69 steering coupler copper bolt

[Greg L.]

The 68-69 TIM&JG says that one of the bolts and nuts(smaller ones I think) should be copper but my 69 did not have a copper one. I am also 99.99% sure that they are original.

I also found an original rag joint on a 70 or so chev pick-up in the wreckers and it looks identical so I took it for a spare but it also did not have any copper hardware.

Is this copper bolt and nut a for sure thing or did only some have them? I've been looking in the wreckers for a bolt and nut to use but haven't found any so far. The only place that I have noticed copper hardware on these couplers is on Ebay but maybe I'm just not looking close enough.

If one is in fact supposed to be copper, which models should I look at to find them?

Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Greg-----

When was your 69 built?

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Joe

She was built Jan 31/69.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Greg, there was no "copper bolt" on my 70, and the rag joints are the same from 69-82. The two bolts have different thread size for the nuts (somewhat peculiar), but that's the only difference I know. There was a copper ground strap conductor that made the jump from one side of the rag joint to the other. Failure to communicate IMO.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Greg------

OK, that rules out one possibility that I was going to suggest.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Chuck-----

Actually, there were 2 different couplers used over the 67-82 period. The first was used for 1967-through 1969. The second type was used for 1970 through 1982. It is possible that the 1970+ style was used for VERY late 1969 models. However, my mid-September 1969 built car did not have the 1970+ style, so if a change was made, it was made after that time.

The 67-69 style coupler is designed to work with the "full round" steering gear worm shaft. This shaft is splined and has no indexing feature ("flat spot"). The 1970-82 worm shaft is also splined but has a "flat spot" for indexing purposes. The 67-69 and 70-82 couplers cannot be interchanged due to the indexing feature.

My VAGUE recollection is that the original coupler used on my car had one of the bolts that was copper plated (certainly the bolt was not copper "through-and-through" since there is NO way that GM would use a copper bolt on a steering coupler). In this regard, the copper plating is somewhat typical. Some VERY high strength bolts used by GM are copper plated.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Yeah, I could believe "copper plated"...lawsuit heaven otherwise.

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

Well that clears things up for me. I thought it would be odd to use a copper bolt for this application but also odd to plate one copper so I wasn't sure...my misunderstanding. Over the years though I'm sure that the copper corroded away and that is why I can't seem to find any in the wreckers now.

Any recommendations on replicating this finish?

Thanks

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 steering coupler copper bolt

It depends on how authentic you want to be, and how much you want to spend. Here's several ideas. A couple of these options are probably at the extreme ends of the spectrum, however, I can't think of anything in between:

(1) Do an exhaustive search for NOS or reproduction bolts with the copper plating. Rag joint bolts are out there, but I didn't see any copper plated...my search was cursory in nature. I doubt you will find anything.

(2) Buy some copper paint at the local home store and PAINT (Aw, man, puke...retch!). Total outlay...about $5. I would be tempted to cheap out and take this route for one bolt, unless you can find a bunch of guys that need copper plated bolts. Mechanical judges can tell you the likely impact of this route in judging; I suspect the penalty will be minimal if anything.

(3) Buy a copper plating kit and plate yourself...total outlay $169 + shipping. (http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/copper.htm) Another option may be to find a chrome plater close to you...he may be willing to run it through the copper process for a lot less money. Caswell is located in Lyons, NY...I not sure how close that is to the border, or the problems of getting plating chemicals into Canada. Caswell also has an Australian store...it may be easier for you to get stuff from there.

[Mark #28455]

El cheapo copper plating

Go to Advance Scientific and Chemical, Inc. web site. Buy Copper sulfate solution - 1 liter for $38. Get approx 6" chunk of copper plumbing pipe. Take D cell battery, hook positive (I think) to the pipe, hook negative to the part. Put part and pipe into pyrex baking dish and add copper sulfate - you're in business.

P.S. insert std legal disclaimer here - do this at your own risk, you could die a horrible death or kill or maim many others!

Mark