Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
Post Reply
Message
Author
Jim Stephenson
356 Fan
Posts: 220
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:42 pm

Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#1 Post by Jim Stephenson »

Just curious as to what's the original finish as to the cover clip clamps on the round Knecht air cleaner covers. I see a number of them silver Cad or Zinc plated, but I tend to see more of them just painted Black as the air cleaners themselves are.

I'm specifically talking about the small wire cover clamps and not the large round clamps that hold the air cleaner to the carburetor.

I'm restoring some three clip 59 S Knecht air filters and just wanted to reach out to the group.

Thanks

Steven Clarke
356 Fan
Posts: 195
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 11:10 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#2 Post by Steven Clarke »

Jim:
This picture is from the factory in about 1962 or early 1963. I found it on the web years ago, wish I knew who should get the credit for it.
Steve
356-engines-awaiting-installation (62-63).jpg
 

John Wurner
356 Fan
Posts: 1090
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:18 pm
Location: Roseburg, OR

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#3 Post by John Wurner »

Jim
I have an original set and the clips are Zink plated.

User avatar
Jon Schmid
356 Fan
Posts: 1797
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:32 pm
Location: La Mirada, CA

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#4 Post by Jon Schmid »

The ones on my 1964 coupe appear to have a zinc finish but after almost 60 years, it's kinda hard to tell. I do know that they are not colored black.

Brad Ripley
356 Fan
Posts: 4205
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:28 pm

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#5 Post by Brad Ripley »

Yellow zinc.

Jim Morris
356 Fan
Posts: 93
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2019 9:11 pm
Location: San Diego

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#6 Post by Jim Morris »

Keeping in mind that pieces originally yellow zinc (#2 gold iridescent), will, over time lose the yellow chromate and become "silver" as if they were originally plated #1 zinc. This is a common error in replating brake calipers. Customers specify #1 zinc because that is what their aged calipers look like they were originally plated. Split your "silver" calipers and you will probably see gold iridescent on the surfaces that were mated. My understanding is that ATE plated all Porche calipers #2 from the beginning. Certainly this was the case with the 900 series production cars.

User avatar
Ron LaDow
356 Fan
Posts: 8092
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
Location: San Francisco

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#7 Post by Ron LaDow »

Brad, gonna disagree. AFAIK, the only 356 parts which got chromate were the calipers on the Cs. First example bought in '73.
EASY Jim, earn your keep!
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz

Brad Ripley
356 Fan
Posts: 4205
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:28 pm

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#8 Post by Brad Ripley »

To prove silver or yellow on the air cleaner clamps, can anybody enlarge the photo enough to tell ?

I do not have an original of a factory photo to tell other than what Steven has shown here.

User avatar
Mike Wilson
Classifieds Monitor
Posts: 11490
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
Location: SW Los Angeles

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#9 Post by Mike Wilson »

They are definitely not yellow.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

User avatar
Jon Schmid
356 Fan
Posts: 1797
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:32 pm
Location: La Mirada, CA

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#10 Post by Jon Schmid »

My experience in the military/aerospace industry with yellow chromate is that it is not a very durable finish at all--hot soapy water will remove it. Fortunately that is not something to which our engines will likely be exposed--at least not my engine. ;)

User avatar
Ron LaDow
356 Fan
Posts: 8092
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
Location: San Francisco

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#11 Post by Ron LaDow »

OK, one of you bay area guys who goes to the Saturday morning greasers, tell Jim it's time to pony up! We all paid the (admittedly more than fair) bills, but now you get to step up to the plate (at Oracle Stadium).
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz

Dick Weiss
356 Fan
Posts: 4181
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 am

Re: Knecht/Zenith Air cleaner cover clamps ?

#12 Post by Dick Weiss »

No yellow Zinc on any 356s and early 912s. Of course, the yellow is easily removed w/a fine wire wheel and
and refinished w/a Dove Gray or a light silver and clear-coat.

Post Reply