Shim Marking Colors

[Justin N.]

Dear Members,
I have read that 67 shim markings are seen in green slash marks. Also, a green "O" for NO shims at a particular body mount position. What color is correct for that year, 1967. I saw white marks at the local Peterson Museum NCRS meet on the 1967 cars. Did the guy simply grab any color and start marking the frames? Are the colors year specific? Here's a shot of my buddy, Boyan's, 1963 340hp roller with white shim markings.
Justin #41362

[Dave K.]

Re: Shim Marking Colors

Justin,

If I remember the Quanta frame detailing kit contains the shim marking crayon and the variuos inspection paints. My 66 shims used the white marking crayon. I think that the Quanta kit was general for 63-67 and included instructions for use. I'll pull the instruction sheet and see what it says for a 63.

Dave Kitch
33108

[Tim E.]

Re: Shim Marking Colors

With the help of the Discussion Board Archives and the Quanta Kit, I settled in on white slashes for my 1966.

There is some conflicting information posted, but I recommend searching the Archives for "frame shim green" and you'll learn a lot. One Member with an original unrestored '67 observed green slashes. Here's a portion I cut from a thread titled "C2 - 65 Chassis Shim Marks - What Color?":

I'm trying to determine what is the correct color for the body/chassis shim marks for a late (S/N 18905) '65. There seems to be a lot of contradictory data out there, and it may be because the colors did vary a lot throughout the build. What I've found so far is:

1) I have seen one color photo of an unrestored '65 chassis in the Mike Antonick book on Dave Burroughs' restoration of a mid-serial number car (page 37). This photo showed white marks at the body mount just behind the door on the passenger side. Other photos in the book show the restored chassis with Burroughs placing new marks on the front mount, specifically orange for the 5-shim count, and white for the 1-shim count. I would assume that his color choice base based on observation of the original marks at the other locations, but there are no photographs in the book to substantiate this.

2) I have personally seen a '65 coupe which appears to have a unrestored chassis with visibile green marks at the #1 (forward-most) location.

3) The Tripoli book on chassis restoration states (page 32) that white or green lumber crayons were used, but there is no mention of any particular sequence to their use, nor any mention of the different color for the 5-shim count. Black & white photos in the book of a unrestored '67 chassis mention green marks in the associated text.

4) Noland Adams' '63-'67 Restoration guide has the often-referred to excellent black & white photo of the '66 chassis line, but there is no reference to shim mark color. It does show that the hand written dates were put on the frames at a different point in the build than the shim marks, meaning that there does not need to be agreement between the date and shim mark colors.

5) I ordered the chassis marking paint markers from Long Island, and the note which came with them says: "63-65 Red for date, and shim slashes + green for slash means 5 shims; 66-67 White for date and shim slashes + orange slash means 5 shims". If I go by this note, then the 65 cars should have multiple red marks for the 1-count shims, and green marks for the 5-count shims. I have never seen any other references to this style of marking. (Although the 66-67 instruction seems reasonable!)

[John H.]

Re: Shim Marking Colors

I think far too much exotic detail is being inferred from multiple references; based on 37 years in assembly plants, when the frame was gaged, the guys made their hash marks with whatever color lumber crayon or grease pencil their foreman was handed by the clerk in the General Stores crib that week. Those guys didn't consult cross-reference charts to see what color a given number of hash marks should be - they just grabbed the grease pencil and made the number of marks the gaging tool told them to. Many of them couldn't read anyway.

[Chuck S.]

Musta' Been Them...

"Many of them couldn't read anyway."

Hillbillies and Ridgerunners from down south of the big river.

[Dick W.]

Re: Musta' Been Them...

Is ya'll a makin' fun of us? We'uns got 10 (most of us) fingers an' toes. Kan count to 20, what else we need?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Musta' Been Them...

I figured I might hear from you, Papa Smurf.

No, Dickie, I'm not making fun of you; I'm making fun of US! I always liked what that old country philosopher had to say: "Mamas, don't let yer babies grow up to be cowboys...Make'em be doctors and lawyers and such...Don't let'em drive them old pickup trucks...".

[Kevin M.]

Re: Musta' Been Them...

My 67 has original white shim marks. Ser# 05188 if your car was built on or near that number I'd say the "tool Crib" handed out a white one that day.

Kevin

[Mike M.]

Re: Musta' Been Them...

Three of my original cars ranged from15xxx to 17,xxx were also white.
H. a. N. D.