Does anyone know at what angle, if any, was the frame at when it was brought out of the paint dip process? Was it upside down or right side up? I'm trying to paint the frame with the same type of runs. Thanks; David
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
Actually David, the process was quite different than that. The frames were not dipped. They were hung, vertically from the front, and coated using a number of fixed spray nozzles. This is the reason that runs are in the direction of the rear and there are drips on some of the surfaces that would have been facing down during this process. The rear of the rear crossmember typically has the most drips. (I think they're called pauple's)
Also, the majority of the paint, or coating, would be evident on the rear half of the frame with the front having the lightest coating. This was due to the fact that overspray of this heavy material fell from the higher spray locations and landed on much of the rear of the frame.
Michael -
Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
David,
--------My memory says it was hung from the rear so drips would run towards the front. Wait for more input though as my memory bites!!!!!............Bill SComment
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
David,
I can confirm what Mike has told you. I am assisiting a friend of mine restore his '65 396 convertible. The car is a high 30k mile car and after disassembly and power washing the frame, the paint drops can still be seen on the back sides of the frame crossmember. I'll be moving the frame to storage this weekend and will try to take some digital pictures. Please send me your email address and I'll send you some pictures. My email address is jb.west@cox.net.
Best Regards,
James West
Omaha, NE.
NCRS Nebraska Chapter Co-Chairman
Member #18379Comment
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
That was a really nasty process area in the Granite City plant; actually, that whole plant was pretty nasty. That's probably why they went on strike in 1967 and lost the frame contract back to Milwaukee.Comment
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
papules. regards, mikeComment
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
Thank you all so much for such a response, I will get that frame straight up some how and scare all the neighbors, and my self. DavidComment
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
John, I understood from others that the later C3 frames were painted horizontal and upside-down over a grating covered pit with "hoses" and therefore runs were from bottom to top of the rails. I know the paint type was different from C2 to C3 (asphalt-based vs Ducolux?). Were there additional changes from C2 to C3, or am I misinformed?
I've pretty much decided that trying to "make" runs on a C3 frame for authenticity is not worth a lot of trouble. Apply sloppy, very wet coats...If they happen, they happen; if they don't, that's OK too. Some frames didn't have runs, and you get no deducts if you don't have them. So, why go crazy and make the frame look like one never looked (i.e., TOO many runs).Comment
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If all else fails try Viagra. *NM*
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And After The coating......
.....comes all the scratches and canvas glove imprints from workers at the Smith plant as their handling of the frame would have left a definite impression on the new coating. Also marks from hooks and other means of lifting the frame from one position to the next.
Then comes the coating of dust/dirt from the time it was stored outside at Smith, followed by a generous coating of diesel fuel and a lot more dirt/dust from the ride to St. Louis. The diesel oil made an excellent "sticky" coating that seemed to attract everything from dust/dirt to small scraps of paper and bugs. If a winter shipped frame, there would also have been a coating of salt from the trip.
More scratches and scuffs as the frames were unloaded at St Louis. If I remember correctly, the tall stacks of frames were 13 high so the bottom frame would have had some unique markings from storage and the fork lift trucks.
Next came the temporary outside storage at St. Louis where birds built nests in frame rails and more dust and dirt were applied.
When it was finally time to move the frame into the building, fork lift truck operators took smaller stacks (3 to 4 if I remember correctly) from the pile and delivered them into the rear of the plant which was at the very beginning of the chassis assembly line.
I posted a picture of a new frame at station one on the St. Louis chassis assy line a month or two ago. It showed the incredible amount of dirt and looked like it had been outside for a year.
The next segment, the "inside the plant" segment, would produce it's own markings and signs of reality on the frame finish as it traveled down the line but that would be chapter two.
MichaelComment
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Re: But I'm from the sauth now...
Maybe that's how ya'll spell stuff up there in the frozen north but here in the sauth, we gotz our own wayza doin stuff. Gotz our own language too.
Is it winter there yet?
Regards, Michael (alias, young whippersnapper)Comment
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Re: And After The coating......
Wow; Mike that is awesome!!! and It will never happen either. I got it straight up!! Now I need a 16' step ladder to paint it. I don't think this "factory" deal is going to work out. ??Glove marks huh?? that will be tough! DavidComment
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experience?? *NM*
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Re: And After The coating......
I think he forgot the part about where the bird took a crap on it though. Best regards to everyone, TerryComment
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Re: 65 Frame dip angle?
Never saw the A.O. Smith-Milwaukee plant, so I'm not familiar with their paint process, but I was in the Granite City plant several times; the Granite City frame paint process was very similar to the "Flow-Coat" process most Chevrolet assembly plants used in the 60's to prime wheels, small parts, brackets, etc. "Flow-Coat" was essentially an enclosed booth full of showerheads in the top and sides that spewed black primer toward the conveyor hooks passing through the middle, with grating on the floor that covered a sump that recirculated the primer back through the system continuously. Larger parts had hooks made that held multiple parts on pins, smaller parts were just thrown in a mesh basket and were done in bulk. That's where all the drips, runs, and bare spots came from. "Small Parts Prime" was not a concours processComment
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