69 underbody bracket finish

[Brad S.]

How were the black brackets ( pinion support, strut rod bracket, spring bracket,seat brackets)finished from the factory? I dont think they were painted since I had the pinion support Soaking in carb cleaner for 4-5 days and it didn't phase it. Is it some kind of coating ( E- coat)?

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

Brad-----

All of the brackets you mentioned were originally finished in semi-gloss black paint with the POSSIBLE exception of the tapping plates for the rearmost seat bolts. Those may have been natural or semi-gloss black. "High tech" coatings (e.g. powder coating) were mostly not even invented yet in 1969 and, those that were, were not commonly used in the automotive industry.

[Brad S.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

Joe, Was there a coating of some sort some sort that might have been used ? I haven't seen any paints that 4-5 days in cold dip carb cleaner wouldn't at lest soften and it didn't even touch this finish. Thanks Brad

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

Brad-----

As far as I know, it was just paint. That was the finish primarily used in those days and all of the blueprints that I've seen for parts like these specified "paint".

I do agree that this paint can be very difficult to remove. I usually end up having to use some abrasive means to get it off. However, I attribute this to the fact that the paint has been on these parts for a long time and, over time, something seems to occur which "hardens" it.

[John H.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

Those parts were received raw, then hot-degreased, iron phosphated, and either dip-primed or flow-coated with black primer, baked, and delivered to the line. Baked primer sticks pretty well to phosphated steel.

[Brad S.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

John, will zinc phosphate work for iron phosphate? How hot were they baked? Or should I just paint them semi gloss black but I dont think it will stick like the original process. Thanks Brad

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

John-----

Thanks for that info. I wasn't sure if they were baked, or not. However, that would definitely explain why the paint adhered so well.

[John H.]

Re: 69 underbody bracket finish

Brad -

I wouldn't bother with phosphating - just clean them up, prime, and shoot with semi-gloss black; with the care we give these cars, the finish will last just fine.

[Brad S.]

Thanks John and Joe *NM*