63 leaf spring

[Robert B.]

I am restoring my 9 leaf 63 leaf spring.Judging manual states light gray paint, BUT I have seen other very nice examples on low milage cars that appear to be black.
If the color is gray,what is the best spray can method and type to use.
Thanks

[Paul J.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

Robert, the black that you see is probably the black goo sprayed on some of the 63/64 chassis parts. It's called a half dozen misleading things like blackout and chassis blackout, etc., but the spring was painted gray. Quanta used to have the right color but I don't think so anymore. Others have used gray primer. I tried to search the archives to get you a thread that discussed it, but there are too many threads to read through to find it.

Try a search for "spring paint", otherwise, perhaps someone will chime in.

Paul

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

I used Quanta in the past. It came in a pint can and was brushed on.

The last set of liners I bought came from Quanta but I cut them myself. The paint I used was made by Seymour. It's described as a HI-TECH spray paint and the color is Dove Gray, code 16-112. I can't recall if I got the paint from Paragon or Quanta. Anyway, I primed the spring with a good metal primer then finished it with the Seymour. It came out great.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

I can't be specific but I recall someone here saying go to the Home Depot and get some grey paint. Check the archives for info, it may be there.

[Michael M.]

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000370a~Z5Z5Z5AAFUQ~P10.00~~~~S4130RUMD423114117880g~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000370a#

[John D.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

I don't think the 63 springs had any gray paint on them. Check further. Mike Hanson etal have covered this subject in the past.

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

Originally Posted by Jeff Ashen (33409)
The newest judging manual clearly states the spring is gray, and the rear differential and half shafts are natural unpainted.
so which is correct?

black or as stated in the manual --should I clean off all the black?



Originally posted by Michael Hansen: "Tha differential, along with almost all of the rest of the rear suspension/drive components for 63-64, was painted black. I've covered this subject very well over the last several years here. Many excellent pictures have been posted of unrestored low mileage originals and also many factory photos that confirm this.
The 5th edition of the JG DOES acknowledge this black paint/coating, although it doesn't state these components WERE painted. It does state that they might have been. By the time the next edition comes out, I suspect it will state that thet WERE painted.
It's not a grey area. They were coated black.

The spring coating for 63 is still up in the air. Although there is some documentation that the 63 spring was supposed to receive the light grey lonoclad (spl) it's not confirmed that all did. More likely the coating first appeared in late 63, but definitely early 64 for the early release of the new spring a month after start of 64 production.

Until the spring coating color is confirmed for 63, I suppose either black or light grey would be acceptable."


From everything I've read and/or seen on this subject Michael's comments (above) are probably a pretty accurate description of what the rear suspension looked like when leaving St Louis; i.e. black painted with black or light grey spring. With that said, the latest version of the JG doesn't agree, so if you're restoring one, you'll likely lose some points for a black rear suspension with black or unpainted spring.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

As John said, the 63 rear springs didn't get any paint. When I took mine apart there was no trace of paint anywhere.

However comma

Because the JG said they should be painted grey, I took the opportunity to provide some protection and painted each leaf with ZRC (Zinc Rich Coating) availible at Lowes or Home Depot in the rattle can paint section.

As far as the black you see on the original car, I suspect it is blackout. The 6th revision removed the possiblity for blackout on a restored car. As Mr Garver said, be prepared for deducts if you shoot some on. It happened to him.

I don't agree, but that justs the facts.

tc

[Robert B.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

maybe I will paint the drivers side black and the passengers side gray !

[John D.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

Franz Estericher was a spring engineer I believe. Also was on the DB all the time in the old days but no more. Franz helped me with the spring details on my 63, the LWC. He said at the time the 63 springs were made the plant had NO way to paint springs. He said the 63 spring was originally bare as could be.

Now add what Mike Hanson said to the rest of my note as far as black out goes.
Now I am not going against a judging manual as that's not my bag/forte. Just discussing the spring coating. JD

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

The original print for the 63-early 64 rear spring calls for a coating of "Lonoklad, or equivalent". (I have the original 2'x3' print)

Lonoklad is a med/light grey color but we have no idea what any other coating may have been, or if/when it may have been used.

As mentioned, many 63 original cars have been observed with no gray coating.

The rear suspension/drive blackout that all 63-64's would have received would have covered most of the drive units but only the top of the spring. I don't know for sure what the JG has on this. I don't have one.

By the time the new 64 model was released, I think all the springs were coated with Lonoklad.

[Dick W.]

Re: 63 leaf spring

The original print for the 63-early 64 rear spring calls for a coating of "Lonoklad, or equivalent". (I have the original 2'x3' print)

Lonoklad is a med/light grey color but we have no idea what any other coating may have been, or if/when it may have been used.

As mentioned, many 63 original cars have been observed with no gray coating.

The rear suspension blackout would have covered most of the drive units but only the top of the spring.

By the time the new 64 model was released, I think all the springs were coated with Lonoklad.

That is what Franz told me. Somewhere I have a ton of prints and specs for springs, sway bars, etc that Franz copied to me