Correct color bolts for Steering Box

[Tinkerr]

What is the correct color/coating for the the bolts that hold the aluminium cover with the adjustment nut? I know the cover is supposed to be natural. I'm thinking the bolts were not. Thanks Paul

[Edgemontvillage]

Bolts attaching the top cover were manganese (dark) phosphated for both power and manual boxes.

[Spooky]

here is an untouched box


Scott

[Tinkerr]

I see the box in the picture is a 69. I have a power and manual box, both dated March of 68. Is it possible there was a change is the style bolts used? Both of my boxes have a standard type bolt with lock washers. Both have been rebuilt and they used the bolts that were in the unit when I sent it to them. Thanks Paul

[SMS]

Here is my 68 PS box.

[Tinkerr]

Those are the type bolts and washers both my boxes have. Your bolts look like black phosphate. I think when they rebuilt my boxes they wire wheeled the bolts, they look like bare steel with clear coat. Thank Paul

[Mike S]

  They are very easy to replate. Most gun shops sell Zinc Phosphate under the name of Parkerizing. Get a stainless steel pot and some filtered water. I used deionized water (many pet shops will sell you deionized (DI) or reverse osmosis (R/O) water if you don't have the means. Or, bottled water works well too if you're in a pinch. Mix a batch per instructions (I used 1 oz of Parkerizing per 36oz of water), soak some steel wool or iron filings in a Mr. Coffee filter in the solution for a few hours to condition the mixture (you only need to do this once) and you're ready to plate. Do a good job cleaning the parts prior to putting into the solution.
Keep the temp between 160-190 degrees F.

Mike

[Tinkerr]

I'll give it a try. Thanks Mike

[Petes L48]

I pulled out two gearboxes, dated 312 7 and 353 7 so both off a 68 but a few months before your box.  Both has the same cover bolts, with three spokes radiating out from near the center and the letters R S C in between the spokes.  They were dark phosphate finish and had a separate lock washer.  Picture is of the 312 but both had identical bolts.  The covers did not have the Saginaw S as seen in the 69 cover above, and look the same as the picture in reply #4 above.  Both caps also had the 5689023 number, which I assume is a part #.





 

 

[Edgemontvillage]

I see the box in the picture is a 69. I have a power and manual box, both dated March of 68. Is it possible there was a change is the style bolts used? Both of my boxes have a standard type bolt with lock washers. Both have been rebuilt and they used the bolts that were in the unit when I sent it to them. Thanks Paul

Admittedly a late entrant in this discussion however I am working on rebuilding a couple of power steering boxes and am (also) curious when Saginaw made changes regarding use of cover bolts and inspection marks:

1. 008 of 1969 and 354 of 1968 dated power steering boxes I have originally came with standard 9/16 head, 3/8 thread bolts and lock washers. In Post #2 a 157 of 1969 box shows use of shouldered bolts and another Saginaw power steering box I observed dated 183 of 1969 (see photo courtesy of HawkX66, Dave) uses the same shouldered cover bolts. When did Saginaw began using the later shouldered cover bolts - seemingly sometime between January (day 008) and July (day 183) of 1969?
2. Saginaw also used a yellow inspection decal on box covers then changed to a paint daub (in 1970)? 
 
July of 1969 (183) dated Saginaw Power Steering Box Cover with Shouldered Bolts
  by

Date Unknown Box from a 1969 Camaro with Yellow Decal (courtesy of HawkX66, Dave)
by

Original 1970 Z/28 Saginaw Power Steering Box dated 110 1970 with (white) paint daub Inspection Mark



 

[Edgemontvillage]

Hmm, no posts. Would be helpful to hear from Members who have a Saginaw power steering box dated between January and July 1969 to narrow the dates when Saginaw transitioned to shouldered cover bolts.

[x77-69z28]

I’ll get under the hood tomorrow. My box is dated around 100 9.
Buddy

[69Z28-RS]

Does it really matter if it's a PS box or manual?   The manual steering Saginaw box in my 'late 69 Z28 was assembled on day 153 of '69 and has shoulder bolts.

[Edgemontvillage]

Gary thanks for contributing, my focus was on the Saginaw PS box however it’s possible the changeover to shouldered bolts occurred at the same time for manual boxes. We’ll see what the posts reveal.

[Danzo]

05A 69 Z power steering- shouldered bolts