64 rocker moulding retainer

[Tim D.]

I'm finishing the restoration on my 64 convertible. Before I install my rocker mouldings, I want to know if the rocker moulding retainer should be left bare sheet metal or primed with green zinc chromate primer and then painted black or what? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Tim

[Alan D.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

Well surprised John did not pipe in so I will take a guess. Since the supports, I believe referred to, are part of the "bird cage" which was painted green zinc and all the blackout was done before "body drop" they will remain green. My 64's are still green (owned since summer of 67)

Do a search for -
MIDYEAR CORVETTE ASSEMBLY PROCESS
2011 NCRS National Convention Technical Seminar
Presented by John Hinckley, Michigan Chapter

It's a must for these questions.

[Doug L.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

The annodized aluminum rocker panels would not have been on the car when it was painted, so why wouldn't the brackets be painted body color? I can't imagine the factory went to the trouble of masking them before painting. Mine were red (car and brackets) when the rockers came off. The paint was lacquer and I have no reason to think the car had been re-sprayed given how lousy the panit was.
Doug

[Alan D.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

Good point Doug - I was only looking behind the rocker panel.

With the mirror do see a little paint on lower part of a bracket on the front side, facing rocker panel. And as you mentioned the bracket was just hanging there (80% of it) so it would naturally get some paint when body was done.

The back sides would still show some green.

[Doug L.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

Here's what mine looked like when the rockers came off. Several rusted off but those that remained were red.
Doug

[Ronald L.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

The way that you need to look at this is as per the AIM, it gives a good indication, if the part in question is shown in the body construction section, you can expect it got painted.

Now, this area is not shown in the body black out section and there would be no rational reason to black out rockers, so skip the black out.

So those brackets that are welded on were there in the body construction, got the prime and some paint.

What you are referring to is the thin strip metal that actually holds the rocker molding, that part is part of final asy and as such came in was galv metal and screwed to the body as is.

[Michael H.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

I may be wrong but I think Tim may be refering to the long retainer strips that attach to the lower body??

If so, I think these metal strips are unplated and unpainted.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

Michael a print would tell us for sure. We are talking about the same part, maybe they were raw steel in '63???

I recall a little galv when I pulled my 66 apart in 1980, 40 years later - originals can be rusty.

Now I really doubt that GM would have placed raw steel against aluminium, especially in this low area on the car with direct salt impingement, even that early...

The galvanized metal would have been the barrier necessary to slow down the galvanic cell corrosion.

[Michael H.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

Michael a print would tell us for sure. We are talking about the same part, maybe they were raw steel in '63???

I recall a little galv when I pulled my 66 apart in 1980, 40 years later - originals can be rusty.

Now I really doubt that GM would have placed raw steel against aluminium, especially in this low area on the car with direct salt impingement, even that early...

The galvanized metal would have been the barrier necessary to slow down the galvanic cell corrosion.

I have a better idea. I have four NOS strips in the garage. I'll go look......

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Yup, you are correct. My NOS strips appear to have a thin coat of zinc plating. Slight rust at the ends where the plating was thin.

[Tim D.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

I'm not sure we are all talking about the same part. Michael and Ronald are correct in that I am asking about the long, thin bare metal retainer strip that sits behind the actual rocker panel and runs parallel to the rocker panel. I believe the rocker panel itself, clips over the top lip of the bare metal retainer in question. I am not talking about the brackets that are part of the birdcage. The 1964 AIM shows it on page D69...part #3 on the list "retainer".

I guess it is not that big of an issue since it really doesn't show after the rocker panels are fully installed, but I don't want it to rust over time. Maybe it is galvanized or ? and is designed not to rust?????

Thanks for all who have responded. You guys are great! If anyone else wants to respond, all thoughts are welcome. Tim

[Ronald L.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

Its been a few years but I recall the Paragon part was identical as you could get and galvanized. Is your original or repro?

[Joe R.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

During the last 30 years I have replaced all the strips on 63's, 64, 66 and one 67. Kept the old ones on the shelf. None are painted and none show any trace of ever being galvanized. They do show a trace of zinc plating but most has disappeared and been replaced with rust.

JR

[James W.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

I'm finishing the restoration on my 64 convertible. Before I install my rocker mouldings, I want to know if the rocker moulding retainer should be left bare sheet metal or primed with green zinc chromate primer and then painted black or what? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Tim

Tim,

If you are refering to the metal strip that runs parallel from the front to rear of the car; where the rocker molding clips over the top this part is/was plated and was installed after the car was painted. There would ve no reason to black that area out. Once the rocker moldings are installed they can not be seen. I've included a picture of from what I beleive is Mr. Hickley's 1967 convertible so he get's the credit.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

James West

[Michael H.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

During the last 30 years I have replaced all the strips on 63's, 64, 66 and one 67. Kept the old ones on the shelf. None are painted and none show any trace of ever being galvanized. They do show a trace of zinc plating but most has disappeared and been replaced with rust.

JR

I agree. Zinc plated. Not galvanized. Here are a few NOS sets that I have in the garage that still have the GM part number tag on them. Difficult to tell on the outer surfaces but the surfaces that were back to back over the decades clearly show a somewhat bright zinc plating.

[Joe R.]

Re: 64 rocker moulding retainer

While Mr. Hinkley's 67 is a wonderfully restored Corvette, it still cannot be used as a guideline to restore other Corvettes. His Corvette or any other RESTORED Corvette has errors and they should not be used because the errors start to show up in the judging guides!!!! Along with the reproductions and errors the judging guides become useless!!!!

That is why the NCRS has a class for un-restored original Corvettes. THOSE should be used for the guidelines an NOT restored Corvettes.

JR

PS. One of the most quoted publications (Mr. Adams) contains many pictures from the factory which are the most factual records we have of Corvettes being produced. The publication also shows pictures of restored Corvettes with errors. Mr. Adams included those pictures to show specific rare configurations but sometimes the pictures included other incorrectly restored components. Mostly under the hood shots of Corvettes during the 70's!