C3 paint sequence at the factory - NCRS Discussion Boards

C3 paint sequence at the factory

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  • Eric F.
    Expired
    • June 30, 2003
    • 319

    C3 paint sequence at the factory

    Does anyone know what sequence the factory followed when painting the car? I'm wondering if the metal reinforcement brackets for the front bumper and valance were attached to the body before or after the body was painted? There was a small amount of body color overspray on the reinforcement brackets when I disassemled them so I assume they were riveted to the body before it was painted.

    Was the blackout process in the engine compartment sprayed before or after the body was painted?

    Thanks for your time.
  • Tom R.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • June 30, 1993
    • 4081

    #2
    Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: body bake

    Eric:

    It would be helpful to know model year but I'm assuming your talking rubber bumper model years. I've posted some pictures of production from the late 70's early 80's that show bodies going through oven, seam repair after paint and marriage to chassis. These show that bumpers and valences were not attached...not sure about brackets but perhaps you can study and let us know your conclusion.

    I do know the bumpers were not attached. I have other photos showing them on carts already painted. In the early years, the factory had to experiment with paint flex additives to adhere to the rubber bumper and were painted separately from the body. That's why we see design and material changes until the mid to late 70s.
    Tom Russo

    78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
    78 Pace Car L82 M21
    00 MY/TR/Conv

    Comment

    • Tom R.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • June 30, 1993
      • 4081

      #3
      Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: seam repair

      This photo shows a seam repair after the first body color coat
      Tom Russo

      78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
      78 Pace Car L82 M21
      00 MY/TR/Conv

      Comment

      • Tom R.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • June 30, 1993
        • 4081

        #4
        Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: Marriage

        Finally...this photo shows the marriage of body to chassis without either bumper and valence in place. It illustrates that those items would have obstructed assembly of body to chassis.
        Tom Russo

        78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
        78 Pace Car L82 M21
        00 MY/TR/Conv

        Comment

        • Tom R.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • June 30, 1993
          • 4081

          #5
          Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: Blackout

          Forgot your blackout question got so excited about posting these photos. Blackout was done after paint operations...both paint booths but prior to final bake.
          Tom Russo

          78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
          78 Pace Car L82 M21
          00 MY/TR/Conv

          Comment

          • Patrick H.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • December 1, 1989
            • 11608

            #6
            Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: seam repair

            Tom,

            As the hood and front fender of the second car does not appear painted, I do not think any color coat has been applied yet. That appears, to me, to be the standard seam filler and not a later repair.

            I realize I may be incorrect, but that's how it "appears" to me. As the body went directly from primer to paint when on the line, I don't know why bodies with non-glossy paint jobs and repairs like this would be going down the line. I would understand, however, bodies yet to be painted looking like this.

            Patrick
            Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
            71 "deer modified" coupe
            72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
            2008 coupe
            Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.

            Comment

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

              #7
              Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: seam repair

              The "seam repair" photo shows the bodies as they were just after the complete front and rear sections were added to the bird cage. No paint or primer had been done at this point. Next came doors and headlamp assemblies, then the completed unit went in to the "body grind booth", then through "putty rub", before the first coat of primer was applied. The material that was added over the top of the body seams was a special compound that was supposed to prevent "seam readout". Every body went through this procedure.

              Comment

              • Tom R.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • June 30, 1993
                • 4081

                #8
                Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: seam repair

                I was guessing on the basis of the glossiness but having gelcoated boat hulls...that makes sense. I saw Corvette bodies on an assembly line so I would easily defer to both you and Michael...thanks for clarifying.
                Tom Russo

                78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
                78 Pace Car L82 M21
                00 MY/TR/Conv

                Comment

                • Eric F.
                  Expired
                  • June 30, 2003
                  • 319

                  #9
                  Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: body bake

                  Tom,

                  My car is a 75 convertible. Thanks for posting the photos, I enjoyed looking at them. I noticed that the cars in bake and the car being lowered onto the chassis appear to be missing the lower portion of the front fender in front of the wheel well. Is that my imagination or is it normal. Thge rear portion of all the cars in the photos match mine so the only thing I can think of is the photos are of a 1973, where there were steel front and rubber rears. What do you think?

                  P.S. Where'd you get the photos?

                  Comment

                  • Tom R.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • June 30, 1993
                    • 4081

                    #10
                    Re: C3 paint sequence at the factory: body bake

                    Eric...I believe the photos were taken about 1980. In some of the photos, (not posted) you can see the 80's style rear bumper cover with spoiler along with the alloy rear cross member...distinctive charactertistics of late, late model C3.

                    Think through what must be assembled prior to putting the "body panels" on and than it makes sense. I'm not looking at the phots but side lamp lenses, bumper support assemblies, etc. As I recall none of which were installed...in fact the latter are probably on the chassis.
                    Tom Russo

                    78 SA NCRS 5 Star Bowtie
                    78 Pace Car L82 M21
                    00 MY/TR/Conv

                    Comment

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