First I'll say this is a 340 T/A engine, should that make any difference.

So what what I've read on here, it appears the lower power steering bracket bolts were painted with the engine, then if the car were to receive power steering they would remove the hardware and discard it, replacing it with fresh hardware.

So correct bolt detailing would be to have hardware removed by the assembly line for optional features (power steering), finished in phosphate only (NO PAINT).

Is my understanding correct?
Does anyone have supporting survivor photo's to support or disprove this?

I'm struggling to think the 'save a penny' auto industry would toss a good piece of hardware.

Thanks for the help.

Bump. I'd really like to know the answer to this question also if anyone knows.

I miss the days when those with the knowledge were plentiful and willing to share, particularly on the "Restoration & A12" site.

I'm unsure if those with a desire for accuracy and an eye for fine detail simply no longer exist or have these people past, or aging out of the hobby.

It appears the site has been reduced to pointing people in the direction of a good supplier of (name the part/service)

I'll remain hopeful that someone who is informed can help with accurate information on the subject, but lose hope with each passing day that yields no response.

You are correct. They made and painted 4 speed motors and automatic motors. If a PS pump was needed to be installed they would remove the bolts, toss them and install a bracket with new hardware. So the mounting bolts would be plated only.

Original March 1970 built 318 Hamtramck car with manual steering - bolts painted with engine.

Original April 1970 built 340-6 AAR Cuda, Hamtramck car with fast ratio power steering - bolts not painted with engine.

Barry - really appreciate you jumping in on this topic.

While I can't see the two lower bracket bolts I'll guess these are bare as well, or you would have mentioned.

Thanks for the help/confirmation, though it still baffles me why they would toss good hardware on this side but keep it on the alternator brackets. The only possibility I could think of is if they compensated bolt length for 'with or without' brackets, where the alternators are installed on all engines.

Not to hijack this thread, but, Barry, would that rule also apply to 440's in 70? So do 440's that received power steering also have the engine mounting hardware unpainted?

Two reasons: Length and potential bad threads on the old bolt. In electronics assy we toss any screw that we remove.

Big blocks don't use a rear support bracket

Chris,

Correct, but they do have two bolts holding the power steering pump assembly to the water pump housing. The upper bolt is not installed in the engine during engine assembly because it is only used if power steering is present. The lower bolt is used to hold the water pump housing to the engine, so it is present when the engine is painted. So, my question is about that lower bolt. Is it removed and replaced with a new, unpainted bolt?

1970 383 - black bolt.

Rob,

I believe it is so both bolts are plated, no paint.

Thanks Chris and Barry. I want to be sure I assemble it correctly when I add it in the future.