Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

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Eric Lenius
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Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

#1 Post by Eric Lenius »

Looking at the seat recliner cross shafts for our 1960 T-5, it looks to me as if they are maybe flash chromed. Definitely not triple plated (copper, Nickel, chrome) and the color does not have the golden hue I would expect for nickel. Anyone have an idea of how these were done originally? I would not think Cad since they do not develop the powdery oxidation. Inquiring minds......

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

Eric, I doubt Porsche cad-plated parts. Most likely zinc or galvanized.

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Martin Benade
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Re: Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

#3 Post by Martin Benade »

I believe my 62 had zinc
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Eric Lenius
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Re: Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

#4 Post by Eric Lenius »

Any idea which direction the holes in the shafts are supposed to face?

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

#5 Post by Paul Hatfield »

I just restored my seats, including chrome plating the hinges. My car is a C, so perhaps different than yours. However, trying to stay with original appearance, I did not plate the cross-bar, I just carefully cleaned it as I did not want to remove any plating that was there. It looks like zinc to me, but that is just from looking at the part before and after cleaning. Definitely not chrome.
Couple of photos attached. Notice in the second photo that the bar looks shinny, just a different angle for the photo and it reflects the light more.

Paul
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Paul Hatfield
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James Davies
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Re: Seat Recliner Cross Shaft Plating Details

#6 Post by James Davies »

Here’s some very well-preserved ones from 1953. Definitely a plating. Could be the same as the seat rails, ie electroless nickel.
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