Hi,
Should the trunk latch be painted body color (installed prior to paint) or installed afterwards and shows as zinc plated? 1970 442

 

Painted body color first, and then with some trunk paint overspray.

 

I am asking about the latch that installs into the trunk lid.

 

I have only ever seen the hinges installed and then the trunk painted. The bolts that hold the latch in place are painted. Seems to be more of an "overspray" kind of paint job in most cases, but certainly after it was installed in the lid.

 

That is painted body color.

The deck lid, latch, and the lower catch part are assembled on the bare body and aligned.

Then after the doors are out on, the body goes to primer dip and paint.

I can attest to this as a former GM line worker in 1972, in a B-O-P plant in Framingham Mass.

 

Thank You!