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I have my 1960 running gear completely restored and ready to set the body back on frame. It is semi-gloss black. I have had several people tell me that there was nothing other than black on the running gear and others say yellow, white and orange markings on the running gear. I found those colors but they appeared to be under the black finish. Is this correct? Who's right?
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Re: 60 Running Gear Marks
DANGEROUS question to ask, "who's right". Right and wrong are relative. There are no absolutes. Here's my opinion, based on many conversations, one of which was with a St.Louis chassis blackout painter. This guy should know how it really was.
Most of us in the NCRS are unaware that with C1 a chassis blackout process was performed just before body drop. The assembled chassis, with master brake cylinder sticking up on it's brake line, was assembled with painted components in various shades of black bearing inspection paint marks everywhere. Several unpainted components with paint marks also appeared such as the third arm bearing carrier, third arm, steering box, master cylinder, etc.The exhaust system, (pipes and mufflers) were coated with grease for shelf life but assembled on the car withoiut degreasing. The rear axle banjo had a large yellow circle painted around the filler plug if the car was posi with regular brakes, a large yellow "X" if it were posi with Metallic lined brakes, and nothing if it were non-posi or big brakes (RPO 687). A large yellow strip, continuous or intermittent, was painted across the top of the rear axle housing. The differential pumpkin had yellow on top of raw cast, black paint on top of that, and more yellow on top of the black. The tie rod sleeves had two yellow bands painted around one and one yellow band around the other. This on top of black paint. The ends of the axles had yellow on one end and white on the other. (two different lengths)Yellow stripes were on the shafts.
The instructions to the black-out painters were to paint over any bright,shining or technicolor components on the chassis. The intent was to draw the customer's eye from the undercarriage to the upper part of the Corvette which was to be bright and shiny. Most of the inspection paint marks were covered with a spray from the TOP DOWN and SIDES. The top of the third arm assembly, top and side of the steering box, outboard side of the master cylinder, a dusting on top of the T-10 and tops and sides of the complete exhaust system, with the exception of the pipes from the engine manifolds, were painted in GM's, EGGSHELL BLACK blackout paint. (Best approximation today is John Deere's, "Blitz Black" at your friendly lawnmower store) In Noland Adams' book you will find reference to a "mystery preservative" on the exhaust. This is simply grease with black paint on it.
The degree to which the chassis was blacked out depends on the day, time, and individual. I have seen the frame stincil partially blacked out as well as portions of the banjo yellow, X or O identifier marks. (or lack thereof) Many inspection marks did not get sprayed. Usually the blue dabs on the ends of the shocks escaped as did the drive shaft stincil on the occasions when it was oriented downward. If you view the chasis from underneath you will see all the paint marks since the blackout was sprayed from the top down and from the sides. Note that the rear springs with their shiny stainless bands (with tooling marks)and rubber gromets got blacked out as well. The top leaf of the spring, initally silver, was blacked out as well. You can see traces of silver at the eyes on the ends of the top leaves on newly done Corvettes.
I hope the above will be of some help and I'm sure a flood of posts will ensue.
Varooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!
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Re: 60 Running Gear Marks
I guess I asked the wrong question. What marks do the judges want to see?Comment
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Re: 60 Running Gear Marks
Depends on the judge. Different judges have different ideas. I watched a man loose points at Bloomington cause the judge didn't like the yellow circle around the posi fill plug. You never know! That's why judging is not absolute. You may score a 96 at an NCRS regional, make reccomended improvements, and score 93 at the next NCRS regional. I do think that if most judges examined a NEW 1960 Corvette, they'd probably give it a 72 or so! That's life on the judging field!
Varoooooooooooooooom!
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Re: 60 Running Gear Marks
dale is right most people have no idea what these cars looked like new .Comment
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Re: 60 Running Gear Marks
That would be interesting to see what a mint condition 1960 vette that was "stored in a barn" would score. If it were a 1978, that would be a relatively easy find since many anniversary cars were socked away.Comment
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