C2- 63 L76 Throttle Control Return Spring Color?

[Collin MacDonald]

At the New England Regional the judges pointed out to me the throttle control spring in the L76 Engine of my 63 Coupe was suppose to be Phosphate Black, yet I have seen and read the throttle springs were color coded and the L76 in both the 63 and 64 were white. The JM states Phosphate Black... OK I accept you go by the JM when being judged. But I am looking for what is actually correct. OK so I know the FI cars used a blue spring, and it states that in the manual...where did this white spring come about? I plan to go along with the manual and am not bucking the JM, just curious to how this come about and what is actual.... Many thanks...Collin

[Mike L.]

Re: C2- 63 L76 Throttle Control Return Spring Colo

Collin, your correct for doing as the the judging manual states. But your incorrect about the spring on a 63-64 FI car, the NCRS judging manual states the spring is black phosphate. Saw your car very closely in Marlborough nice car.

[Duke W.]

Re: C2- 63 L76 Throttle Control Return Spring Colo

I agree with both phosphate black (for corrosion resisitance) and white for ID. The white paint didn't last that long, so by the time the JG was written, few if any had any evidence of the white paint. It was probably dipped.

Duke

[Alan Drake]

Re: C2- 64 L84 Throttle Control Return Spring Colo

Does anyone know if the L84 (FI) was also painted blue at the factory?
JM calls for black and calls the blue as service item.

NOTE; My Mar64 FI has blue spring, still a little left on it! Now I'm sure that the spring was never changed from spring of 1966 to now! Can not believe the many parts that were changed from Mar 64 to spring of 1966, or does the JM need an update???
alan

[Mike McKown]

Black may/may not be but I know blue is correct. *NM*

[Alan Drake]

JM says Black otherwise loose points *NM*

[Michael H.]

Re: JM says Black otherwise loose points

Yup, actually the last 2/3 of the 63 run used a dark grey spring that was plated. (phosphate?) The first aprox 1/3 of the 63 run used a silver return spring. I still have several old originals that I removed from units decades ago. Also have one NOS grey spring that was purchased in the mid 60's.

Not sure if/when the blue spring actually made it to production. I know everyone is going to say the original 3827005 print calls for a blue coating but that just wasn't the way is was in reality. That's the way it is for a lot of things in the Corvette world. The blueprint may specify a certain design or color but often times things were slightly different.

In about 1970, many of the FI parts that GM has available were discontinued. Because of numerous complaints, several part numbers were reinstated. However, several were than made by different mfg's and almost all were slightly different than the original assy line installed parts. I have a feeling the blue spring was one of these items. Not only is the color different, the physical dim's and makeup of the part are different also.

Been debating this point for at least three decades. when I was showing 63's in the 70's, I always took a deduction because I refused to use a blue spring. Nice to see that the 63 JG recognizes the correct color. (almost)