Steering Coupler finish

[anlauto]

From what I understand they can be powder coated clear, I've never tried it and I don't know if the longevity has been proven under normal driving conditions ....Then there is ECS's RPM treatment which people have had success with.   I used clear spray paint as a top coat to many finishes but never had much luck on bare steel.

[FE5CUDA]

Typically, steering shafts and couplers were painted black, todays semi-gloss.  From all my research, studying survivor type original cars, the norm was the shaft & coupler were painted.  Typically, most of the paint was gone leaving those that haven't the extensive experience studying these aspects to come to the conclusion they were bare metal.  I do not base these comments on "opinions", it comes from years of study and documenting reality.

[76orangewagon]

From what I understand they can be powder coated clear, I've never tried it and I don't know if the longevity has been proven under normal driving conditions ....Then there is ECS's RPM treatment which people have had success with.   I used clear spray paint as a top coat to many finishes but never had much luck on bare steel.

The Longevity of Powder coating regardless if its a clear or any colored finish has been proven to be a far superior finish than any "Rattle can" paint...WOW seriously.

[Burdar]

The Longevity of Powder coating regardless if its a clear or any colored finish has been proven to be a far superior finish than any "Rattle can" paint...WOW seriously. 

Bare metal will rust under a clear coat.  I've cleared parts and had the metal rust underneath when they were stored inside.  The paint I used was a spray paint though.  I have no idea if bare metal is going to rust under a clear powder coat.  Time will tell.  I recently had my 8-3/4 center section clear powder coated.

It's my opinion that the couplers were painted black.  Same kind of deal as the power steering boxes.  Lots of people still leave those bare because the cheap black paint wore off quickly.  After soaking my original coupler in EvapoRust, there was remnants of black paint...just like my power steering box.

[tparker]

@FE5CUDA  I'm curious about the documentation and what color they were? Black?. Mine was bare metal. I wonder why the paint fell off there but not in other places. Shoddy paint prep?

I understand your sentiments about opinions, but honestly someone can say they are an expert and that actually doesn't mean much to me since I have no idea. I have only met one person from the list and I have to have some level of trust with members. When someone states something is an opinion, then that helps me out but with a caveat that it could be incorrect. Without peoples opinions, my build would have been much more difficult. And that would also mean that I would not be able to provide any help myself to others because I am no expert and everything I have done was based on my car and hence an opinion. I doubt there are as many experts, whatever that actually means, on this list as there are people that need help. I have seen experts be wrong on many occasions and one such expert once told me dodges didn't have throttle cables but linkages. Wow. OK. He obviously wasn't an expert but he thought he was. LOL Telling me how much experience he had to boot. So, myself I am not to worried about peoples opinions. I appreciate when they caveat their statement.

In any case, these cars are 50 years old like me. I certainly don't have all my original parts and some color has been lost along the way along with a few dents and dings. LOL. Worrying about the who's opinion is correct on a trivial mater of a coupler color makes no sense to me. I understand some enjoy the perfect restoration process but it isn't for me. Once the original has been tampered with, it is no longer original.

[Burdar]

I wonder why the paint fell off there but not in other places. Shoddy paint prep?

My opinion...no or very little prep and the fact that the exhaust manifolds are right next to the coupler.  The paint gets cooked off of them every time the car is driven.  Then you have oil leaks and ps fluid leaks that loosen the paint.  When the coupler is cleaned you rub some paint off when you think you're only removing the grime. 

[76orangewagon]

The Longevity of Powder coating regardless if its a clear or any colored finish has been proven to be a far superior finish than any "Rattle can" paint...WOW seriously. 

Bare metal will rust under a clear coat.  I've cleared parts and had the metal rust underneath when they were stored inside.  The paint I used was a spray paint though.  I have no idea if bare metal is going to rust under a clear powder coat.  Time will tell.  I recently had my 8-3/4 center section clear powder coated.

My bare parts have been powder coated since 2018 and look as good today as they did back then. All my parts were bead blasted and immediately coated with Powder sealing the clean non oxidized metal from moisture and oxygen which are the two things that cause metal to rust so I feel confident it will stand the test of time and be superior to paint by being resistant to chipping and still look good after coming in contact with chemicals.   

[anlauto]

Bare metal will rust under a clear coat.  I've cleared parts and had the metal rust underneath when they were stored inside.  The paint I used was a spray paint though.  I have no idea if bare metal is going to rust under a clear powder coat.  Time will tell.  I recently had my 8-3/4 center section clear powder coated.

This is exactly my experience as well, as I've said, I've never used clear powder coat, so I guess only time will tell if it works well for others. Sounds like Ross is having great results with his, which is reassuring 

Whether the coupler and shaft were originally natural or black has been a debate among restorers as long as people have been restoring our beloved Mopars, you should restore your car in the direction your research takes you 

[FE5CUDA]

@FE5CUDA  I'm curious about the documentation and what color they were? Black?. Mine was bare metal. I wonder why the paint fell off there but not in other places. Shoddy paint prep?

I understand your sentiments about opinions, but honestly someone can say they are an expert and that actually doesn't mean much to me since I have no idea. I have only met one person from the list and I have to have some level of trust with members. When someone states something is an opinion, then that helps me out but with a caveat that it could be incorrect. Without peoples opinions, my build would have been much more difficult. And that would also mean that I would not be able to provide any help myself to others because I am no expert and everything I have done was based on my car and hence an opinion. I doubt there are as many experts, whatever that actually means, on this list as there are people that need help. I have seen experts be wrong on many occasions and one such expert once told me dodges didn't have throttle cables but linkages. Wow. OK. He obviously wasn't an expert but he thought he was. LOL Telling me how much experience he had to boot. So, myself I am not to worried about peoples opinions. I appreciate when they caveat their statement.

In any case, these cars are 50 years old like me. I certainly don't have all my original parts and some color has been lost along the way along with a few dents and dings. LOL. Worrying about the who's opinion is correct on a trivial mater of a coupler color makes no sense to me. I understand some enjoy the perfect restoration process but it isn't for me. Once the original has been tampered with, it is no longer original.

If you re-read my post, nowhere did it say "never" or "expert".  In addition, the words "typical" and "norm" certainly doesn't imply "never".  Unlike some others on here that like to share "opinions" on every topic only to be found incorrect on many, I don't and will not post unless I'm fairly certain the information is correct.  I guess I'm just different, I don't operate on opinion & feelings, more like facts and reality.

With respect to powder coating, anyone stating the jury is out in respect to longevity tells me they either have an agenda to defend their processes or can't do the simplest search on the net to find that information.  Painting anything compared to powder coating, especially on an exterior part, isn't even a discussion not to mention rattle can paint which wouldn't be in that discussion at all.