C 2 bumper bolt finish

[Michael M.]

I know that the bumper bolts were either cadmium or zinc plated. My question is was the finish (plating) dull cadmium / dull zinc. Or was the finish (plating) bright cadmium / bright zinc when the bolts were new from the factory.

[Gene M.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

Mike,
I do not think the plating was treated to a clear chromate. If that is the type of shine you're refering to, than the answer is not brite.

[Michael M.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

If the bolts were plated with zinc, would the zinc be dull or bright? I have some original bolts that were never used and they seem a little too bright or on the shiny side.

[Ronald L.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

Back then chromate hard cote was not around.
Zinc - over time it dulls down so if your are bright, chances are they have the dichromate hard cote on them.

[Gary B.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

I know that the bumper bolts were either cadmium or zinc plated. My question is was the finish (plating) dull cadmium / dull zinc. Or was the finish (plating) bright cadmium / bright zinc when the bolts were new from the factory.

Michael,

As Ron noted about Zinc dulling with time, so does Cad. Based on that change I assume that a new, used bolt that is 45 years old will be duller now than it was when new 45 years ago.

Gary

[Michael M.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

Thanks Gary, your reply was the answer I was looking for. My "RSC" headmark bumper bolts are more bright / shiny then dull. How will they judge? If they will not judge well can I dull the finish down a bit?

[John D.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

Michael and others. Since I am constantly getting parts cadmium plating and have been around this game for over 50 years let me tell you what I have witnessed.
Early morning when the plater jazzes up his chemicals the plating comes out bright and shiny. Later on in the day the plating comes out duller.
Hard to get two batches alike it seems. So I am going to recap by saying that the hardware could be bright cadmium or dull or somewhere in between.
Wish it was otherwise but it just isn't possible.
Meanwhile as mentioned the bright plating installed on the car will dull down in no time at all.
Exception to the rule is this. Say you have a part done by Industrial Nickel. It won't get dull in 100 years it seems.
Story: I love old Model A Fords just as well as Corvettes. Probably 30 years ago I messed up and had a grease gun for a Model A Ford plated using Industrial nickel. Till this day the d thing is still very shiny. I have even left it outside all winter long in the snow and still it never dulled down. True Story. JD

[Gary B.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

Thanks Gary, your reply was the answer I was looking for. My "RSC" headmark bumper bolts are more bright / shiny then dull. How will they judge? If they will not judge well can I dull the finish down a bit?

Michael,

I have never seen a judge deduct for difference in the brightness or dullness of bumper bolts. And as John DeGregory mentions below, there probably was variation in the brightness even among new bolts from different batches or from different suppliers.

Gary

[Rich P.]

Re: C 2 bumper bolt finish

John D is right on. dependns on the platter and the batch of chemicals. If you want to dull down the look mix up a weak solution of water an muriatic acid and drop the bolts in for a few seconds to a minuet. then neutralize it with clean water. Should soften the look.

Rich