Ken, The screws we are discussing are the ones that mount the fender/inner brace to the cowl. They have 9/16" hex heads with large captured washers. I believe the washers are approximately 1.5" diameter. 5 Screws in all: 1. Goes from the fender brace into the A-pillar where it meets the cowl 2. Goes from the fender brace into cowl, points down, near the cowl seal 3. Near the blower housing, goes from fender brace and points to firewall 4 and 5. Mount the fender to the lower cowl, point up and are behind the rocker panel cover.
OK, George, it'll take me a day or two to dig them out, but I can assure you they are the originals in original condition as put in at the Flint plant in '71. I wonder if plant and year makes a difference as it does in many cases?
I have no idea Ken. When I was stripping cars here in FL all of them had painted fender screws. I don't know which plant was supplying Skylarks to FL but many of them still had the local Buick dealership nameplates on the trunk so I know they were original, local cars and not repainted. Most of the ones sold here and ones that wound up in the local salvage yards were "harvest gold" and "lima bean green" Those must have been the most popular colors back then.
Guys, I did a quick look through some pictures and came up with this. This is a picture that was taken by me, of Marc Bernhardt's 1971 Lime Mist GSX. As many will attest this is a beautiful car. The passenger front fender was replaced, (one of the fan blades went through it) but other then that every body panel was date coded correct for the car, including the core support, radiator cover etc. The car was also still wearing the original paint and GSX stripes. The stripes also had all the factory imperfections on the quarters, doors, and rear spoiler. This picture is of the original driverside fender and clearly shows that the upper fender-a piller bolt was not body colored. Even though the picture is dark you can see this, and to answer everyone's next question the bolt still had bits of the black phosphate coating on it. Duane
I just went and checked my car which has never been apart or painted and the bolts are black oxide. It is a Oct. 69 build. I can post the tag info tomorrow if you need it. Jim
Jim, That would be nice, if you would post the tag info on your car. The plant information is of particular interest here. Thanks!!
I was certain that all of the a-body cars had the body sprayed seperate from the fenders and hood and were mated together after the body was installed on the chassis. That's why the bolts are black oxide with no paint on them.
Thanks Jim! So that makes 2 cars of 2 different years (70 & 71) built in Flint with black oxide. Anybody else???
Here are two factory photos (Flint I believe) that show the painted body without the fenders. The color photo is from '67/'68 and the B/W is '72.
Guys, For the record Marc Bernhardt's 1971 Lime Mist GSX was of course also built in Flint and had a 04B body build date. Duane
My 70 GSX (original paint) has black oxide bolts - it's an April built Flint car. My 72 GS (one repaint, but not inside the fenders or the door jambs) has black oxide bolts - it's a June built Flint car. My brother has a 70 GS (original paint) early built Kansas City car, also with black oxide bolts. I hope this helps. Great info! :TU:
I am trying to find a photo but I do remember that those bolts were not body color on my first '68 GS400 that I replaced the fenders on back in '86. This was a one owner car with factory paint (Scarlet Red). Flint built 02C date. It would be odd that they would bother to spray those bolts body color don't you think? o No:
Guys, So now we have examples of non-painted bolts for 70-72 Flint cars. Does anyone have anything for earlier Flint cars, or examples from other assembly plants? Duane
Duane, I edited my post above, but wanted to let you my brother's Kansas City car also came with black oxide bolts.
James, I figured as much, and thanks for checking. I can check about a 72 Fremont GS when my friend gets back from vacation. Duane
I don't know if anybody is interested, but years ago I talked to a guy who worked on the assembly line in Kansas City on Chevelles in the late 60's to early 70's. He's the one that was telling me how the front ends (fenders & hood) were painted in a separate area from the body and then mated after the body was on the chassis. I have yet to see a 68-72 A-body car with those bolts painted.
i always thought they were painted too and I could swear mine were painted body color when I bought the car. It's looking like I've been wrong all this time ou: edit: i just checked the only engine pic I have from before the resto. It was taken in 1990. I'm not 100% but it looks like a black fender bolt. Good thing I didn't swear on it.
