69 z/28 black phosphate intake bolts

[john302]

Have seen some original unrestored 69z/28s with black phosphated intake bolts brushed with silver paint  . If you look at Skips orange 69z  the intake bolts are black . The Judging manual wants them silver zinc. Thoughts ?

[john302]

I have posted this in the past . Its driving me nuts . lol

[john302]

Thinking about brush painting the heads silver ?

[KurtS]

I've seen others with the silver paint. I'd reach out and ask Brad....

[john302]

ok thanks

[COPOZ/28]

I may be able to shed some light on this.  While I'm not familiar with this specific substitution of black phospated intake manifold bolts being used in place of the silver/zinc bolts on some small quantity of 1st Gen Z28's, I am well aware of situations in which an automotive manufacturing plant temporarily runs out of a specified part and has to use an alternate or substitute part to maintain production.  In the Big 3 auto company that I retired from after 30+ years, this was called a TSA, or Temporary Substitution Allowance, and required a buy-off from Engineering.  In fact, fasteners were the most common parts for which TSA's were approved by Engineering to keep the line running while Production Control scrambled to bring in the originally specified part.  In some TSA situations, the plant had to perform an additional activity or rework in order to make the substitution acceptable.  In the case of the black phosphated intake manifold bolts being substituted for silver/zinc bolts on Z28 intakes, it is quite feasible that the Flint Engine Plant may have been told that the swap was acceptable provided they applied silver paint to the bolt heads before the engine was shipped.  In this case, the issue was strictly appearance, not function.  TSA's, or the use of Alternate Parts were, and are today, a fact of life in any automotive manufacturing facility.

[68camaroz28]

Another factor might be time-frame of build that have painted manifold bolts. Just a thought as Skip's 69Z is a late 09D built car. Any idea Kurt on build dates for other Z's with painted manifold bolts? John, the judging manual probably is just communicating what is considered "the norm".