1963 big tank questions

[Paul S.]

Questions????? Bolts that hold tank cover inside , ,,,,, interior color ?, ( i don't think they remain cadium) how bout the bolts that the gas filler neck to the upper deck ,,,,,,, painted exterior color or leave them cadium ? ( think they are exterior color ) whats right ??

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 big tank questions

Tank cover bolts are painted interior color.
Filler neck bolts are painted exterior color.
Bob

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1963 big tank questions

I agree with Bob's short & sweet answer. At a Cypress meet decades ago, the method of painting the filler area was brought up, and it was mentioned by one of the panel of experts that a coffee cup (or similar) was slipped over the exposed nozzle during the spraying operation.

Also, as far as the color of the bolts retaining the tank cover, I was asked about this by someone years ago, and upon forensic examination , I found the yellow exterior color was visible under the black interior paint, on some bolts [that maybe originally were] on the sides in direct line of yellow spray (remember, the rear glass was not yet installed).

Then, the interior color was sprayed after (my guess, anyway). Don't know how they would have masked the exterior areas, if the glass was not yet installed.



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[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 big tank questions

Wayne,
Michael Hanson and I found the same thing regarding exterior color under the interior color on the tank cover.
In this case it was a Nassau Blue 66 with black interior and the cover was painted thoroughly Nassua Blue once we removed the black.
Bob

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 big tank questions

Questions????? Bolts that hold tank cover inside , ,,,,, interior color ?, ??

Paul,

I agree with Bob and Wayne that the majority of N03 36.5 gallon tank covers and bolt heads were painted after they were installed.

I do know of two N03 cars that had the covers painted separately, before they were installed in the cars. The bolts that held the cover in place were not painted. The rear compartment and some of the tank itself had body color overspray on it. Both cars were in the early part of 63 production.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 big tank questions

Interesting paint process on one 63 N03/Z06 car.

One pic shows the mostly untouched cover in place with all unpainted cover attaching bolts and washers.

The other pic shows the cover removed (for the 1st time) and very obvious red paint overspray on the tank, filler tube and hoses etc. The top of the side bonding strips also had complete coverage of red paint. Very obvious that at least for this car, the tank/interior area was painted separately before the cover was installed.

I have no idea why this car, and possibly one other were done this way.