C1 Hood Latches Painted with Body Color?

[Bob B.]

Hi,

I'll be doing the blackout shortly on my '60 engine compartment. Trying to figure out if the hood latches were on during BODY paint or not.

It looks as though they were. On my car, the glass was bare beneath the latches but, nearby on the firewall, I could sand through the blackout to reveal body color, then dark gray primer, then glass. Not much paint left on my latches though.

I have seen several cars with original latches in place and paint chipping off, but haven't ever seen any body color where the blackout is chipping off. Maybe the body color always chips off with it? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bob

[John M.]

Re: C1 Hood Latches Painted with Body Color?

Bob,
The latches and hinges were in place before even the primer was sprayed. The hinges and latches did get coated with primer and some body color over spray. I would think that you are correct on the paint flaking, both the body color and blackout were both lacquer, so they would have bonded together, but the latches were plated and oil-coated, so it would make sense that the paint would peel off all the way down. The point is moot in any regard, since the expected condition is to be blacked out like the rest of the engine compartment. Sharp-eyed judges will allways look for bare fiberglass under the female latches of 60-62 cars, and deduct for lack of same.

Regards, John McGraw

[Dennis A.]

Re: C1 Hood Latches Painted with Body Color?

Bob...

After looking at many Star/bowtie cars, the plated latches were mounted and the most cases the black out was sprayed on the firewall behind the latches. Leaving about 1/3 of the latches exposed to the primer / body spray. Not sure how the judges look at this....

[John M.]

Re: C1 Hood Latches Painted with Body Color?

Dennis,
You are correct on this. Due to the spray gun angle, it was hard to get complete covearge at the rear of the latches, and I am sure that no great pains wer taken anyway! You can't go wrong with a full blackout of the hinges with bare glass under the latches. I have prepped mine like that, and never took a single deduct.

Regards, John McGraw