Paint Question - convertibles - NCRS Discussion Boards

Paint Question - convertibles

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  • mike cobine

    Paint Question - convertibles

    I've been looking back through the pictures I can find of the factory painting and what I can't seem to find is how the factory painted the deck lids on the convertibles.

    Anyone have pictures of those being done?

    I assume the lid had to be open to get underneath, but if open, it will cover the front edge of the rear deck, at least from what I perceive as from getting goot coverage.

    Also, some hood pictures seem to be propped open slightly and others seem closed flush.
  • Michael H.
    Expired
    • January 29, 2008
    • 7477

    #2
    Re: Paint Question - convertibles

    Mike,

    I have many pic's, somewhere, but the short answer is, the underside of the deck lid was painted first, then it was closed before the top surface was coated. The same is true for the hood underside and door jambs. The last coat of any primer or color was to be applied to the body in it's completeed configuration.

    Michael

    Comment

    • Roy B.
      Expired
      • February 1, 1975
      • 7044

      #3
      Re: Paint Question - convertibles

      What year???

      Comment

      • Michael H.
        Expired
        • January 29, 2008
        • 7477

        #4
        Re: Paint Question - convertibles

        This procedure was supposed to be used at least as far back as SOP of the 63 model run and continued to the end of St Louis production. I would be surprised if it was any different for 53-62.

        The entire body would have been "closed" (doors, hood and deck lid) before the entire body was painted. It would have been extremely difficult to "panel paint" with metallics and have any degree of success in any other way. (although I've seen many conv bodies go through that were painted in two parts. The entire nose and doors were shot, then the doors were opened and the rear half of the car was shot. I don't know why it was ever done that way but I know it happened, at least occasionally.

        Michael

        Comment

        • Richard S.
          Very Frequent User
          • November 1, 1994
          • 809

          #5
          Re: Paint Question - convertibles

          So if one were having a 66 convertible painted today what would be the recommended sequence for shooting the car.........doors open....hood up....deck up.....then close all for final coats....

          Comment

          • Grant M.
            Very Frequent User
            • August 31, 1995
            • 448

            #6
            Re: Paint Question - convertibles

            Rick,

            That would be reasonable if you were seeking the closest approximation (good or bad) of the factory finish. Another area you might consider is the lower rear panel (exhaust panel), which, according to Dave Burroughs book "Corvette Restoration--State of the Art", was temporarily hung from two of the fasteners for painting. This left the lower edge with only a very thin, rough coating as the painters were spraying from a standing, bent-over position at best.

            If instead, you're seeking optimum quality coverage, remove everything you can and paint it separately (headlight buckets, rear exhaust panel, vent grilles, hood. The doors and deck lid can be painted on the car, as suggested, doing the inside surfaces first and closing them for final outer coats.

            grant

            Comment

            • Michael H.
              Expired
              • January 29, 2008
              • 7477

              #7
              Re: Paint Question - convertibles

              Rick,

              Yes, that's basically how the prime/paint operatio went. The body was pushed into the first prime booth and the doors, hood and deck were opened. After the jambs and hood/deck gutters and underside was coated, the doors/deck/hood were closed and 1st prime was applied to the entire body exterior surface. The cycle repeated for 2nd prime but, if I remember correctly, the door jambs, hood and deck troughs were not primed a 2nd time. (these areas were NEVER sanded during any part of the body assy procedure or prime/paint so a 2nd prime was not necessary)

              The same basic procedure was used for color coats but, as with 1st/2nd prime, I believe the jambs, hood and deck underside received less coats of color than the exterior surface of the body. The last coat would have been applied to the exterior body only.

              The entire process was quite complex and there were a LOT more steps involved, too many to list here, but this is basically what happened to your Corvette as the body was painted. The path, or "line", through that area of the plant was so confusing that, to this day, I believe only a few people really know how this worked. It (almost) always did though, and at the end of the line, the correct body went on a chassis.

              Michael

              Comment

              • mike cobine

                #8
                Re: Paint Question - convertibles

                Maybe that big crayon number on the rear bulkhead helped. A quick look under, and you have the right body.

                Comment

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