Topic: Sway bar finish

[CharlesTurner]

Semi-gloss black is typically the most accepted finish for front sway bars.  I cleaned the original from the '65 K convertible and I would have to say it was not painted, I found no trace of black.  Just a darkened natural finish under the dirt and grime.  I suspect it might have been oil quenched.

Just thought I would throw this out there and get some feedback from others.

[G Wood]

Charles - my 65 SJ C Code sway bar had no evidence of black paint, only a dark natural finish.

[CharlesTurner]

I'm thinking the front coil springs were the same...

[J_Speegle]

I'm thinking the front coil springs were the same...

Some have always stated that found the front springs were painted semi-gloss black (reason for current rules allowing that) but could never find someone that could provide some proof (like paint remover lifting paint from the surface of original springs) to back it up.

San Jose plant workers described that front springs as "phosphated" front springs likely in reference to their tone and tint  - rather than specific metal preparation.


Guess we're going to have to locate a bunch of front sway bars from different plants and years and give them the paint stripper test

[CharlesTurner]

I guess I'll have to stick my neck out there and be one of the first to have oil quenched front springs and sway bar!   

[J_Speegle]

Been doing the front springs as heat treated steel for ever    

The sway bar choice is on you 

[CharlesTurner]

Been doing the front springs as heat treated steel for ever    

The sway bar choice is on you 

What are you doing for the front coils?  Gun blue?

[gtamustang]

I wasn't a firm believer of the painted black front springs either. My San Jose convertible seemed to have a dark steel (like the steering parts) finish instead of black paint. However, the 67 Metuchen coupe that I am doing now seems to have black painted springs. After soaking the springs in evapo-rust, I carefully removed sections of the colored stripes (evapo-rust doesnt always remove paint) with a razor blade only to find black paint on the back side of the color stripe paint. Granted I didn't do a paint analysis to 100% verify it was paint, but I did attempt to scrape areas on the springs other than where the paint stripes were and did not get the same results as under the stripes. Also, there appeared to be thicker paint on the top of the spring...like it was dipped and then set on the flat top part to dry.

Oh, and the front sway bar on this car also was painted black. Just some Metuchen plant observations...

Regards,
Pete Morgan

[CharlesTurner]

Wouldn't surprise me if this is yet again a SJ/Dearborn/Metuchen difference.