original bolt finish

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
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Chris Cullin
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Re: original bolt finish

#46 Post by Chris Cullin »

Thanks Michael. I thought that would be the case as I use mouse hover and iPad needs touch. I will have a look, it would be a good improvement, especially when accessing from the workshop
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Alan Klingen 2
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Re: original bolt finish

#47 Post by Alan Klingen 2 »

The original was cadmium buthat's a toxix material what I used in lieu of was dull zinc. Alan The Stable.

Alan Klingen 2
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Re: original bolt finish

#48 Post by Alan Klingen 2 »

The original finish was done in Cadmium but that is a very toxic material much like lead what nI used as a simular look was dull zinc. Alan The Stable.

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Martin Benade
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Re: original bolt finish

#49 Post by Martin Benade »

I think the consensus is that zinc was original during 356 production. My engine hardware was done last year in cadmium, I’d say they look essentially the same.
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Greg Bryan
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Re: original bolt finish

#50 Post by Greg Bryan »

I do all my hardware in zinc - cadmium is a very powerful carcinogen and I don’t want to be near it
Wash your hand often if you handle hardware plated in cadmium
Also, Chris above said Porsche stopped using it in ‘61 or ‘62
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Alan Klingen 2
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Re: original bolt finish

#51 Post by Alan Klingen 2 »

The orignal finish was cadmium plating but seeing how toxic cadmiun is think lead what I used instead is dull Zinc it is very close in color to cadmium without the toxicity. Alan The Stable.

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Greg Bryan
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Re: original bolt finish

#52 Post by Greg Bryan »

Alan Klingen 2 wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2023 10:33 pm Zinc it is very gclose in color to cadmium without the toxicity. Alan The Stable.
My thoughts exactly - one can take originality a bridge too far
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David H Grant
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Re: original bolt finish

#53 Post by David H Grant »

In the late 1980s, I bought a new emissions spectrometer for the lab I ran. I collected a representative sampling of plated parts from 1960-62. I used a drop of acid on an inconspicuous spot. The instrument said that less than half were cadmium, the balance were zinc. I offered the list of parts and plating metal data to one of my Registry friends, but it was not a hot topic then. It never got published, and I could not find it a few years ago. Keeping things forever is of less value when you cannot find them. :-(
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Chris Cullin
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Re: original bolt finish

#54 Post by Chris Cullin »

Thanks David
I’ve been zinc plating most nuts and bolts myself - with fairly good results using a kit. I then use chromate for
Gold and another solution for black. Black is not great.
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Joris Koning
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Re: original bolt finish

#55 Post by Joris Koning »

David H Grant wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:47 am In the late 1980s, I bought a new emissions spectrometer for the lab I ran. I collected a representative sampling of plated parts from 1960-62. I used a drop of acid on an inconspicuous spot. The instrument said that less than half were cadmium, the balance were zinc. I offered the list of parts and plating metal data to one of my Registry friends, but it was not a hot topic then. It never got published, and I could not find it a few years ago. Keeping things forever is of less value when you cannot find them. :-(
David,

Did you test any of the “black” hardware as used on most suspension pieces etc. After 25 years in this hobby I still have not been able to figure out exactly which plating the factory used there? Was it zinc with a black chromate or some type of zinc phosphate?
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Dave Erickson
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Re: original bolt finish

#56 Post by Dave Erickson »

Parkerizing.

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Joris Koning
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Re: original bolt finish

#57 Post by Joris Koning »

Dave Erickson wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:10 pm Parkerizing.
Dave, I am not sure about that. In terms of salt spray that is an inferior finish versus zinc. Why use that on hardware most exposed to the elements
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Mike Wilson
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Re: original bolt finish

#58 Post by Mike Wilson »

From my notes and info I think I got from Roy Lock (r.i.p.)...part number designations...I think there was an article on deciphering part numbers. Additional info can be found by searching "part numbers" in the magazine documents section.
Index numbers
0 = steel
1 = brass or bronze
2 = copper
3 = light alloy
4 = plastic
5 = rubber
6 = vulcanized fiber/paper
7 = asbestos/metal web material

Protection
0 = none
1 = phosphate
2 = galvanized
3 = varnish
4 = inkron

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