C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

[Dave K.]

[John H.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

Dave -

There's a photo on page 23 (upper right corner) and at the bottom of page 22 in Noland's book that shows a deck lid hinge sticking up from a convertible body in the Body Shop, and it appears to be black, not natural, which would indicate to me that the hinge was received at St. Louis primed, or was primed at St. Louis prior to delivery to the line.

[Dave K.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

John,

I'll look in my NA Vol. II. Was this a green zinc phosphate primer, black phosphate coating or just black lacquer primer?

Dave Kitch

[John H.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

Dave -

I expect it was just black dip primer; phosphating was more expensive, and I doubt if the Chevy beanies in those days would have signed off on phosphating a part that was going to get body color on it.

[Joe C.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

Dave:

If your car has an AO Smith body, the rear deck hinges were primed zinc dichromate, along with the birdcage, prior to painting. They should appear greenish with significant amounts of body color overspray.

If your car has a St. Louis body, they may have been painted semigloss black prior to the application of body paint.

Joe

[Dave K.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

Joe,

Thanks, my body is an AO Smith and I kinda thought that it should be zinc chromate. I'm using zinc phosphate which gives the same green appearance but is more environmentally friendly. I painted my front seatplates with zinc phosphate to simulate the chromate appearance and I understand that Smith bodies even had chromate painted radiator supports.

Dave Kitch

[Joe C.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

Dave;

Even if you are lucky enough to find a zinc chromate (zinc phosphate is allowable under current EPA regulations) formulation available today, you will find that the pigmentation will not match that of the original issue. It is up to the restorer to try to replicate the original color.

Joe

[Dave McDufford]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

For what it is worth, Zinc Chromate and Zinc Oxide (its replacement for aircraft use) are available from aircraftspruce.com. Even though they caution you about the Chromate, I bought some with no problem about a year ago.

[Joe C.]

Re: C2 Folding Rear Deck Hinges

Dave:

I was able to buy zinc chromate in spray cans at a local marine repair shop when I was in the process of restoring my 1965 SHP roadster, about 18 months ago. I had to mix some enamel to spray over it, because the color of the currently available ZnCr2 does not match that of the original.

Good luck with your restoration. It sounds a lot like mine- a barely driveable basket case. My frame was not bent, but required some beefing up, welding, and MASSIVE cleanup, using copious amounts of primer/surfacer.

Joe