Paint and primer question - 1969 Tuxedo Black

[Leif A.]

Re: Paint and primer question - 1969 Tuxedo Black

Leif,
I agree - goofy indeed.

Is it possible then that the white is not primer ?

...As in somebody painted the car white - and either the person who painted it white didn't like it (or a later owner) - and then it was painted black w/o chrome pieces being removed ?

That was my initial thought when I made my post #2.

[Kevin S.]

Re: Paint and primer question - 1969 Tuxedo Black

Hey Mark,
I printed off the 1969 Exterior Paint Process and will keep it for the painter down the road. Thanks for the link.

[Kevin S.]

Re: Paint and primer question - 1969 Tuxedo Black

Hey Leif
Adding to the mysteries regarding the priming and painting of this car is the fact that the areas under the chrome exhaust bezels, under the front chrome hockey sticks, and under the front side marker lights all have white primer or paint. However, there is black paint under the marker lights in the rear, indicating to me at least that the rear marker lights were removed when the rear end part of the car was repainted. But, that made sense to me as the car was hit in the rear based on all of the GM service stickers found on rear bumper supports, top of the spare tire carrier lid, the replacement gas tank, strut rods were 1974 or later 1 3/4" OD at the rod ends so I assume the originals were damaged and replaced somewhere in the 1974-1978 time frame, obvious damage to the LH rear frame and repairs, crack and fiberglass repairs to the air damn behind the LH rear wheel, pretty crappy corvette bond applied between the air damn and the LH rear quarrter panel, lower spindle supports and backing dust shields on the trailing arms were all replaced with service parts, spindles, axles, hubs, lug nut studs all replaced, etc. Assume it was a pretty hard hit, mostly driver side rear. Passenger side rear did not take as much of a hit, rear frame extension was untouched but the rear crossmember was replaced.

Will be interesting and more revealing once we strip the car to repaint.

[Kevin S.]

Re: Paint and primer question - 1969 Tuxedo Black

Hey Mark,
Removed the passenger side sill plate this morning and pulled up the outside edge of the floor pan carpet, very light red primer overspray. The color is definitely red but the amount of red present is light if that makes sense. The amount of red is consistent with what I would describe as overspray. Along side of that over spray area near the door and running vertically up the A-pillar is the green rust proofing sprayed in the bird cage area.

Also took a good look along the area under the carpet that runs along the length of the passenger sill plate back toward the bulkhead and it looks to all be original black paint, dull finish.

Appreciate everyones help with my question regarding what the original primer color should have been. Thanks to your help, I now know that it was red and gray. Thanks again guys.

[Mark F.]

Re: Paint and primer question - 1969 Tuxedo Black

Thanks Kevin,

Some more observations for you...

Hey Mark, Removed the passenger side sill plate this morning and pulled up the outside edge of the floor pan carpet, very light red primer overspray. The color is definitely red but the amount of red present is light if that makes sense. < makes perfect sense. The floor pan in that area was not meant (or needed) to be painted. The amount of red is consistent with what I would describe as overspray. Along side of that over spray area near the door and running vertically up the A-pillar is the green rust proofing sprayed in the bird cage area. see below

Also took a good look along the area under the carpet that runs along the length of the passenger sill plate back toward the bulkhead and it looks to all be original black paint, dull finish. < makes perfect sense. The paint was lacquer and is dull everywhere when applied and dried. Light sanding; buffing; and polishing brings out the shine. That area was never buffed because it would never show. Door jambs were never buffed either, so if your finish is original there, that is what the paint would have looked like. Appreciate everyones help with my question regarding what the original primer color should have been. Thanks to your help, I now know that it was red and gray. Thanks again guys.

Per John Hinckley's C2 Assembly Process Presentation (available in the Database of Restoration Documents [DoRD] Sticky Post) and descriptions in Larry Galloway’s books, the Birdcage (also referred to as the "Cab Frame" in Larry’s 5/13/2022 book) was assembled in several subassembly fixtures and a complex main steel welding fixture. It was then degreased; followed by application of zinc chromate-primer in the Bird Cage Spray Booth, which was ~25 work stations before it and the completed "Body-in-White" entered the Paint Shop.