Topic: 68 front side marker lights retainer

[preaction]

The stamped steel housing I removed from my car  used for retaining the front side marker lights for 68 seem to have been bare steel even though they were not very pitted and no evidence of paint were these bare steel at installation ?

[Bob Gaines]

The stamped steel housing I removed from my car  used for retaining the front side marker lights for 68 seem to have been bare steel even though they were not very pitted and no evidence of paint were these bare steel at installation ?

They were not typically bare steel . They were typically ether gold chromate (zinc dichromate gold) or black chromate (same as gold only mostly black high lights)

[preaction]

Thanks Bob

[dkknab]

So are these at NPD incorrect?

[Bob Gaines]

So are these at NPD incorrect?

Hard to tell for sure from the picture but if they are not gold then they are incorrect. There is a possibility that they are gold in the picture but the photo is inconclusive. Hopefully they are .The originals you find because of their location are most typically rust pitted.

[dkknab]

It is hard to tell if they are gold but at least in the description they say they are zinc dichromate plated.

[dkknab]

I asked NPD directly and they said in fact it's bare metal.  Here's the additional picture they sent me which clearly shows they are not gold.  You can even see the weld marks on 2 corners.

That being said does anyone have a source for the correctly finished ones?

[Bob Gaines]

I asked NPD directly and they said in fact it's bare metal.  Here's the additional picture they sent me which clearly shows they are not gold.  You can even see the weld marks on 2 corners.

That being said does anyone have a source for the correctly finished ones?

Another option is that there are various people and companies that will add the zinc dichromate to the part.

[Coralsnake]

I think those differ in appearance from the originals.

The originals have a round hole not an oval hole to mount the light

[dkknab]

Wow. Great job on the forward underneath section. I think you are correct on the holes. Mine all appear to be round not oval.

Also interesting is my front valence is attached to the fender via bolts and not like yours with studs/nuts.

Here's what I am working with. I'm getting there but the front section is tough with all the different parts and finishes.

[dkknab]

Are there any paint products  that replicate the gold dichromate finish in lieu of using gold chromate solution after zinc plating? I'm thinking about trying my hand at zinc plating as it seems it is a relatively easy process  using readily available ingredients.

[Bob Gaines]

Are there any paint products  that replicate the gold dichromate finish in lieu of using gold chromate solution after zinc plating? I'm thinking about trying my hand at zinc plating as it seems it is a relatively easy process  using readily available ingredients.

Eastwood has a system of paint products to give a faux zinc dichromate finish however it doesn't come close to the original finish IMO. I have used both over the years. There are some paint finish's that can come close to a specific original finish however this one as it pertains to zinc dichromate is not one of them IMO. Don't waste your time chasing this paint line of solving your problem . Put you time ,effort and money and doing it right the first me is my advice. 

[J_Speegle]

................... Put you time ,effort and money and doing it right the first me is my advice.

+1  A consistent mind set & recommendation here on this site 

[TLea]

Also interesting is my front valence is attached to the fender via bolts and not like yours with studs/nuts.

Pete?s pic is Shelby yours Mustang

[Coralsnake]

Yes, the photo I posted is a Shelby which is slightly different from the Mustang