67 seat belt buckle

[Randy R.]

Is there a way to remove scratches from the brushed finish on the top of the seat belt buckles on a 67?

Thanks in advance.

Randy

[Jack H.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

I can see two possible avenues:

(1) Disassemble the buckles and re-brush the finish using a wire wheel to oblitherate the existing scratches (IF not too deep).

(2) Go visit your local scrap yard and 'harvest' a set of replacement buckles from same era GM cars and do a swap of the affected section(s). Hint, check out full sized luxury cars of the era (Buick, Caddy) and look for belts in the rear seating area that've been 'preserved' by shoving them back/down between the seat back and bottom cushions...

[Jim W.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

Randy, I've seen the brushed finish on stainless steel Rolex bracelet clasps restored by carefully using a Scotch-Brite pad. It takes straight and light even strokes. Just an idea that might work on your '67 seatbelt buckles. Good luck. Jim Weeks - Member #2978

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

Be advised that the buckles are not solid stainless steel but plated and brushed to look like SS. If you brush it too much. or try to take a heavy scratch or pit out, you will get into the copper below (I know). Not sure what the plating is, Jack probably knows.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[John H.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

Jerry -

The '67 seat belt buckle plating was "Udylite". Early cars didn't have it, but it was released on 9/14/66 per ECR #82578 as a product improvement; the production change was issued to St. Louis on NPC #C67-159 on 12/9/66, with the old parts to be exhausted by color in car sets and the new parts to be incorporated on the same basis, with the change to be completed not later than 3/1/67. All six colors of the new belt assemblies were reported by St. Louis as being in production on 1/16/67.

The change did two things - the cover portion of the buckle got a different heat-treat to harden it, and the Udylite plating made the finished buckle more scratch-resistant.

[Randy R.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

Thank you for all of the replies. I did find a set of belts fron a 67 Chevy II Nova. The buckle tops are in better shape than mine but still have some scratches. I have tried sandpaper from 600 to 2000 grit, a 3M pad, steel wool, scouring powder, bead blasting and rubbing compound on a pitted area of one of the tops and also the back of this same top. Either the method does nothing or it wears through the plating. Is there a way to remove a scratch without wearing through the plating? BTW, my car is a mid May car.

I would also like to remove some scratches from the wiper arms. Are they similarly plated or are they stainless? Any suggestions for these?

Thank you,

Randy

[Gerard F.]

Udylite

Thanks John, looks like I'm on another quest. Must be some type of nickel-chrome mix. Wonder if it was more of a satin finish on the later ones than the brushed finish on the eartier one's. (or visa versa).

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Jack H.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

Wiper arms are made from SS with a 'Lee Brush' finish. If you polish them to remove the scratches, you'll also remove the original brushed finish. I've heard some say they were able to 'resonably duplicate' the brushed finish by lightly hitting the surface with a SS wire wheel after doing a deep polish to remove heavy scratches, but I can't say I've been there/done that.

Sometimes metals were textured finished by the adroit use of sprayed-on acid etch chemicals. That's the basic approach used to create surface texture for injection plastic molding tools and I can tell you the approach is BOTH an art form as well as a science to get the final finished product 'right'....

[Randy R.]

Re: 67 seat belt buckle

I can believe that an acid etch would take some skill. I don't think a wiper arm would be the piece on which to learn the process. I will see if our local stainless polisher has an opinion. If it is useful I will pass it on.

Randy