Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

[Timothy B.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

I would like to see some pictures of the frames done with this tar paint. Does it ever set to the touch?

[Ron G.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Tim,

Yes it does dry and is not sticky, but much like original radiator paint you can almost dig your fingernails into it. When it does dry and cured, it has more of a semi-flat finish and only to the trained eye will anyone know that it is asphalt.

- Ron

[Tom R.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

As I understand it, parafin started in 1976 production. The thing that confirms it for me is that like yourself and my 70-72 counter parts, I must have judged and just looked at literary hundreds of untouched frames and they all seem to follow the way of my research. I am not saying your wrong or I am absolutely correct, but I have to go with my personal observations. Don't get me wrong, I know you have been doing this probably longer than me and I respect what you say. Thanks.

Thanks Ron. Very possible it was the 75 or even the 76 model year. I still remember reading the new GM "Service News" that described the change. It could also have been "New Product Information" for the yet to be released 1976 model.

I still have most of the "Service News" from that era, 68-76.

Ron and Michael

I judge late C3 years and so the discussion relating to the parafin finish intrigues. What are the properties of a parafin finish. I mean, I've looked at dozens of low-mileage late models...none of which have been perfect but most original.

My interest that I'm in process of restoring a Pace Car and have yet to find a finish that I'm satisifed that replicates what I see on low-mileage vehicles of the period.

[Joe L.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Joe & Mike,

What can I say. Never say never, but again my own research supports my observations, but I do believe what you say. As for Mike, is it possible that one day you can make me copies of that paper work at my expense? Thank you both.

Ron------


I should also have mentioned that the coating on my frame did not appear to have been sprayed on which is consistent with your description of the application process used at Milwaukee. It's hard to describe the "texture" of it but it did not look like a sprayed-on sort of coating.

It may very well be that the processes used at Milwaukee were different than those used at Granite City. A.O. Smith Milwaukee was an "ancient" facility that may have used archaic processes. The last time I drove by the massive, blocks-long plant about 20 years ago it looked like a building that could have been constructed in the "middle ages".

[Michael H.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Ron and Michael

I judge late C3 years and so the discussion relating to the parafin finish intrigues. What are the properties of a parafin finish. I mean, I've looked at dozens of low-mileage late models...none of which have been perfect but most original.

My interest that I'm in process of restoring a Pace Car and have yet to find a finish that I'm satisifed that replicates what I see on low-mileage vehicles of the period.

Tom,

Somewhere here, I have a great closeup picture of a brand new frame in the St Louis plant. I know for sure the pic is late 70's or early 80's.

I would call the amount of gloss on the paraffin coating medium gloss, or less, not as glossy as asphalt base, and the color is dark grey instead of the very dark brown (black) of the previous coating.

[Michael H.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Tom,

Here's the close up picture of a brand new frame at the St Louis plant. Note the somewhat dull paraffin based coating compared to the previously used tar based coating on 60's and early 70's frames.
To me, it appears dark grey instead of the somewhat glossy black tar base coating.

[Tom R.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Here's the close up picture of a brand new frame at the St Louis plant. Note the somewhat dull paraffin based coating compared to the previously used tar based coating on 60's and early 70's frames.
To me, it appears dark grey instead of the somewhat glossy black tar base coating.

The lighting, I'm sure, does not do justice but I would agree the medium gloss would seem about right for late C3 frame finishes. Clearly...not flat though.

I would call the amount of gloss on the paraffin coating medium gloss, or less, not as glossy as asphalt base, and the color is dark grey instead of the very dark brown (black) of the previous coating.

But why is it referred to as parafin based? Sounds like it has wax in it. Years ago when I was up underneath the chassis of my 78, cleaning it, used something like brake cleaner on the tranny crossmember and it took the finish right off. To this day, the rust shines through but the original finish is long gone and just the residue remains.

[John H.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

There was a major effort in the early 70's to find a better frame coating with better anti-corrosion performance, and many different materials were tried. I sat in on a couple of those meetings that involved A.O. Smith, Dana, the Chevrolet-Bristol Road frame plant, several chemical and paint suppliers, Engineering, and Purchasing. Anti-corrosion materials technology was in its infancy in those days, and paraffin-based coatings were among those being proposed, discussed, and tested. Durability cost more, and cost was always the enemy. Don't remember which material(s) actually made it into production, but a number of different coatings were tried.

[Joe L.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

There was a major effort in the early 70's to find a better frame coating with better anti-corrosion performance, and many different materials were tried. I sat in on a couple of those meetings that involved A.O. Smith, Dana, the Chevrolet-Bristol Road frame plant, several chemical and paint suppliers, Engineering, and Purchasing. Anti-corrosion materials technology was in its infancy in those days, and paraffin-based coatings were among those being proposed, discussed, and tested. Durability cost more, and cost was always the enemy. Don't remember which material(s) actually made it into production, but a number of different coatings were tried.

John------


I can say that the original asphaltic coating worked very well for cars that lived in California. From what I've seen of cars that lived a lot of other places, it didn't work too well, at all. I don't think the later coatings worked too well in those other places, either.

[G A.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Help! I am confused. There is at least one here (Terry M. post #12) who believes that '69 frames were not coated with the asphaltic material, rather they had an actual painting process. I would like to finish the frame 'period correct' ( I confess I'm not a points guy though) based on what we know now. PLEASE, '69 untouched aficionados, what sat ye? Asphaltic or paint?

PS. I DO like my stuff to be the way The General made it, as much as possible.

Dan

[Terry M.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Dan, the car I was referring to in post @12 is an early build 1970. Trim tag is A29 (January 29, 1970)

[Joe L.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Help! I am confused. There is at least one here (Terry M. post #12) who believes that '69 frames were not coated with the asphaltic material, rather they had an actual painting process. I would like to finish the frame 'period correct' ( I confess I'm not a points guy though) based on what we know now. PLEASE, '69 untouched aficionados, what sat ye? Asphaltic or paint?

PS. I DO like my stuff to be the way The General made it, as much as possible.

Dan

Dan-----


My original owner, mid-September, 1969 built car definitely had asphaltic frame coating. No doubt about this, at all, as I once removed it with petroleum solvent. There's no way that paint could have been removed with petroleum solvent----no way!

[Ron G.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Joe,

In a previous reply, I made mention of A.O. Smith went to Dupont 640 black primer in March of 1968, but now you have me thinking. The person at A.O. Smith I was speaking with so many years ago maybe was indicating that March 1968 was the date they stopped purchasing the asphalt coating and maybe they continued to exhaust the remaining stock before actually starting to use the latter frame coating. I do know that was very common with the different configurations in other parts. What do you think?

- Ron

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Ron
This is kind of off the frame, but what did they use on the A arms on the cars, was it a paint they shot or did they dip them?

[Joe L.]

Re: Applying Quanta asphaltic frame coating

Ron
This is kind of off the frame, but what did they use on the A arms on the cars, was it a paint they shot or did they dip them?

Lyndon------


It was PAINT and I think they were dipped.