Tom;
I wish I'd taken pictures of the steel hardware on this AFB after cleaning but before media blasting, the throttle operator and bolt-on bracket absolutely w/o a doubt had remnants of yellow chromate on them, but it was extremely faded.
Just last year I had a set of 409/425 Chevy AFB's in that were in very good condition after cleaning, and just as this 65 GTO AFB, they also bore unmistakable remnants of yellow chromate on the levers and primary throttle shaft operator.
Here is a pic I found on the internet a long time ago of a NOS `56 Chevy 2X4 carb; note the top casting screws are yellow chromate/cad, but everyone swears they should be clear. The throttle lever and acc. pump arm also appear to be a very faded yellow chromate to me as well, but I can't say for certain since the pic isn't very clear.
Here are pics I found on the `net of a NOS `56 Pontiac WCFB. The throttle linkage is clearly yellow chromate (compare the finish of the lever to the bright clear fast idle speed screw) as are several of the levers & components on the choke side of the carb, but again, everyone says these parts are supposed to be clear.
Again, I just don't think there was that much consistency and continuity in regards to how these components were plated back in the day. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]