Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

[Kirk M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Kirk-----

It was a GRAY coating, not a clearcoat, at all. You can still purchase the same Ionoklad coating from Quanta Products in pint cans.

Joe,

I see nothing on their website and find nothing for Ionoklad (Ionoclad) when searching the web. Any other ideas?

Kirk

[Patrick H.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Joe,

I see nothing on their website and find nothing for Ionoklad (Ionoclad) when searching the web. Any other ideas?

Kirk

I see it's now off their site.
Give them a call.


Patrick

[Bill C.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

My understanding is they were coated only on the bottom. If that is true, dipping might be a little difficult. I was also told the coating was brushed on.

Terry,

Did the sides get coating too?
Only asking becuase I am about to do a "refresh" on my spring and would really like to get it 100% right this time around....

[Larry M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Quanta paint is shown in their catalog, but not on their website. I would call them.

I recommend following Joe's, Pat's, Michael's, and Terry's input regarding how applied. If you want "correct", apply to bottom side only with a brush. If you want "pretty", lightly blast and then apply all over using a spray can. Your choice.

Larry

[Kirk M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Quanta paint is shown in their catalog, but not on their website. I would call them.

I recommend following Joe's, Pat's, Michael's, and Terry's input regarding how applied. If you want "correct", apply to bottom side only with a brush. If you want "pretty", lightly blast and then apply all over using a spray can. Your choice.

Larry

Spoke to Quanta. The paint is not longer made and they do not carry it any more. Anybody got a partial can sitting out there I could buy?

Kirk

[Terry M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Terry,

Did the sides get coating too?
Only asking becuase I am about to do a "refresh" on my spring and would really like to get it 100% right this time around....

No offense to those who toiled in this industry, but I am sure they were not nearly as careful about application as you or I would be. If some slops on the edges -- so be it. The functional requirement was to coat the tension (bottom) side.

[Joe L.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Spoke to Quanta. The paint is not longer made and they do not carry it any more. Anybody got a partial can sitting out there I could buy?

Kirk

Kirk-----


I think that if you used a light to medium gray paint, no one would ever know the difference. Many automotive primers are about the right color. However, if it were me, I'd prefer to use a durable, slow drying paint like Rustoleum.

[Michael H.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

No offense to those who toiled in this industry, but I am sure they were not nearly as careful about application as you or I would be. If some slops on the edges -- so be it. The functional requirement was to coat the tension (bottom) side.

The original GM print calls for Ionoklad coverage on the tension (bottom) side and the edges of each leaf. (for 64 and later)

I've seen new "service" replacement springs in the late 70's that were coated completely. Top, bottom and edges. It appeared to be sprayed as the coating was thin and uniform. I don't know if this was the same coating process that was used in the 60's, though.

[Brian M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

I had a partial can, I think I passed it on to someone but don't remember who? Doc Love maybe??? 1 can goes a long way.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

The original GM print calls for Ionoklad coverage on the tension (bottom) side and the edges of each leaf. (for 64 and later).....

Here's what I found when I dismantled my original (Nov '64 chassis) early '65. The big auto-load pic is the top view. Obviously, the bottoms were gray (ref. thumbnails 2 & 3) [you can still see a trace near the ends], and the only gray on the tops is probably due to "bleed-through' when the "sandwich" was assembled (seems to source thru the holes) .

In the close-up thumbnails, the first one is the top side. The 2nd and 3rd are of the bottom. The close-up bottom shot shows a texture that looks like it was brushed on. The differential oil seepage over the years stained the color to various shades of gray.

I just lightly brushed them off, put in new liners and back she went.

[Brian M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

I put out an APB on the VH site for the whereabouts of my partial can, will advise when more is known.

[Larry M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Spoke to Quanta. The paint is not longer made and they do not carry it any more. Anybody got a partial can sitting out there I could buy?

Kirk

Paragon and LICS both show a rear spring gray paint in their catalogs that is in spray cans. Paragon # 5720 and LICS # 45-11. Both about $8/can. May be the closest thing available.....unless you formulate/tint/make your own from Rustoleum (oil base enamel) base stock.

Larry

[Joseph M.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

We recently rebuilt the spring on my 67. Used Paragon 5720 ($9.00) rattle can with great results. Had car judged 10/11/09 and recieved no deduction with car being awarded a Top Flight.

Also did my 70 spring and would expect similar results during judging.

[Michael H.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Here's what I found when I dismantled my original. .

Thanks Wayne. Great pictures. You are correct, the coating appears to have been applied with some sort of brush, or some method other than spraying. And it definitely appears that there was no coating on the top sides.

On the reproduction Ionoklad paints, I wonder if any are actually anything other than a flat light grey paint of some kind. I would be very surprised if anyone actually has information on the original coating.
I've searched for Ionoklad and have never been able to find any information on it, at all.

[John H.]

Re: Color of Original 67 9-Leaf Spring - Gray?

Per Franz Estereicher's info (Franz was employed by Rockwell and assigned to Chevrolet to assist them in spring design, and was also responsible for the spring manufacturing processes), both spring plants (Eaton and Ontario Steel Products {OSP later became Rockwell}) were located in Chatham, Ontario. Eaton applied the Ionoklad with a sponge, and OSP/Rockwell applied it with a wide paint or wallpaper brush.

Franz describes Ionoklad as about the consistency of oatmeal, containing heavy concentrations/globules of zinc.

Franz posted a very descriptive summary of the rear spring coating history entitled "Re: Rear Spring Paint" on Thursday, 3 April, 2003 at 6:24 PM; it should be in the archives.