1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Can anyone advise as to the finish on the shims that are welded to the front of the frame on an early 1965 chassis? The '65 Judging Guide states (at page 150) that "Front frame horns typically use welded-on unplated, cadmium or zinc plated shims rather than tape." (emphasis added) That is somewhat confusing to me. Does it mean the shims might be either zinc plated or natural (unplated), but in either event, not painted black? I noticed that, at the National Meet in Hampton last summer, there were a number of very nice C2 chassis on display, some of which showed the front shims painted black along with the frame and others showing the shims with a zinc finish and, of course, the burn marks from the welding. Logically, the question of whether the shims received paint appears to turn on whether the shims were welded on before, versus after, the frames were painted with the cheap black paint. I understand that '63 and '64 chassis received post-assembly black overspray. But I also have read that '65's maybe did not receive such overspray due to concerns about getting paint on the new (for '65) brake calipers. Anyway, were these shims painted black or did they remain zinc colored on an early '65? Thanks as always in advance.
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
I "think" the welded shims were painted along with the frame . Any that were added later would have been unpainted . -
Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Mike,
The shims were tack welded to the frame prior to body drop and after the frame was painted and assembled. You should have a bare area on the frame to do weld. But, But, But, the AO Smith cars got more black out at assembly to cover the green zinc chromate primer on the core support. In which case the shims will in most cases be black along with all other parts in this area. As far as I know the St Louis cars had the core supports all ready black prior to assembly in which case I would expect the shims in question to be bare or zinc plated.Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
John . So were the shims installed on the frame line at St Louis or at the frame factory .Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
John, If the shims were tack-welded onto the frame while on the frame line, does that mean they were painted black along with the frame--regardless of whether it was an A.O. Smith, versus St. Louis, car?Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Below is the AIM page that shows the shim. No mention of being welded to the frame but we know it happened. My guess would be they were probably tacked welded at or near the same operation where the #2 body mount was welded to the frame for convertibles. This photo shows no paint on the #2 body mount, so the front shims were probably treated the same. They may have received some blackout as you can see in the photo was somewhat haphazardly applied prior to the body drop.
MikeLast edited by Mike E.; April 30, 2014, 08:17 PM.Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Also, IMO I would think that core support shim count would be the same as the shim count on the firewall body mount. I am curious what others think about that reasoning.Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Tim . The core support shims affect the hood to upper surround fit ,and the fan blade to to fan shroud fit . They are not the same count or thickness as the cowl shims .Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Bill/Gene,
You are probably right but I don't know how the shim count affects the hood to surround fit. When you add/remove shims the complete inner fender moves up/down as it's bolted to the core support. The shims under the hood hinge add or reduce hood height relative to the surround panel.
As far as the fan inside the shroud, I can see that. A few pics I have looked at show approx the same shims as what I see marked at the firewall mount so I am curious.Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Tim , Trust me the core support will change the fit at the hood to header area and the hood to the side fenders and how the upper surround fits the lower fenders . I just finished replacing the complete front end on my 65 using "all" GM panels but using my original inner fenders . After 3 years of drag racing and a couple of wrecks the original shims are just a starting point anyway .Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
What a great photo of these '65's before/after body drop! Never seen it before.Never knew the master cyl. was already attached and somehow supported at this operation. Also was intrigued by the white and black masking tape over the body shims.thanks for posting it! MikeBelow is the AIM page that shows the shim. No mention of being welded to the frame but we know it happened. My guess would be they were probably tacked welded at or near the same operation where the #2 body mount was welded to the frame for convertibles. This photo shows no paint on the #2 body mount, so the front shims were probably treated the same. They may have received some blackout as you can see in the photo was somewhat haphazardly applied prior to the body drop.MikeComment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
This really is a very interesting and revealing photo. Also note what appears to be a very thin red stripe on the front rubber brake hose.Comment
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Re: 1965 Front Frame Shim Finish
Bill -
The number of shims required (for all positions) was determined in the primary frame fixture at St. Louis on the Frame Upside-Down Line, and the shims for the radiator support mount location were tack-welded on the Chassis Line in the same station where the #2 mount bracket was added on convertibles.Comment
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