Correct black for jack?

[Shaun 69 E]

I've restored these two jacks with clear cadmium, nickel and Cerakote. The close to matte black just doesn't look right, looks lifeless and dull. Anyone have good pics or a sense of what the gloss level the black should be?

[Scott A]

from an unrestored 1971 T....never painted, less than 50,000 miles.
looks much closer to a rattle can gloss black. (not a gloss black automotive paint)



above, image from 700 mile, 1970 S.
harder to tell the gloss or sheen on this image.

[NeunElf]

You would probably get better information about those jacks at a 914 forum. A great resource for the jacks [644.722.010.00] used on 356s since 1955 and on SWB 911s and 912s is Eric Cherneff's Porsche 356 Tool Kits website.

There's been a lot of discussion of the correct shade of blue for the bases of those jacks but little if any about the black paint.

I pulled the jack out of my 356A thinking it might have the original finish (it doesn't):

It's hard to say for sure, but I guess the original black was a little shiny. Bilstein didn't work hard on the finish.

But, I think most of the smaller steel/cast iron pieces are most likely bare metal, not plated. Here's the jack for my 911.

I threw those parts in my brass tumbler for many hours with extra abrasive. Looks like they're ready to go back in the tumbler.

The brass tumbler left them darker than most jacks. Media blasting might get them new-looking.

I had the springs and retaining rings nickel plated to try to replicate new spring steel. It's profoundly unlikely Bilstein used nickel plating but it may be close to the look of new steel.

[Shaun 69 E]

Thank you Scott, those pics help a lot. I will try Cerakote gloss black with catalyst amount proper for satin. I think that may work. And thank you Jim for the links, I'll check them out. You are correct on the plating. Originally, the post was nickel plated so that's what I did and baked to harden it. The springs were originally clear zinc plated as was the circlip. The pieces that work with the springs were originally bare metal, no plating. But I wanted a restored jack to stay restored. I would have done clear zinc but it's blue due to the brighteners used my platers these days. I always use clear cadmium in it's stead for decklid latches, etc. and thought it prudent here as well. I could have just tumbled the pieces and cleared them with Cerakote. That is another option.