C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

[David H.]

What is the correct paint color for the front heater hose bracket that attaches to the alternator bracket? Or is it bare metal? My car has an early December, '64 build date.
Thanks!

[John H.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Semi-gloss black - it was dip-primed.

[David H.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Many thanks John!

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Semi-gloss black - it was dip-primed.

-------------------
David -- here's an NOS unit I've had kicking around for at least 15 years. Looks like it was lightly sprayed, but there's splatter and gravity runs. Now that John H. has said dip-primed, I can imagine that but it would have had to be a pretty thin dip Ignore scratches; just shelf wear.

[David H.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Thanks for the picture Wayne! Your bracket appears different from mine though. Lighting?

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Thanks for the picture Wayne! Your bracket appears different from mine though. Lighting?

Yes, they're different; bear in mind that mine has to be SERVICE. I see that in AIM UPC 1, Sht E6, view A, seems to show a flat backside (that bolts to alt. brkt).

Mine only has rolled edges on the front side & bottom. Could take a few more pics, but the one I posted showed the paint runs the best.

Am curious if other early C2's have your type of bracket. I see Paragon item #1424K states that theirs has the "twist" (like the original).

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Thanks for the picture Wayne! Your bracket appears different from mine though. Lighting?

David -- the mystery deepens. Check this bracket currently on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310028474921&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=021

Described as '69-74 SB and BB Corvette, Chevelle.

then look what I found on mine (was under a splatter/paint drop so I missed it). Looks like A or inverted V with S overstamp. (same as in eBay pic). I used a drop of enamel paint remover to expose the marking, and the metal was etched under the black (believe John H. mentioned etching primer).



So maybe these brackets are a latter issue of yours, and probably yours is correct for the earlier years ('63-65).

[Chuck S.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

David -- the mystery deepens. Check this bracket currently on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310028474921&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=021

Described as '69-74 SB and BB Corvette, Chevelle.

then look what I found on mine (was under a splatter/paint drop so I missed it). Looks like A or inverted V with S overstamp. (same as in eBay pic). I used a drop of enamel paint remover to expose the marking, and the metal was etched under the black (believe John H. mentioned etching primer).



So maybe these brackets are a latter issue of yours, and probably yours is correct for the earlier years ('63-65).

Wayne, I should keep my mouth shut about C2s...John should correct me if I've spoken for him out of turn, but I believe in this case this same simple paint process that John mentioned was universal to all GM lines for a lot of years.

It would not have been an "etching" primer; just a inexpensive lacquer based black primer used during that period. The surface texture would have been from other means...it may be simply the "as-rolled" surface finish of that particular piece of steel; a lot of texture is not typical for sheet steel used for small parts IMO, but some texture would improve paint adhesion. I expect no intentional prep was done on the raw steel parts beyond cleaning them in really strong degreaser.

The metal stamper's logo looks like AS to me; on some of the old fonts, the top end of the "S" actually ends slightly behind the front of the lower loop...the position shown in your picture would be right side up.

[John H.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

The assembly plant paint process for all of the miscellaneous brackets was the same - hot degrease/clean, iron phosphate, dip or flow-coat cheap black primer, and bake. Larger parts were hung individually on pins on paint hooks, smaller ones were just thrown in piles in a wire basket (think french-fries cooking at McD's), thus many small parts had very poor cleaning/paint coverage and had lots of runs/bare spots. This was hardly a "concours" paint process.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

The assembly plant paint process for all of the miscellaneous brackets was the same - hot degrease/clean, iron phosphate, dip or flow-coat cheap black primer, and bake. Larger parts were hung individually on pins on paint hooks, smaller ones were just thrown in piles in a wire basket (think french-fries cooking at McD's), thus many small parts had very poor cleaning/paint coverage and had lots of runs/bare spots. This was hardly a "concours" paint process.

Thanks again, John...I had forgetten/never knew about the iron phosphate prep. I hadn't observed a lot of texture on small parts, but the phosphate alone should give the steel some texture, and paint adhesion was it's purpose.

What is this about 1000X you've had to tell us this?...I'll get it right next time.

[David H.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

I checked mine with a hand lens - no hallmark. There are some longitudinal striations and one transverse (barely seen in my photo - far left - a little below halfway - I assume due to the stamping process. The surface is very lightly pitted - fainter pitting due to blasting. For the record, this was not original to the car. I bought it from a reputable dealer - being correct for 63-65. I have a repro from Paragon on the car now which, on casual inspection (haven't taken it off because the d!#* bolt so hard to get on) is a very close match!

I was going to rattle can spray it, but will dip it and try for the right affect.

Appreciate the help and insight!

[Chuck S.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

I checked mine with a hand lens - no hallmark. There are some longitudinal striations and one transverse (barely seen in my photo - far left - a little below halfway - I assume due to the stamping process. The surface is very lightly pitted - fainter pitting due to blasting. For the record, this was not original to the car. I bought it from a reputable dealer - being correct for 63-65. I have a repro from Paragon on the car now which, on casual inspection (haven't taken it off because the d!#* bolt so hard to get on) is a very close match!

I was going to rattle can spray it, but will dip it and try for the right affect.

Appreciate the help and insight!

David, I have also seen "striations" in small stamped parts; I could never figure out if the origin was in the steel sheet stock or a result of the stamping process.

If you're going to dip it, examine it closely before stripping to see if it has any run directions indicated by runs or buildup along a "bottom" edges. A part this small may have been a prime candidate for "basket" dipping as described by John. If it was basket dipped, then dipping for correct appearance will be less important...there simply may not be detectable runs and spraying will be acceptable. I really couldn't see any runs on Wayne's NOS sample...a lot of irregular spot deposits, but no runs.

For realistic runs, you'll want to "reduce" your black, eggshell gloss paint to a thin, watery consistency with a compatible thinner. Depending on the type of paint you are using, 50% reduction (2:1, two parts paint to one part thinner) might be a good starting point, with 100% reduction (1:1) your ultimate destination.

[David H.]

Re: C2 1965 Heater Hose Bracket (Alt.) Color?

Charles,
Thank you very much for the detailed tip. Might as well attempt to do it right!
Dave