Are tailgate latches, straps & hinges painted or natural?

[MT1972cheyenne]

I am in the process of painting, but dont know if the hinges,tailgate latches and straps were painted originally, or if they were just the plated metal color.
Does anyone know for sure how they came originally?

[Orange]

I honestly don't know how they came originally - but telling you from experience what I would do after having mine painted to match... Have them zinc coated.

It would look good, and give you protection, and wouldn't chip off like the paint. I would do that for the hinges, latches, trunnions, all the tailgate hardware that was not exposed, but used "internally".

Just an opinion.

DLB

[Longhorn Man]

I bead blasted a set, and tossed them on with no paint or anything, and I have to say, if you want them to look natural, shoot them with metal colored paint, or a shot of clear. Mine look like crap. (and yet I seem surprised for some reason)

[70rs/ss]

I think my tailgate pieces look like galvanized or something similar. I think paint is going to give you durability issues. Look into a coating that will bind twith the metal like zink, galvanize, etc. The next best would be powder coat.

[MT1972cheyenne]

So they are "metal colored" originally? The latches too?

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Allot of parts were grey (zinc) phosphate which is a mixture that has to be heated to 180F to 200F or quick black a phosphate which is a cheap coating but prevents rusting and is a cold mixture both to be used on steel only.

I use the quick black cold chemical mixture for things like this as well as nuts, bolts washers etc.

The dist. is ASL Company.

Phone # (702) 331-3331 .... It's been a while since I contacted these people so I'm not sure if the phone # is current.

esll.

[mbgmike]

They came plated unpainted originally.