Paint color for '57 front cross member

[Garry E.]

Can anyone advise as to the level of "glossiness" the black paint should be on a '57 front suspension cross member....? The original black paint on mine was quite glossy..... Can anyone recommend a gloss black paint that captures (or, approaches...) this original finish....?
thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Richard M.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

Garry,

I think the assembled crossmember came in to St Louis for assembly onto the frame. However I always thought it was the same paint used for the frame, not gloss?

Are we sure the crossmember was gloss black?

Rich

[Chris H.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

Here is what I did from information in the JGM and here on my '62:

semi-gloss/med gloss: vent tube, vent tube bracket, crankshaft pulley, fan pulley, fan, oil canister. Spark plug wire routing supports, radiator shrouds, washer vacuum canister, third arm bracket, Heater hose clips, stab bars, bushing brackets, steering column mast, clutch linkage, bumper brackets, frame, front crossmember, front control arms, brake drums, backing plates, tie rod sleeves, frame

blackout semi flat, 1613: underside of hood, hood hardware, rad support, electrical wireing harness retainer clips, wiper motor plate, firewall

gloss black: Dipstick, Radiator, coil, heater air hose brackets, coil springs, Horns

Natural: clutch rod thru firewall, Tie Rod Ends, Pitman Arm, Spindle, Spindle supports, steering box, third arm, dipstick tube, Drag Link and Rear spring bands & liners all unpainted.fuel, brake lines, The rear springs may or may not be painted black and the top leaf silver.

[Jerry W.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

Here's result of eastwood chassis black

[Garry E.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

Everyone....

thanks for your responses.....
I'm planning on using Eastwood's Chassis Black on the '57 frame..... I've used it on my '64 with good results..... a nice "satin" finish w/o being too glossy or too "flat"
It's my understanding that the various suspension parts were painted (or left natural...) by the respective suppliers prior to assembly in St Louis, thus the different shades of black paint used (I've heard that up to 18 different shades of black have been identified).... they then received varying amounts of black-out overspray after assembly....
My original front cross member has a finish more glossy than the frame (traces of the frame paint were still there...)..... I think I'm going to go with a "medium glossy" paint that will provide some contrast between the cross member and the frame.....

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Loren L.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

The cross member and the frame were the same POOR QUALITY GLOSS BLACK that would fade to semi-gloss before the body got put on. The asphalt based paint has its biggest problem when gasoline (and other) get spills on it - it goes away. So you're looking for a semi-gloss that STAYS semi-gloss and lasts - there's probably 14 million previous threads on this topic alone - centari enamel with flattener, powdercoat black semi-gloss, John Deere semi-gloss, Rustoleum semi-flat, Krylon semi-gloss, etc., including a repop of GM "Chassis Black". Good luck and enjoy.

[John H.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

The front suspension crossmember was painted and baked at Detroit Gear & Axle before any parts were assembled to it, and the control arms were also painted and baked separately before they were assembled to the crossmember; neither paint was the same as the asphaltic "paint" applied to the frame at the A.O. Smith-Milwaukee frame plant, which air-dried.

[Alexander C.]

Re: Paint color for '57 front cross member

The front suspension crossmember was painted and baked at Detroit Gear & Axle before any parts were assembled to it, and the control arms were also painted and baked separately before they were assembled to the crossmember; neither paint was the same as the asphaltic "paint" applied to the frame at the A.O. Smith-Milwaukee frame plant, which air-dried.

Now that's great info! Thanks!