1977 windshield washer reservoir and cruise control brackets

[Jim A.]

Can anyone advise me the finish for the windshield washer reservoir bracket?

Located nearby is the cruise control transducer (regulator) mounting and servo brackets which appear to be unpainted. Are these zinc plated?

I cannot find these addressed in the judging guide.

The rivet heads were unpainted in the wheel well so I assume (hate the use that word), they were installed after blackout paint. Is this correct?

[Tom R.]

Re: 1977 windshield washer reservoir and cruise control brackets

Let's see if I can take a stab at this! This is taken from the 3rd edition, headed to the printer.

Can anyone advise me the finish for the windshield washer reservoir bracket?

The filler-tube support bracket is riveted to the hood ledge; both pop rivets and solid rivets are used. A zinc-plated indented hex-head screw with an integral washer holds the fill tube to the bracket. The bracket, installed before body paint, typically shows body-color overspray.

Located nearby is the cruise control transducer (regulator) mounting and servo brackets which appear to be unpainted. Are these zinc plated?

Servo-Vacuum Unit
The servo-vacuum unit is a double pie-pan attached to a bracket on the left inner fender with two rivets. A C-shaped bracket, facing the front of the vehicle, is fastened to the servo-vacuum with a nut on the vacuum port. This unit is below the alternator and behind the power-steering pump. You can see, this taken from the 3rd edition and that this is not clarified. Perhaps others can add but they could be black phosphate and over time lose that phosphate distinguishing characteristic, show a surface rust.

I cannot find these addressed in the judging guide.

You won't! That 2nd edition team failed to deep dive into 1977 differences and therefore they were omitted.

The rivet heads were unpainted in the wheel well so I assume (hate the use that word), they were installed after blackout paint. Is this correct?

I believe that's a safe assumption.

[Jim A.]

Re: 1977 windshield washer reservoir and cruise control brackets

Tom, You answer a lot of posts on here. Thank you.
I should have been more clear. The windshield washer reservoir has 2 mounts, one for the jar and one for the filler neck.
The jar mount bracket is solid riveted to the left front inner fender wheel well and the filler neck extension bracket mount is solid riveted to the upper left front fender in front of the hood bumper. I believe the jar bracket to be flat black. My filler extension is unpainted and had body over spray on it.
20211006_155732.jpg Does that third edition say anything about the finish of the double pie pan shaped, servo vacuum unit bracket's finish.

Attached is a picture of mine with rust removed and polished with walnut shells. I just don't see any evidence of black phosphate. Maybe yellow chromate, zinc plated. I am tempted to reinstall it as is with corrosion inhibitor. What do you 20211009_121129.jpgthink?

[Tom R.]

Re: 1977 windshield washer reservoir and cruise control brackets

Tom, You answer a lot of posts on here. Thank you.
I should have been more clear. The windshield washer reservoir has 2 mounts, one for the jar and one for the filler neck.
The jar mount bracket is solid riveted to the left front inner fender wheel well and the filler neck extension bracket mount is solid riveted to the upper left front fender in front of the hood bumper. I believe the jar bracket to be flat black. My filler extension is unpainted and had body over spray on it.

Your 77 uses the same wiper fluid reservoir as the 78 (neck at least). The neck bracket, from my view appears to be a black phosphate, perhaps dark gray and as you say with body paint. This is a Bowtie car so I'm pretty confidant it is as it was when it left the factory. My guess is both brackets were installed before body paint and what remains is either body paint or blackout. Most likely, the lower bracket is blackout and the way I would finish it...flat black!

Does that third edition say anything about the finish of the double pie pan shaped, servo vacuum unit bracket's finish.

No it doesn't but if I look at my 78 K30 bracket, mounted differently than your 77, its a dark gray phosphate.

Attached is a picture of mine with rust removed and polished with walnut shells. I just don't see any evidence of black phosphate. Maybe yellow chromate, zinc plated. I am tempted to reinstall it as is with corrosion inhibitor. What do you think?

I'm not seeing yellow chromate. My bracket is rusted, a light right probably it was at one point phosphate...but I'm guessing. My rationale is that more than likely the same vendor made these brackets and finished them in the same way. Remember now, this was mass production and they are pressing thousands of parts and finishing in batches with like finishes.