Shades of Black

[Dick W.]

Re: Shades of Black

when I restored the frame on my 67 in late 80s, I used GM frame paint I bought thru dealer, seems like I remember it being asphalt based but gloss was right on, now I am told it has been discontinued for years. oh well.

Michael, that was a semi gloss lacquer. Even with that product, the gloss depended on the air pressure of the gun, the type thinner used, and the air temperature & humidity. It could vary several points either way.

[Mike R.]

Re: Shades of Black

70% gloss? Isn't this well beyond semi gloss? Is the fame supposed to be this glossy? I pulled the front frame extensions and there is original paint between these and the frame but it doesn't look very glossy.


If only we could get the original crappy, weak. low quality paint instead of effective modern coatings life would be good...

When we did a lot of restorations, we used DP or DPLF-90 as a primer on the bare metal. We used PPG K-36 as a primer surfacer over the DP. Did what sanding we needed to and then sealed it with DP, reduced 100%. For the final coat we used PPG 9300 flattened with DX815 to about a 70% gloss. We thought that this was about as close as you could get to the crap that GM used. Had several Duntov and BG gold winners

[Terry M.]

Re: Shades of Black

70% gloss? Isn't this well beyond semi gloss? Is the fame supposed to be this glossy? I pulled the front frame extensions and there is original paint between these and the frame but it doesn't look very glossy.


If only we could get the original crappy, weak. low quality paint instead of effective modern coatings life would be good...

I think it is a mistake to assUme that all frames had the same gloss level originally. My guess is there was no standard for the original gloss level and the coating was simply an inexpensive way to keep the frame from rusting until the car was sold.

We see unrestored cars with widely different gloss levels on the frame, and some of that could be because of the way and where the car is stored, but my belief is that some of the differences are because the coating had different gloss levels to begin with. Others my hold different views.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Shades of Black

70% gloss? Isn't this well beyond semi gloss? Is the fame supposed to be this glossy? I pulled the front frame extensions and there is original paint between these and the frame but it doesn't look very glossy.


If only we could get the original crappy, weak. low quality paint instead of effective modern coatings life would be good...

I agree with Terry. In sheltered areas, my frame was slightly more glossy than DPLF-90 epoxy primer, which is what I consider to be "satin" or "eggshell".

The frame extensions you removed were dip-painted with GM black primer, which can vary in gloss, but is typically close to satin/eggshell. The back side of the extensions facing the frame can be compared to the uncovered area of the frame to confirm your gloss level. However, do not expect the two gloss levels to be exactly the same.

[Paul J.]

Re: Shades of Black

I think it is a mistake to assUme that all frames had the same gloss level originally. My guess is there was no standard for the original gloss level and the coating was simply an inexpensive way to keep the frame from rusting until the car was sold.

We see unrestored cars with widely different gloss levels on the frame, and some of that could be because of the way and where the car is stored, but my belief is that some of the differences are because the coating had different gloss levels to begin with. Others my hold different views.

I remember reading somewhere (perhaps it was in Noland's book) that frames were stored outside prior to assembly for varying periods of time and that sometimes they would be touched up. This could put several different shades of black on them.

[John H.]

Re: Shades of Black

I remember reading somewhere (perhaps it was in Noland's book) that frames were stored outside prior to assembly for varying periods of time and that sometimes they would be touched up. This could put several different shades of black on them.

That's correct - C3 frames were made at A.O. Smith-Milwaukee, stored outside in stacks, shipped on open railroad flatcars, then stored outside at St. Louis until about two hours before they went on the line. I never saw any attempt to touch them up.