[BigBird05]

I worked in a chevy dealership in 1972 and don't remember seeing any paint on the shields in the trucks. Then I went to work in a GM parts warehouse and most of the metal parts were painted with bonderite to prevent them from rusting. GM replacement parts do not come from the factory where they assemble the vehicles, they come straight from the venders. The factory orders are always filled before the parts warehouse orders. That is why there is sometimes such a long wait for current model replacement parts.