Front A-Arm cross shafts (upper and lower), are ya'll painted or as 'as-cast' kind of guys? In other words, what's the most common you see.

If painted, are the retaining bolt and washer painted? If 'as-cast', what finish is the bolt and washer?

:seeya

 

I'm not two Chuck's, but here goes....

A-arm cross shafts - painted, same finish as the arms.
Retaining bolt and washer - natural. Bolt is natural bolt, washer is that shiny silver-type finish.

 

Since my car is a 70, all of the following comments are in the context of 70-72 year class. Mine (70) were natural...I guess they should be "as-forged", but I don't think anyone in judging actually expects to see an accurate "as-forged" finish. Judges are always looking for either natural or black on 70-72 cars.

I didn't know the black ones existed for years, so I am inclined to believe they are in the minority, but I have no basis for that opinion other than I didn't see them until a couple of years ago. The judging manual says the washers for the natural shafts are natural, and that the washers for the black shafts are painted black. They don't say anything about the bolts, but mine were black phosphate.

The use of black painted shafts raises an interesting question: the fact that the washers are painted black appears to indicate that the arms were dip painted after assembly, in which case I would expect the bushings to also show black paint residue. It is fine point of accuracy, but control arms that are restored with black shafts usually don't have black paint on the bushings. Also, I wonder if it should also mean that the control arms are only dipped to a point up near the ball joint and the outboard end of the control arm and ball joint be left natural like some NOS replacement arms I have seen.


[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 8:37 PM 5/12/2002]

 

Lower..Semi Gloss Black. Bolts are black phosphate. Nut and "funky" washer on back of lower is also black phosphate. Bushing washers....I've seen both natural and painted.

Upper..Semi Gloss Black. 68 can be "rounded" or "square" design. Semi Gloss Black. Bushing washers natural. Mounting studs...black phosphate. Nuts are "toploc" style. Zinc plated.

Chuck