1969 Camaro Rear Bumper Guard Hardware

[Edgemontvillage]

I'm trying to confirm the finish / plating used on the 1969 Camaro (full) rear bumper guard upper and lower hardware. The upper hardware consists of a single bolt and hook. From the photo below (Skip's 1969 Norwood 9D 22,000 mile Z/28 survivor), it's not clear if the hook (semi-circle N) was either silver cadmium plated or natural steel? The attaching bolt and lock washer (RSC head marking) appears to have the same patina so it was likely the same finish /natural ? The lower bolt and captured washer appears to be manganese (dark) phosphated ? 
Upper (Rear) Bumper Guard Hardware

Lower Bumper Guard Hardware

[m22mike]

Lloyd
  On Gradys Brown COPO we had at MCACN, 23k mile 09D X11 the lower bolts looked to be bright plated based on some surviving plating under the washers. So based on that I restored them clear cad. Note 2 different vendor's.
 Can't help on the top hardware.

Mike

[Edgemontvillage]

Thanks Mike, I must say the silver/clear cad/zinc plated bolt looks better against the chrome bumper guard.

[ZLP955]

Not to hijack, but has anyone else seen the lower mounting bracket on the bumper guard apparently painted black? If so, what about the mounting hardware?

[KevinW]

Yes, I have seen the blackout too. Maybe gm decided the extra bright bolt was more expensive than the regular dark bolt and started doing the blackout to hide it?

[X33RS]

Not to hijack, but has anyone else seen the lower mounting bracket on the bumper guard apparently painted black? If so, what about the mounting hardware?

Yes, my Norwood 12D 69 Z is originally blacked out on the bottom extension pieces of the rear bumper guards, and the bolts are black phosphate.
   I can't comment with certainty on the top portion of the brackets but those hooks appear to me to be a brighter cadmium coating.

[ko-lek-tor]

Yes, I have seen the blackout too. Maybe gm decided the extra bright bolt was more expensive than the regular dark bolt and started doing the blackout to hide it?

I Doubt the cost rational. For one, many other fasteners were cad plated & for two, Grady's drool worthy Car is a 9D X code (late production) opposed to my car and X33s being Dec 68 cars. If cost was a reason, why would a later car have bright fasteners? An earlier post I made regarding the "blackout " paint on lower part of bracket: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=14603.msg129318#msg129318

[cook_dw]

It could be as simple as the vendor spec changed from requiring the lower piece to be painted by GM and later as a cost savings removed that step or simply the vendor decided to stop that part of the process to reduce time..  I would bet it was the latter..  But that is simply a guess.

[68camaroz28]

I studied what they were while taking pictures and confident the upper bolt and hook type are clear zinc which makes sense with the chrome bumper and guard (can see from above) and zero traces of rust. Bottom bolt is phosphate or manganese.

[Edgemontvillage]

I studied what they were while taking pictures and confident the upper bolt and hook type are clear zinc which makes sense with the chrome bumper and guard (can see from above) and zero traces of rust. Bottom bolt is phosphate or manganese.

Makes sense Chick, I was leaning toward silver cad vs silver zinc plating for the top hardware based on the patina shown on Skip's. 

[jacmac]

I chromed my bolts I thought it just looked better

[jacmac]

  & the brackets too!!

[Edgemontvillage]

A member of the Yenko.net forum recently posted a listing for a NOS rear bumper guard that also included the bumper hook and upper bolt & washer which I haven't seen included with other NOS bumper guards offer for sale. The (common) manufacturer's semi-circle N mark is shown and the finish on the hook and bolt appear to be silver cadmium.