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.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48688746927_c796587faa_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbsyaV) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbsyaV) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48688746977_a5ccfaa4ff_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbsybM) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbsybM) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
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.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kyvsKy8TO7u-nP5-YhTFLtJV27mhAGsJwM4NqrAN6TacGy30_8hoQK-GBLHL4xz4fvxxS35zn7aG8co1wmV6FKEKkcYw60Y71PIBzScYaIQtp2v4PmbaUN7uOm77gXTM-ILqabeBXbBy627EHtBKrwLk17XwNiiuPNn-5hwrQHDYAdOpmNk2xkx7Gs6569BUUtMbu-boXdsHxMi2jxmoCchKW00xTV5keELLGBiQszkTgSmY_JdJMkZvikGVz7yzmbMal_U9AUucYAflmUNhP0NtcWnC3Xct4p87PfgOx9M_BQrwHZxUvptf-mHiyaccMWn-ur4Y9UmfrnV9P5or5pncsa4Cc8I8cqoFE_58rr-z5gwU2WlDbhDYH5eQ5m5jOmZBDEmikH8HvklYbRH_KiJ238Q8jkwaMLqoJaLCE-7P8Md_jLMcFKUNudafxuOnMoOUowmqxJO_LYqu8ack3fmYfXEMHRdvlgzfao-MvCHrKgJiLLD7_NY2YGY918kFWaE1RJQj5IpMvHBFMmYaK3ePZroJ4-mo4kLHoAIPAR-diO-gdbLGu4HIOnENNktRib9zpuqU2KDoNbssIT3UBskDC-NIYR5yeCVbzJyZkI_HjzYVN8ryKsNtNJ7CYFkApaiaYigoTjEszglk1nJMweN3DlSiE_RFaYvXEQVNb9mWJ-kp2sYXhaZcSwADmhtcPjGKiBQvZ36aBCAquOjzQEFGhGMKT2hOJ-v5kJqxeXhJGbNC=w1002-h1065-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/54WRR_L-Pd_tLC0E9Kqitly_R9kIaBdo8boJcb1PM2Y8NWTIOn1TBljxao2S0Dg5t06SuV2A-Lptr_xZranNArN8gf99SlbsVuiQPzuiZb_uJ5j_yUBaIenBDDejei1UY9vyJXce855ApQP3YYOS772Mt2wdWjG3IURr0dK3K6ho9g9drpX58Bi3mpm_bbzgswUnmunrkdSqVYANkjsEzwYEoaCurfNFGK2xiMnlWHTQMLiElKLfkcWQVSxjf_3ohxzJIVvSKNmWUPxEr0lppQi7s8EGv9g4a4X7yf_oE4tVjHscR2aXbQEzZA8Os1j8CWybVdXht0KpsfwbXyrf9BTW3ecAuAmIZ4caoGBUqfCGLEqtunfx2mYPurVqB1UHUbOxfh_QFSPAwG6MxgX2SIDWCHRj-aTC9H7KZd25ty4zSR2P4zZjEahtM88cOWfHfBNbPCkqam3UqgzLad7Mz0eqkrbIeJwFqcvgpZSPyjkio7mAFyIgZslu1wASJ6XMml0vGSQqTQlk69TNDGlAwJNw2WPLle3pMwDeX2hEi-FvF-jH3OQANMPcoGKd0fJgC46kj_hLf-0F6FX3XXgqcTlmI-xNdXWU6dga38Z3VQVe8gV8JPvza8I8pNmlTZb7q_gCvwiRzr21qIQ_7949ligtG3Q_oBYXjaHK2Q_1Y7fCIoUoWg6tELfbSyh1leiib6pqQHPZu87qJEk4Sk_bJYF9WXB5vX6D_dJ_VWqBOUZ-wGG4=w867-h1154-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pGe_cz4JPwSFAMVM1uc7vj9x6Nnoqu_EespVBfVfiyQi00N22ZYE_SDCgFQ61mZYgvVzZ39BQtEXGmtTweFfUc-BuchE4E8dTOIMZekYLcXRXHUCB4ovPnGxffzJaLohAh4sFowk-MQfnJgn1hMV62fTLzrsFeDjZcRqclQSpa1S8vBKfapf8Oq0RmIERbw-7QcyzU4CFakYnGqqy1g2A6bZsMpMP66AvP6KfTcsJXIJN0pimf3XAKPn1EfLFe56NwYboe0FZOKCZ3Ezmf6a1530XfmpbWWtJZNpsCGbNzu9ws9B3Y4ZbYpgbVInamDiZQw9bHH1NRayvFlh8egGqQlps69T48oJriC4bThNSzcSG5iPY7yzEC45R0iqrGiO94wIkVv8moZRFc4x46EPjkYmoNdQBc63oyIJ74JsQQC9kYHggNUwl-BuA6CPPPJm_tuBr6AlNlRzyKxnMqdqwZ3Lv8qyerUTeZjnwRR2yuBn6_TKTaChs681b3cGsywl0FvF0adHGzp-RIkI0yKLaJMbQET94tpBIC-5I6Mvbx-m47mQoyixilzLqHRKNa-4izJzYy3H_2_HBAvciR7bDj0qeOOaUOH-WD0BZ7eHnCqeOnLF6Nu5WGjc4xyh9O9TvoVzXQTrOxidjkXzkReAzd5oAo3OFBv6-USfDJkx4DRqf8XEGGrPzY1zFhw02XJ_pO8T-tams36d46Anraoe-3Tnzk9knlElXMijBZm29HI6NbkO=w1550-h1034-no)
Thanks for posting James, do you have any photos of the translucent blue clips?
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.
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.
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.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48691921631_712c57f9de_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbJPUc) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbJPUc) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
Quote from: ZLP955 on September 06, 2019, 10:04:37 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): (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48694145702_601ebe832d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbWe3f) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbWe3f) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
Here's my first attempt.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48691581888_17df204eb9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbH5Uy) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbH5Uy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
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:
(https://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t478/jwlittooy/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/BrakeLineClips15_zps5527040e.jpg) (https://s1061.photobucket.com/user/jwlittooy/media/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/BrakeLineClips15_zps5527040e.jpg.html)
Refinished Clip:
(https://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t478/jwlittooy/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/FuelBrakeLineClipsRestored2_zpsa8b52b5a.jpg) (https://s1061.photobucket.com/user/jwlittooy/media/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/FuelBrakeLineClipsRestored2_zpsa8b52b5a.jpg.html)
All the clips:
(https://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t478/jwlittooy/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/FuelBrakeLineClipsRestored5_zps4469528f.jpg) (http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/jwlittooy/media/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/FuelBrakeLineClipsRestored5_zps4469528f.jpg.html)
Used this product - just a light dusting is all it takes:
(https://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t478/jwlittooy/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/TestorsPaint3_zps4687e40c.jpg) (http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/jwlittooy/media/Camaro%20Components/Fuel%20and%20Brake%20Line%20Clips/TestorsPaint3_zps4687e40c.jpg.html)
I'm out this weekend, but when I return, I'll upload an image with the clips installed.
Quote from: Edgemontvillage on September 07, 2019, 12:04:09 PM
Here's my first attempt.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48691581888_17df204eb9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbH5Uy) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbH5Uy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
THAT LOOKS GREAT!
Here's a comparison of an original fuel line clip off a 15,000 mile car and the retros from HBC.
Quote from: firstgenaddict on September 08, 2019, 10:27:44 AM
Quote from: Edgemontvillage on September 07, 2019, 12:04:09 PM
Here's my first attempt.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48691581888_17df204eb9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbH5Uy) (https://flic.kr/p/2hbH5Uy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156633854@N02/)
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.
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.
Quote from: 68camaroz28 on September 09, 2019, 11:25:21 AM
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?
Sorry for delay Lloyd but would guess matte would be my first choice.
here's a mix of originals and some I restored..
How did you restore them?
PM sent to you Lloyd
Quote from: 68camaroz28 on November 03, 2019, 08:39:01 PM
Quote from: rsr on October 27, 2019, 11:22:22 AM
PM sent to you Lloyd
Secret?
Chick, rsr stated that he is in the restoration business and reluctant to share proprietary information. I respect his position however have a contrary view. If you want to display your work and deny forum members how to duplicate those results that's not in the spirit of the CRG forum.