CODY! (and everybody else) Your page on re-building the column has been very helpful so far! I cross-referenced the old Ditzler "Jewel Black" suede finish with Dupont, and this is the new code we got - 4428 (for anybody needing it for future steering column restos.
http://www.lamopar.com/How%20To%27s/Steering%20Column/finishes_colors.htmBlasted everything on the column for my 70 AAR, and the paint came out nice, there was no flattening concentrate added like they did back then, but it came out with a suede type finish....most columns I see are pretty flat looking...do you think they are mostly oxidized over the years, and faded by the sun? I'm only 34 years old, so I cant tell you exactly how they used to look...but all three of my Cuda's have a flatter look, and feel like they are oxidized to some extent...when you do look in the seems of my 71 column, it looks like a finish similar to what I just achieved on these parts... I will keep you updated with the progress of my column...