Author Topic: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes  (Read 7415 times)

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« on: September 06, 2019, 05:18:43 PM »
I'm working on restoring (if possible) the brake line clips on my 69 Z/28 project and want to see if I can duplicate the original, translucent blue finish often seen on the 3/8" clips (as well as the finishes on the other clips). From threads I've read it seems many have tried however I haven't run across a product or technique that comes really close to the original translucent blue so I'm going wade in. When I disassembled my car I didn't take photos of the translucent blue clip finish which is sometimes preserved and appears on the inside of original clips. If anyone has photos - please post them here. Below are the clips available from Camaro parts vendors. The 3/8" clips appear to be an opaque phosphate blue finish or ? and I haven't previously come across a green clip on the cars I've worked on? For the black open hoop clips I'm interested to know if they are were originally painted (semi-gloss black) or finished with black oxide? Would appreciate your photos and input.







firstgenaddict

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2882
  • caretaker of 1971 LT1's 11130 & 21783
    • View Profile
    • Groome Family Automobiles
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2019, 09:26:29 PM »
Lloyd,
The olive colored clips appear to be OLIVE CHROMATE CONVERSION OF ZINC - Olive chromate is the most durable chromate conversion of ZINC.

I used TESTORS OLIVE GREEN - it was a semitranslucent color...
With the Blue I used blue toner mixed with some clear in order to make it translucent like the originals appear.






James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2019, 11:24:24 PM »
Thanks for posting James, do you have any photos of the translucent blue clips?

firstgenaddict

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2882
  • caretaker of 1971 LT1's 11130 & 21783
    • View Profile
    • Groome Family Automobiles
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2019, 02:49:20 AM »
That's the 5/16... you can only see traces on the photos here... I do not think I have photos after they were refinished.
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

ZLP955

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2186
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2019, 03:04:37 AM »
Lloyd there are some photos showing blue on the protected areas of original clips in this post, scroll down past the body mount pictures to see the clips:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=16303.msg160787#msg160787
Looks more of a solid color than a translucent.
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #5 on: September 07, 2019, 04:01:34 PM »
I had another look through my brake parts from the disassembly and located a single brake clip that shows the blue finish. In this example its translucent.

« Last Edit: September 07, 2019, 04:23:10 PM by Edgemontvillage »

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #6 on: September 07, 2019, 04:19:33 PM »
Lloyd there are some photos showing blue on the protected areas of original clips in this post, scroll down past the body mount pictures to see the clips:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=16303.msg160787#msg160787
Looks more of a solid color than a translucent.

Not the best photo however here is the photo of the blue clip from the 11C Norwood car you referenced. Definitely closer to a solid color and a different shade of blue than found on my car (2B Norwood):

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #7 on: September 07, 2019, 05:04:09 PM »
Here's my first attempt.


Hans L

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 380
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #8 on: September 07, 2019, 11:10:03 PM »
Lloyd - First, I found the reproductions clips to be way off, so I returned the lot .  I tried several different finishes, including Dykem Steel Blue.  While not perfect and probably not the right material, I found Testors Transparent Blue to be the closest to the factory finish for the clips:

Original Clip:



Refinished Clip:



All the clips:



Used this product - just a light dusting is all it takes:



I'm out this weekend, but when I return, I'll upload an image with the clips installed.
https://www.instagram.com/69camarorsz28/
'69 Camaro RS Z/28 Van Nuys Built
'69 Chevelle SS 396 4 Speed

firstgenaddict

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2882
  • caretaker of 1971 LT1's 11130 & 21783
    • View Profile
    • Groome Family Automobiles
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2019, 03:27:44 PM »
Here's my first attempt.



THAT LOOKS GREAT!
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

R68GTO

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 184
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2019, 12:55:04 AM »
Here's a comparison of an original fuel line clip off a 15,000 mile car and the retros from HBC.
1969 427 COPO Camaro Lemans Blue/Black, M22 4 speed, 15,500 original miles

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2019, 03:38:23 PM »
Here's my first attempt.



THAT LOOKS GREAT!


Thanks James, I’m using a solvent based metal dye applied with an airbrush. The photo was taken after 3 medium weight coats allowing 10 minutes between coats. I’m going to try again with light coats for coverage however more translucence.

68camaroz28

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2232
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2019, 04:25:21 PM »
Looks good Lloyd but how much shine does it produce. Several years ago I had experimented with good old machinist Dykem Bluing and that seemed to work well with very little work. Easy touch-up if needed also.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

Edgemontvillage

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 785
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2019, 09:40:11 PM »
Looks good Lloyd but how much shine does it produce. Several years ago I had experimented with good old machinist Dykem Bluing and that seemed to work well with very little work. Easy touch-up if needed also.

Thanks Chick, it’s a matte gloss with no top coat. What gloss if any are you suggesting?

68camaroz28

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2232
    • View Profile
Re: 1969 Brake Line Retainer Clips - Finishes
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2019, 04:17:25 PM »
Sorry for delay Lloyd but would guess matte would be my first choice.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584