Midyear steering linkage question...

[Patrick T.]

The new 4th edition of the NCRS Judging Manual on page 135 states..."the steering linkage was painted semi-gloss as an assembly". I am told they were supplied to Chevrolet by an outside contractor.

My question is.....were the cad or zinc plated grease fittings part of "the assembly" and painted semigloss black as well? I don't think I've ever seen a painted grease fitting and when was the fitting shot up with grease, at the St. Louis plant? Thanks for any information. PT

[Joe L.]

Re: Midyear steering linkage question...

Patrick-----

The steering linkage assembly was not painted, at all. It was spray-coated with an asphaltic coating at the manufacturing source which was the old Chevrolet-Buffalo steering plant on DeLavan Avenue in Buffalo, NY.

The grease fittings were not installed on the assembly from the manufacturing source. They were installed at St. Louis. So, they were "un-coated".

[Patrick T.]

Thanks Joe! *NM*

[Joe C.]

Re: Midyear steering linkage question...

Patrick,

I don't think that many, if any, cars of that era came from the factory with "zerk" fittings installed on the front suspension/steering assembly. They normally came with steel threaded plugs installed. At delivery time, and for additional charge,dealerships would add such things as "floor mats", "full undercoating" and "grease fittings" at the customer's request.

Joe

[John H.]

Re: Midyear steering linkage question...

Joe -

All midyears had grease fittings on the steering linkage (tie rod ends), and the fittings were installed at St. Louis.

[Michael H.]

Re: Midyear steering linkage question...

John,

Yup, I agree. Fittings were also installed in upper/lower ball joints at the St Louis plant. Wasn't Ford Motor Co the only mfg that began using the plug instead of fittings in about 63 or 64?

Remember the guys "greasing the fittings" on the chassis line?

[Joe C.]

John and Michael......I Spoke Too Soon

Because my father was "guilty" of buying Ford/Merc cars during the fifties through early sixties, it sounds like the Ford reference you made is true. I remember installing the fittings on his 1963 Galaxie 500.
I don't know why FoMoCo eliminated them for a certain period, they're cheap and easy enough to install. I suppose that the same could be said for the plastic plug in the Corvette's clutch bellcrank.
Are you sure that it was only Ford? If so, I never understood why.

Joe

PS: Maybe that's why FORD became an acronym for "Fix Or Repair Daily", because it sure wasn't "a better idea".

[Michael H.]

Re: John and Michael......I Spoke Too Soon

Joe,

The reason I remember this so well is the fact that in 1962-63, I worked in grampas gas station and remember how surprised/disappointed he was with Ford when they announced this new sales scam. I vividly remember removing the little plugs and installing grease fittings in these cars but I'm not sure if it was 62 or 63. I was happy to see that GM didn't follow Ford on this.

By the way, while we're on grease fittings, I also VERY vividly remember that all 63 and 64 Chevrolets and Corvettes had 90* upper and lower ball joint grease fittings. It was 65, at least for the Chevys, that began use of the straight fittings. I'm 95% sure Corvette followed for the 65 MY and 100% sure they were straight for the 66 MY. Just in case anyone was having trouble sleeping at night because of the mystery surrounding this important detail, you can now rest comfortably knowing that your car has the correct fittings.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Midyear steering linkage question...

I agree...Fords of the period first began extended lube interval on greased joints and the plugs were a visible indication of the extended interval. I believe you were supposed to remove the plug, lube the fitting and replace the plug to positively seal the fitting...lube monkeys eliminated that idea pretty quick. I was happy to learn my new 66 Impala didn't follow that plug thinking.

It seems I remember installation of the plugs starting even earlier than 63-64...My mother had a 60 Falcon four door sedan, and I think it had the plugs initially. It wasn't exactly a road rocket, but that 144 cu in straight six would deliver 30 mpg cruising 60 mph with no hills. It didn't take long for Detroit to eliminate THAT idea for the "next big gas hog barge". Little did they know the Japanese were mearsuring them for a coffin while they slept.