C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

[Carr C.]

What are some of the recomendations to duplicate the factory black-out/body color overspray on the front hood hinges for a C3?

It appears that they have black-out on the inside of the hinge & bolts, and body color on the outside of the hinge & bolts.

What is a good way to duplicate this?

Also, what was the procedure/method the factory used to black out the hood and engine compartment? I'm trying to figure out how they ended up with the bottom of the hood edge body color, and then verything else black.

Thanks!

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Hood and hinges were installed before body was painted. After paint a mask was placed over the edges of the hood and it extended down over the outer edges of the hood hinges -- it may have tied across the outer hood surface also. Hood was supported from above with a hook (no hood prop or latches were installed yet). Operator stood in the engine compartment and sprayed the blackout at the hood, what parts of the core support were accessible, and front of windshield. There must have been some kind of cover over the fenders and inner lip to protect them from the black out.

Now just duplicate that and you will be good to go.

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Hood and hinges were installed before body was painted. After paint a mask was placed over the edges of the hood and it extended down over the outer edges of the hood hinges -- it may have tied across the outer hood surface also. Hood was supported from above with a hook (no hood prop or latches were installed yet). Operator stood in the engine compartment and sprayed the blackout at the hood, what parts of the core support were accessible, and front of windshield. There must have been some kind of cover over the fenders and inner lip to protect them from the black out.

A mask was used for fenders as well...in addition to the hood mask.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Hood and hinges were installed before body was painted. After paint a mask was placed over the edges of the hood and it extended down over the outer edges of the hood hinges -- it may have tied across the outer hood surface also. Hood was supported from above with a hook (no hood prop or latches were installed yet). Operator stood in the engine compartment and sprayed the blackout at the hood, what parts of the core support were accessible, and front of windshield. There must have been some kind of cover over the fenders and inner lip to protect them from the black out.

Now just duplicate that and you will be good to go.

Do you think they stood inside the engine compartment? I didnt see that at St. Louis in `76. All I saw was the painter leaning over and shooting inside.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Do you think they stood inside the engine compartment? I didnt see that at St. Louis in `76. All I saw was the painter leaning over and shooting inside.

Doubtful in my opinion, Wayne...leaning over the fender may explain why there is next to no coverage on the back of the inner fenders and down low on inner fenders and the fire wall. It really isn't necessary, but they couldn't reach it from the outside...they would be trying to shoot back toward themselves while wrestling with an air hose and a paint hose.

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

I just relate what I was told by George Barlos and Phil Hawkins. Could the operation have changed over the years? Absolutely! That is why I put the 1970-1972 icon in front of the post.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Terry, if that's how someone that was there told you it was done, I would believe them.

I was just trying to explain poor coverage in very awkward, actually impossible, locations to spray from outside. Of course, other explanations for that are as likely...quick and superficial coverage only on the most visible areas.

[Michael H.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Do you think they stood inside the engine compartment? I didnt see that at St. Louis in `76. All I saw was the painter leaning over and shooting inside.

Normally, there was one worker on each side. This was an odd moment though when the entire hood and compartment was shot by one person.
Covers were installed on the fenders and a "U" shaped mask was installed over the hood to mask the outer edge. It was suspended from above and also held the hood open. Often, the workers would push the car forward after the blackout operation was completed and the hood would just crash down after it became unhooked from the mask.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

Normally, there was one worker on each side. This was an odd moment though when the entire hood and compartment was shot by one person.
Covers were installed on the fenders and a "U" shaped mask was installed over the hood to mask the outer edge. It was suspended from above and also held the hood open. Often, the workers would push the car forward after the blackout operation was completed and the hood would just crash down after it became unhooked from the mask.

Yep, Thats what I saw, and it was George Barlos that took me though the plant on that cold snowy day 1-7-76.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

All I can say is...that dude has very LONG arms, and he's layin' down a real swath of black paint!

That's a GREAT picture...Thanks Michael.

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

That is also a 1973+ vehicle due to the hood shape.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

All I can say is...that dude has very LONG arms, and he's layin' down a real swath of black paint!

That's a GREAT picture...Thanks Michael.

It aint no Walmart spray bomb thats for sure. That pattern is about a foot wide or better. This is why original overspray patterns have heavy droplet patterns at the edges.

When I stood in the side doorway and watched the paint process, the guy used the same gun for painting and blackout. It was in the area where they painted the body. He shot one car, then plugged into the black paint outlet, sprayed though the floor grate until it turned black. He quickly shot black under the fender wells, and plugged up for the next color. He then started right in on the next body.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

...He shot one car, then plugged into the black paint outlet, sprayed though the floor grate until it turned black. He quickly shot black under the fender wells, and plugged up for the next color. He then started right in on the next body.

Hmmm...I assume you mean he used the same gun by disconnecting the paint supply hose AT THE GUN HANDLE. If you had to clean the paint supply hose out with each color change, you'd never get it clean.

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

So I see and hear (read) that the hood was suspended by the mask during blackout but than I've heard the broom stick held up the hood since support was yet to be installed. Sounds like it would have been used as the body moved through trim line and other operations until hood support was installed?

[Michael H.]

Re: C3 Hood Hinge Paint Overspray Pattern?

So I see and hear (read) that the hood was suspended by the mask during blackout but than I've heard the broom stick held up the hood since support was yet to be installed. Sounds like it would have been used as the body moved through trim line and other operations until hood support was installed?

I'm not sure what was used to hold the hood open in other sections of the body build/paint operation area.
The pic I posted is of an area/booth that was used only for blackout, just ahead of the final bake/reflow oven. All prime/body color operations had already been performed in another series of booths.
Once the body left final paint reflow and entered the "hard trim" line, the hood support would have been one of the first items installed.

Things may have been done differently in the 50's and 60's. Maybe John Hinckley remembers some details of the operation from 67-68 when he was there.

The picture that I posted is typical of the operation from the early 70's to the end of production at St Louis in 1981. It may have been the same in years prior but I'm not sure.