'64 Frt. Susp. Control Arm Detail - Color & Finish

[Jeff H.]

Hello,
I'm doing a correct "frame-off" of a '64 conv. and am ready to paint the frt. susp. upper and lower control arm details. The new NCRS judging manual implies everything is painted gloss black. but I've seen some tech. books with color pictures that would indicate some of the arm details are left natural (ie. shafts, ball joints, bshgs., cad plated end washers and fasteners). Can someone tell me what is really the correct color & finish recipe for all these parts? Once I paint them, I don't want to go back! Thanks.

[Dan H.]

Re: '64 Frt. Susp. Control Arm Detail - Color & Finish

Jeff, the u/l a arms were supplied complete except for the ball joints and the lower bumper, all of which were installed at St. Louis. The assemblies were totally painted, i.e. a arms, bushings, end caps, bolts etc. The ball joints were added at assembly plant. The original coating on my 63 a arms was a tar based paint which quickly dissolved in my parts washer to bare metal. The tar based paint does have a gloss to it when new. The attaching bolts were not painted or were the shims etc. The AIM gives a good idea of the parts that were added at St. Louis sect 3, sheet 2.00. There are a bunch of excellent archives on the front and reat suspension painting details here, happy hunting!
Dan