As I continue cleaning and reassembling my car, I've come across a question. The black metal filler panel (in front of the dash pad at the base of the windshield) is retained by five sheet metal screws. The finish on the screw heads of mine have me wondering what is correct. Mine appear to be chrome screws that have had their heads painted black. The black paint is chipping off all of them, leaving a mottled finish.

I could see them being either black or chrome, and if they were all five the same and in good condition (with either finish) I would never have given it a second thought. But as they are, I need to figure out which finish is correct. Right now I'm leaning toward chrome, and that the original owner painted them black at some point in the past. Any confirmations for either finish from 240Z owners?

Arne, On my '73 they are satin black. To my knowledge they are

original (75,000 miles). FWIW I think that little shiny screws would be distracting when driving. Mike

Henry Ford knew this answer-any color you want as long as it's black

Will

I agree that black would be better, less distracting while driving. So if that's what others have as well, I'll repaint this set. Thanks!

I just had a look at mine from a 10/70 which are still tagged in a baggie. They are the standard flat black oxide finish. I tried to remove some of the finish to reveal what you describe, but couldn't.

And mine are black as well Arne, they've never been removed.

Mine ('73) are black as well. If I remember correctly, they are completely black, and not painted chrome/whatever. Every time I've taken that panel off (3 non-fitting full-face dash covers, 1 fitting half-dash cover, and before and after my repainting) I've thought to myself "I better not loose one of these down the air ducts into the fan etc., because I bet I'll never find a correct replacement."

AFAICT, those screws are like 1/2", #10 wood screws, but with a raised phillips head. They should not be too difficult to find.

Installing them andgetting the dask cap underneath with out chipping the paint is another matter tho. :surprised

AFAICT, those screws are like 1/2", #10 wood screws, but with a raised phillips head. They should not be too difficult to find....snip....

Wood screws? So besides rust, we now have to worry about termites! :tapemouth

<-- definitely not a carpenter

I just had a look at mine from a 10/70 which are still tagged in a baggie. They are the standard flat black oxide finish. I tried to remove some of the finish to reveal what you describe, but couldn't.

I agree with Ron, they have the black oxide finish, just like the four oval head, countersunk machine screws that fasten the heater control panel to the dash. Just as a point of interest that I have noticed, the four screws that fasten the front edge of the cowl panel are, also, black oxide oval phillips head self tapping screws. I often see these replaced on cars by chrome or clear zinc screws that have heads that are also too small.

Dan

Wood screws, sheet-metal screws; same thing to me. It's basically a #8 or #10 flathead phillips screw.

I just had a look at mine from a 10/70 which are still tagged in a baggie. They are the standard flat black oxide finish. I tried to remove some of the finish to reveal what you describe, but couldn't.

I agree with Ron, they have the black oxide finish, just like the four oval head, countersunk machine screws that fasten the heater control panel to the dash. Just as a point of interest that I have noticed, the four screws that fasten the front edge of the cowl panel are, also, black oxide oval phillips head self tapping screws. I often see these replaced on cars by chrome or clear zinc screws that have heads that are also too small.

Dan