Factory "correct" steering gear box finish

[mrbill426]

Okay can someone in the know please straighten me out here?  I been told from some sources that our E body (power) steering boxes came from the factory painted back, and from other sources that they were left (bare) cast iron.  What is correct? 

Thanks!

 

[anlauto]

That is a never ending debate, good luck getting to the bottom of this....I'll be watching

[72rtchallenger]

I am the 2nd owner of my e body and it was 10 years old at the time I acquired the car , and the power steering box was not black and didn't show any signs of being black but was just bare cast iron in appearance ,so I would say no on the black , but that's just my    , who knows maybe some did get painted but I have had mine off and no signs of any paint . Could it have worn off ? maybe ,  but unlikely as it was pretty clean

[Bullitt-]

   owned my '73 since '75 n there was no sign of paint. Mine never completely rusted so there may have been something on it but not paint. 

[Topcat]

I don't recall paint on them either. I would've noticed it since I knew my car when it was 1 year old.

Yet I believe Barry on Moparts claimed that they were painted black and the paint was cheap and came off quick.

[mrbill426]

Three for three on bare metal so far, seems to be a lean in that direction. 

[crash340]

My 73 Cuda was bare cast iron, when I fitted the Stage 2 box I painted it with 'cast iron' so it looks like new but wont rust

[dutch]

no paint on my 70

[HP_Cuda]

No paint on mine and I cleared it when it came back from being rebuilt so it wouldn't rust.

[mrbill426]

Looks like it is unanimous for a bare  iron gear box, so out comes the paint stripper to remove that nasty looking black paint job the re-builder put on mine.  Is there a good clear paint that does not leave a shine, and lasts without rust forming under it?  I have never had much luck with clears over bare metal 

Thanks folks!   

 

[jordan]

I kept mine bare.  I used RPM rust preventive magic to cover all of my bare metal pieces.  Going on a couple of years with no rust yet.  They say you can touch up an area if rust starts to show up.   [/url]http://www.ecsautomotive.com/rpm.php?rpmlnk=main[/url]

[crash340]

I just used cast iron heat proof paint, I took photos before and after and you can barely tell the difference but now it's protected, I masked the alloy input shaft nut thing to give me a different colour shade, I'm very happy with it looking original