. You can get really creative with how large and complex a part you need to do as far as immersion is concerned - I've heard of engine blocks being treated to remove cylinder rust with electrolysis.

Just make sure the sacrificial donor piece is hooked up to the positive cable, the part to be cleaned is hooked to the negative side, or your part might dissolve before your eyes.

You can find information online from several sources - really cool to do this -

Regards,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

69Z28-RS

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2016, 12:08:52 AM »
Lloyd,

Is that stamped '53' on your block the date code?   What was the production month for your car?  Mine (late 09C)  is stamped totally differently and in a different place...
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

Mike S

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2016, 02:45:05 AM »
 More dark brown/grayish is how mine came out with using Evaporust. It has the dark brown/grayish look sort of like how an engine block looks before painting.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

Hans L

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2016, 05:27:36 PM »
So what is the correct color for the distribution block?   Some here have suggested 60% gloss black while I conclude others are suggesting natural cast finish.

My master cylinder was clearly black, but it was inconclusive to what colors the distribution block and prop value were.

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HawkX66

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #13 on: April 19, 2016, 06:13:40 PM »
Lloyd,

Is that stamped '53' on your block the date code?   What was the production month for your car?  Mine (late 09C)  is stamped totally differently and in a different place...
Once again Gary, ours don't get much closer lol. 3 days... My guess is that number is a casting Julian date without the year. Mine shows 155 it looks like.




Dave
69 SS396 X66 L34 M21 BS
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Edgemontvillage

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Re: '69 distribution block color
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2016, 06:52:25 PM »
Lloyd,

Is that stamped '53' on your block the date code?   What was the production month for your car?  Mine (late 09C)  is stamped totally differently and in a different place...



Gary, the distribution block on my 2B Norwood car is not date stamped.  As the date stamping convention is Julian for these castings I'd conclude the 53 stamp is not a date reference.

 

anything