Topic: C6 Inspection Plate Finish?

[sah62]

I have a used 1969 C6 inspection plate/cover that's currently painted black. Was this part originally painted or unpainted? Unpainted, natural steel would make more sense to me even if that means it's more prone to rust.

[J_Speegle]

Checked and I've not no good pictures of the item but thought they were semi-gloss black like the small block/C4 ones

Have a couple of restored car pictures with them black. Will be interesting to see what other's experiences are

[TLea]

I vote for natural bare steel

[Bosskraft]

I've had a bare one before, too.

[J_Speegle]

Found two bare ones in one of my boxes

[sah62]

Sounds like consensus - thanks, everybody!

[specialed]

scott I have a nos service c6 plate & its black & being replacement part (not rusting on dealer shelf) that is why it got painted. I have seen Dearborn cars with the plate bare steel like the 4-speed plates. But I see a lot of them at swap meets black &  wonder if some other assembly plant painted them or seller just painted them?

[krelboyne]

They can be found painted black in the junkyards.
I have pulled many black painted ones from 'other Fords'. 

Casting number of C6AP-7986-A stamped on them.

In the wilds, the FE manual transmission inspection covers, are nearly all painted Ford engine blue. AFAIK they were natural on Mustangs?