C-3, engine bay paint

[D S.]

Soon I'll be pulling the engine in my '70 and would like to detail the engine bay, firewall, and inner fenders. What is the correct color or colors for the exposed areas and which paint brand is the best to use? The upper A arms will be exposed as well as the radiator shroud. too.

Thanks,
Scott

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

Scott-----

Semi-gloss black is what you need. The original was GM #1040105. It was discontinued several years ago by GM. However, it's recently come back on the market in reproduction. From GM, it was available only in gallon cans. I know the reproduction is also available in gallon cans, but I don't know if they also offer it in smaller size cans, or not. I forget who the "product launch" source for this is, but I'm sure all the vendors will have it soon, if not already.

[Cary Lewis]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

Do you plan on painting the underside of the hood? I'm trying to find out where to stop the body color and where to start the black, do you have any idea?
Cary Lewis

[Thomas O.]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

Scott: Quanta Restoration and performance products catalog seems to have a good selection of paints for engine bay .The Quanta lists the black reconditioning paint that Joe is refering to GM #1050104 looks like some numbers have been transposed. WWW.QuantaProducts.com Tel. # 410 658 5700

[Jim Callan]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

On my '71, the underside color stopped where the inner hood started to "rise".

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

The underside of the hood edge is body color.

Black out begins at the corner where the edge underside and the perimeter reinforcing beam intersect. Note that this black out (as with other blackout) was done using a cardboard mask or something similar with the HOOD ON THE CAR. The black out break line along the reinforcing beam therefore should be soft and fuzzy, and NOT A HARD SHARP LINE like you get with that green masking tape.

You should NOT have extensive black out behind the hinge...if the black out is really nice and complete behind the hinge, the hood was blacked out OFF THE CAR (AANNNNNK...Not typical of factory production...Deduct 2). I believe the hinge was partially shielded by the mask, but may have some visible black overspray if it is not completely covered by body color.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about hood blackout.

[Rick S.]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

Chuck,
Was the same procedure pretty much the same for C-2's?

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3, engine bay paint

At the recent judging retreat in Dallas, I went to school on 66s to see how those midyear guys lived. Hood black out was one of the areas that I thought strikingly familiar to that of early C3s, particularly in the hinge area.

Having said that, I will confess that you are beyond my minimal expertise. If I were restoring a C2, my research would start with what I know about C3s, and I would confirm how C2s differed, if at all, from what I knew already. As you study Corvettes, you realize that plant production methods EVOLVED as they found out the easiest and most efficient way to assemble these cars. Trying to extrapolate your knowledge is not unreasonable because of the slow evolution of plant methods, but it will be risky to simply assume that it will work for another year class.

Maybe a midyear judge will tune in on your question.

[Thomas O.]

Re: C-3 body paint

I have a 73 which I call a survivor, therefore; I don't want to make severe changes. The color is bright yellow #952 the problem is a number of rock chips some very small others the size of a small thumb tack head. I would appreciate suggestions for repair. How difficult is it to get lacquer paint for spotting in? Any procedure suggestion would help in making a decision. The chips are found a few on the dog leg and most on right side front fender just back of wheel. Also need an alternator as original has been replaced. I haven't come across any repair shops interested in NCRS quality work so no source of advice from a profesional. Any idea on the price of an alternator car was built in April of 73. Thanks