C3 Wheel Well Restoration

[Christopher J. Bunsey]

Unfortunatly the good weather is waning, but I want to get another project done before the winter sets in. I have a 1976, and want to restore the front and rear wheel wells. They have overspray in them, and the guide doesnot give any tips on proper restoration. Can someone tell me what should be painted/undercoated, how they did it, and what product they used?

Thanks!

Chris

[Jack H.]

Re: C3 Wheel Well Restoration

Wheels were delivered from Kelsey Hayes painted basic black (front, rear and inside the bead cavity). At the factory, workers hung them (by the valve stem hole) and spray painted just the outside with Argent silver. Hence, judges expect to see fine overspray on the back, through the front spoke slits, as evidence of a 'correct' restoration duplicating the factory original production method. Also, any runs/sags in the front side paint (Yes, Virginia, the factory DID do sloppy work in a hurry to kick production out the door) would typically follow gravity in the direction from the valve stem hole down...

[Terry M.]

reading comprehension???? *NM*

[Harmon C.]

Re: C3 Wheel Well Restoration

Christopher

I would not add undercoat just flat black or matching paint over stains that don't wash off with a brush and soap. Their should be areas areas that have no paint and don't paint them. I would cover all overspray with paint because if you try to remove it you will lose the undercoat texture. If the overspray is on a smooth unpainted area I would remove the paint.

Lyle

[Jack H.]

Yes...sometimes we go too fast... *NM*

[John H.]

Re: C3 Wheel Well Restoration

Actually, the valve stem hole wasn't used to hang the wheels when the wheel face was painted. The black-primed wheels were placed, as a set of five, at about a 30* angle from vertical, on an overhead conveyor paint hook that had five rotating hubs on it; each hub had a 3"-long spindle on it that went through the wheel's center hole. The wheel was spun by hand while spraying the argent silver wheel enamel on the face, and the wheels remained on that hook through the oven. After the oven, the conveyor took the wheels to the "wheel room", where the wheels were removed from the hook, the valve stems were installed, and the tires were mounted and balanced.

[Terry M.]

I've done that myself a time or 2 *NM*