1969 body/frame separation restoration

[Joe T.]

Well, I've gone and done it! I am having the body lifted and the frame refurbished (as opposed to restored) to get my beloved coupe on the road to recovery. My first decision and inclination is to have the frame electrolitically (sp?) stripped as opposed to media stripped. My logic is to clean it inside as well as outside and powdercoat instead of paint. This car is a CE block, but otherwise pretty original as far as I have been able to determine. I have searched the archives and as far as I could see, there were a lot of differeing opinions (except for maintaining originality). Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with powdercoating the frame, especially inside, other than possibly having to chase all the threads?

[John H.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

Joe -

Most powder-coaters these days can apply just about any gloss of black you want, and have plugs for the holes you don't want to chase later. A "finish" deduction on a frame is only 2 points anyway if someone doesn't like it.

[Alan S.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

Joe,
I had a good experience having my frame powder coated after stripping the frame myself. I sanded the powder coating with 400 and put another finish over the powder coating to give a little more factory look. I was unable to nick the finish putting the running gear back together. It still does look a little too nice. Maybe a LOT too nice.
Regards,
Alan

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

Thank-you, gentlemen. My primary concern is providing the highest level of protection for the metal from corrosion. Is my assumption correct that the inside of the frame can be done because of the electrostatic properties of the powder coat?

[D S.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

Have you already found the build sheet? I was at a Corvette show last weekend when talking to a 1970 Corvette owner and he said he found parts of his build sheet inside the right frame rail during restoration. I haven't yet looked there on my '70 yet but none of the previous owners said they could find it. One had the tank replaced and said he didn't find one there either. I have had my entire interior and dash pads off and it isn't there either. Just a thought.

[Tom L.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

I had mine dipped to clean the rust out of the inside of the rails. It was then blasted. The sand blaster was able to get a lot more of the inside of the frame than I thought would have been possible. It was then powder coated, inside and out. The satin powder coat was still too glossy, so I top coated it with DuPont black epoxy primer to get the correct finish.

The powder coat does not wick moisture in as paint does, so it affords additional protection from rust. My method was probably overkill, but the frame will never rust again. Moreover, when you look inside any frame hole, you see black, not rust.

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

Have you already found the build sheet? I was at a Corvette show last weekend when talking to a 1970 Corvette owner and he said he found parts of his build sheet inside the right frame rail during restoration. I haven't yet looked there on my '70 yet but none of the previous owners said they could find it. One had the tank replaced and said he didn't find one there either. I have had my entire interior and dash pads off and it isn't there either. Just a thought.

I HAD the build sheet at one time, found inside the left front frame rail, I think, right behind the upper control arm. I thought I saved it somewhere,but I can't find it now. I will look again as soon as the frame is lifted although I don't believe I put it back. I should stick my PINHEAD inside the frame to look again! If I only knew then what I am learning now!

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

Joe -

Most powder-coaters these days can apply just about any gloss of black you want, and have plugs for the holes you don't want to chase later. A "finish" deduction on a frame is only 2 points anyway if someone doesn't like it.

Thanks John. I will try to see what looks best. I will also go back through the archives to see how the frame was supposed to be finished and try to get something close. I know there are a bunch of threads about frame external finish...Regards...joe

PS: the 2 point deduct is probabaly the least of my issues with judging, but every one counts. I am sure the deduct would be taken if the judge looked inside the frame and saw it with a finish.

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 body/frame separation restoration

I had mine dipped to clean the rust out of the inside of the rails. It was then blasted. The sand blaster was able to get a lot more of the inside of the frame than I thought would have been possible. It was then powder coated, inside and out. The satin powder coat was still too glossy, so I top coated it with DuPont black epoxy primer to get the correct finish.

The powder coat does not wick moisture in as paint does, so it affords additional protection from rust. My method was probably overkill, but the frame will never rust again. Moreover, when you look inside any frame hole, you see black, not rust.

The protection of the frame is my goal as well, and if the car is ever judged, the sacrifice of the points is well worth it for the protection. When you had your dipped, what kind of process was it? Acid bath? electrolytic? something else? Overkill is GOOD! do it right/do it once!
Thanks Joe