C1: Spindle painting

[Rob M.]

Should the bearing, shim and pin (wedge), washer and nut be painted black as well or were these not painted? What about the caps at the end of the spindle (which are protecting the king pin and its bushings?

as always thanks for your help,
Rob.

[John M.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

Rob,

I am more accoustomed to seeing both the spindle and and support being nautral cast iron with only overspray from the blackout process. I am not at home right now to check my pics, but I believe that an orange paint band around the spindle support would be showing as well, if not blacked-out over.

The coverage from the black-out spray process was not very good in tight areas like this, and full coverage would not have been the norm. JMHO

Regards, John McGraw

[Tom P.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

This is how John Neas requested that I finish the front suspension that I rebuilt for the 57 airbox car that he is restoring. The HD springs are believed to have the gray stripes and the yellow and orange rings were still partially visible when I cleaned the parts (so I duplicated it as close as possible). He didn't want any black over the upright and spindle (which I believe did get applied at the factory), so that the orange and yellow could be seen. I believe that after the entire suspension was assembled, it got painted black, but just how much, I don't know.

[William C.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

I certainly agree about the black paint, I found similar markings on the front end parts of my '62 but not until I had agressively cleaned 30 years worth of dirt and a substantial quantity of the black paint off the suspension. I do think your markings are much too neat compared to what was on my car, and there is little question that an attempt was made to shoot black paint over the whole assembly.

[Michael H.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

Tom,

I agree with Bill. I'm not a C1 expert, by a long way, but I have to ask how the backing plates would have received any black paint if the spindle is unpainted. Pretty sure the entire assembly, including spindles, backing plates and drums etc etc, was painted as a unit.

Could "accidently" miss a small spot with the black where the stripes are and still have most of the backing plate/spindle covered.

I've seen several excellent pic's of C1 front susp assemblies, possibly in Nolands book, that show the extensive coverage.

[Rob M.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

I always use these pictures of a freshly dismantled 61 taken in 1962 but it is still difficult to determine the exact color/finish of these parts...

http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...e=11&art_id=-2

another one of the same article:

http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...e=13&art_id=-2

Here it looks unpainted indeed but know inspection marks (maybe a dab of yellow/orange/gray at the top)...

http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...e=13&art_id=-2

Here the spindles are disassembled.

PS I have the whole document now also available as a single pdf for easier reading:

http://www.c1registry.com/downloads/...e_Analysis.pdf

greetings,
Rob.

[Michael H.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the great pic's. I looks like the areas around the spindle that have an unpainted appearance are actually areas of dirt/mud that was splashed up on these components before the car was disassembled. Looking at the tie rod end in your second picture, I clearly see mud spatters that become heavier as you look out toward the outer end. It's possible that the spindle may have a few "lightly painted areas" but typically, these assemblies were coated generously.

I'm in uncharted waters again trying to sort through C1 mysteries but your pic's and several others I've seen from Noland Adams convince me that the majority of the spindle is coated. Wonder if anyone can scan and post a few pic's from the Adams book?

[Rob M.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

Sorry third link should have been: http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...2&supersized=1

greetings,
Rob.

[John H.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

The welded front suspension crossmember was dip-painted black at Detroit Gear & Axle, as were the upper and lower control arms, prior to assembly to the crossmember; the spindles and uprights were natural forged finish. After assembly to the frame at St. Louis, just prior to Body Drop, the outer ends of the front suspension got varying spray coverage of the chassis blackout paint.

[Ray C.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

I have posted some pictures of the original markings on a 1961 front suspensions. The previous owner used so much grease that it worked as a good preservative.

You may also like to check out the new Western New York NCRS web site.

www.wnyncrs.org

Ray

http://wnyncrs.org/61%20chassis%20set.doc

[Tom P.]

Re: C1: Spindle painting

Ray,
That orange stripe on the upper portion of the spindle support (in your link) looks just like the one that was on John Neas', which he had me duplicate. Additionally, there were yellow stripes/blotches, which I also duplicated as seen in the picture below.