Steering Linkage - Factory Markings or Not?

[Hans L]

After cleaning up the center link, found these markings - kinda ugly, but where these applied at the factory or did someone spill something sometime later?    '69  04B build, LA Car with 73K original miles.

[sixt9x33rs]

Similar to what I have seen on my cars. I would say that is an assembly line mark.

[JohnZ]

That's an inspection mark of some sort from Chevrolet-Buffalo, where the steering linkage was made; probably verifying that the part had been through the required heat-treat operation. Norwood and Van Nuys didn't add any paint marks to chassis components.

[Hans L]

Thanks JohnZ and Sixt9X33RS - I will probably just clean up a little more and re-install it vs spraying the link with cast blast and replicating the markings.

[sixt9x33rs]

I photographed my marks, soaked my link in evap o rust, repainted the marks and then Boe shielded the link. It came out real nice.