Topic: Finish on Suspension Nuts

[Sunlitgold68]

Trying to figure out the finish on some suspension nuts.

The nuts that secure the ball joints to the spindles.

The strut rod nuts that look like a crown (last nut that goes on after the red dyed nut).

 

[Armond]

The crown nuts on the strut rods are Zinc and the crown nuts for the ball joints I have always found Zinc Dichromate.

[Bob Gaines]

I have found examples that lead me to believe that the ball joint  nuts are silver on 65-68 and not 100% sure but maybe late 68 my have been when they changed over to gold Zinc Dichromate like all 69/70's . Strangely the engineering drawings  indicate S100 but I have never seen the safety red. Bob

[CharlesTurner]

I've only observed zinc dichromate on the large ball joint nuts, a very light plating that fades easily.  Of course, I'm sure there are exceptions to this.  I would most likely accept either finish on a concours car.

[Bossbill]

Jeff moved this topic to 68 so I'll move my question to 67 upper and lower arm rebuilding

[J_Speegle]

Revisiting and relocating this thread to the section it was originally posted for (68) thought I would add

Of course determining what was originally dichromated is difficult after all these years as the dye did not hold up well over the years.

Would also be interested in seeing red dyed from strut rod nuts on an unrestored car.  Haven't been able to find any to this point. Any plant


A collection of castle nuts from 68 San Jose examples on cars that were stored well for discussion and comparison

[preaction]

The last of Jeff's pics with the ball joint/spindle castle nut on my monitor looks to be a light zinc dichromate.

[jwc66k]

Isn't this in the time period where Ford had nuts "dyed" red to signify special torque requirements?
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Isn't this in the time period where Ford had nuts "dyed" red to signify special torque requirements?
Jim

They had been doing that in a limited way for a number of years but 68 the program was expanded. Posted the brochure that was sent to the workers in another thread. Don't recall if it was a Job #1 thing or something planned for later in the production year and which bolts, nuts and screws depended on the year of production going forward while the other question was this something that was practiced 100% in the real world like Ford planned on paper.  The car/example I posted has some dyed and others (exact same part) not dyed and it is one of the better preserved cars left so not allot of reasons IMHO that one side would have it and the other not given the treatment and storage of the car.

In many years the application of the red dye was all over the car not just suspension items

The red dye discussion might be better discussed further in the other thread

[jwc66k]

In many years the application of the red dye was all over the car not just suspension items
The red dye discussion might be better discussed further in the other thread

I believe Bob Gaines was involved with the red dye on nuts posts, so it may be already posted.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Drug out the brochure published Aug 9 1967 that describes the expanded application and related program. According to the text this was tied to Public Law 89-563 passed Sept 9 1966. The brochure is a Twin Cities version of the Ford News  but surely it reflects what was going on across all of the auto plants