63 Rad Support Paint

[Joe S.]

The judging manual states the core support is semi-gloss black. Can someone recommend a suitable paint (is Krylon 1613 too flat?).

Thanks




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[Joe C.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint

Use the same paint that you will use to black out the engine bay, and the underside of the hood. I use Eastwood's Underhood Black. It is sold in quarts. Thin and spray per instructions.

Joe

[Craig S.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint

Joe - John Deere Blitz Black is has slightly more sheen than Krylon 1613. I am not sure if it is correct for a midyear radiator support, but if that part was originally comvered with the now gone GM 104 and 105 black, it has a similar appearance..Craig

[William C.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint

Keep in mind to really paint it correctly, the rad support ought to be in the engine bay, with shims in place. The area between the core support and the inner fender panel on both sides will appear as umpainted if the support is removed from a "virgin" car.

[Joe S.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint

Thnks guys. Yes, the core support will be painted when the black out is done. I wanted to put something on it for now after I clean it all up.

Was it completely covered during the blackout process, or was part of it left something else?

Thanks

[William C.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint

"Completly" with respect to blackout is a chance ocurrance full coverage is possible, but did not always happen.. Areas likely to be missed were the front of the lower bar, right behind the front lower valence panel, not to say that would not have been covered on many cars.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint

Joe,

The core support was dip painted semi gloss black at the original source/manufacturer and sent to GM/St. Louis just that way. After it was installed in an unpainted body, some areas near the hood hinges and next to the fender inner skirts were over sprayed with primer and then body color when the body went through the paint operation.

After the body came out of the paint operation, the under hood blackout was done and that would have included the outer portion of the core support that wound up body color during body paint. That would account for the black shims and bolts.

The bottom of the core support would have received a shot of body color when the bottom of the lower grille panel was painted and it never was blacked out. A correct car would have that surface body color.

If you have a chance to inspect original paint cars, you will see that the core support is black but the lower fiberglass panel just ahead of it is usually bare of any paint or primer. That should prove that the support was black before it was ever installed in the car.

Also, if you carefully strip your original, you will find at each end, black, covering body color, covering primer and finally covering the original black the it was when installed.

Michael

[Joe S.]

Re: 63 Rad Support Paint (Thanks!)

Thanks guys for all the info. It helps a lot!

Joe..




Joe's 63 FI Convertible