C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

[Martin N.]

Anyone know out there for sure that the factory used a black primer on their C-3 rallye wheels? And if so can I just scuff (no rust on the wheels) the exsiting black with a Scotch Brite pad, wipe them down with laquer thinner before applying the Argent Silver? THANKS.

Marty

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

Anyone know out there for sure that the factory used a black primer on their C-3 rallye wheels? And if so can I just scuff (no rust on the wheels) the exsiting black with a Scotch Brite pad, wipe them down with laquer thinner before applying the Argent Silver? THANKS.

Marty

Marty-----


I've never really seen any evidence of black "show-through" (i.e. where the argent silver chipped off and allowed a black primer to be seen) on a Corvette rally wheel. So, I'm not sure that a primer, particularly a black primer, was used on the face of the wheels.

No matter, though; it's really a moot point. If the wheels you have have a black primer finish (e.g. as is found on new GM or Hayes replacement wheels), you can do just as you describe to prepare them for painting with the argent silver. No one will ever know the difference and you'll end up with a more durable finish than if you painted over bare steel.

[Bill M.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

I remember stripping some '68 (15X7) wheels and finding a very tough black primer. These wheels were probably bought aftermarket. The black primer was so tough I couldn't strip it off, so I just painted over it with lacquer primer and topcoat. They still look great 30 years later.

[Martin N.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

BILL & JOE-

Part of my reason for asking is that the material left over after using a chemical stripper on the wheels was, as you said Bill; "the black primer was so tough you could'nt strip it off". I realize the environment that the wheels are subjected to and was wondering why the factory did'nt apply the same "process" to the Argent Silver as they did to the black primer? Making the finish coat as impervious to outside elements as the base coat.

My 1974 wheels are all correct "AZ" and date coded. They had at least one coat each of silver, then white, then black and then some incorrect shade of "hardware store" silver again and finally after a ton of stripper I reached the original black primer. My main reason for doing this was in fact to be able to retrieve all the codes for originality purposes and to shed some weight.

I was wondering how the Argent Silver would be affected (color wise) by using an additional Gray or Red primer on top of this baked on black material? Thanks guys.

Marty

[John M.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

I think 68-70, (not sure about 74) used a Black paint (not primer) on the wheel first. Them sprayed Argent Silver on the top side.

So Semi Gloss black on the rear, Argent on the front.

[Bill M.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

BILL & JOE-

Part of my reason for asking is that the material left over after using a chemical stripper on the wheels was, as you said Bill; "the black primer was so tough you could'nt strip it off". I realize the environment that the wheels are subjected to and was wondering why the factory did'nt apply the same "process" to the Argent Silver as they did to the black primer? Making the finish coat as impervious to outside elements as the base coat.

Marty

Marty:

Maybe Kelsey-Hayes applied the black stuff in some baking process to avoid corrosion for their aftermarket wheels, and Chevy wouldn't pay for it on production cars?

Bill

[Sal C.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

All of the original dated 1968 through 1972 Ralley wheels I have restored have had a thick black first coat. I would say that from what I have seen it looks as though the wheels were hung and dipped into the black coating as there are always pools of thick paint on one end. Perhaps John Hinkley can elaborate.
Even when I media blast the wheels it does not affect the thick "pooled" area. I just give a coat of "chassis black" to both sides and a final coat of silver to just the front, without taping the holes. You end up with the perfect look, just as it left the factory, drips, puddles, and all.
Bottom line is, I don't think you will find a better base coat than what was applied at the Kelsey Hayes plant.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

All of the original dated 1968 through 1972 Ralley wheels I have restored have had a thick black first coat. I would say that from what I have seen it looks as though the wheels were hung and dipped into the black coating as there are always pools of thick paint on one end. Perhaps John Hinkley can elaborate.
Even when I media blast the wheels it does not affect the thick "pooled" area. I just give a coat of "chassis black" to both sides and a final coat of silver to just the front, without taping the holes. You end up with the perfect look, just as it left the factory, drips, puddles, and all.
Bottom line is, I don't think you will find a better base coat than what was applied at the Kelsey Hayes plant.

That is the exact duplicate of my own experience.

There was a black primer over the entire wheel. The wheels were dip-primed as were other parts, and the pooling at the bottom of the wheel (opposite the hang point) is virturally impossible to remove completely...you have to slowly erode it away with bead blast media.

Personally, I would use PPG's DP90LF black epoxy primer...the color and gloss level is nearly perfect for the old GM primer, and, for a true primer coat, it is the best primer you can buy in my opinion.

[Martin N.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

SAL & CHUCK-

I just finished my 2nd rear wheel and I am not noticing any evidence (dipping, pooling or dripping) that the 1974 wheels were primed in this fashion and hung to dry. The coating is very equal on both surfaces of the front and rear of the wheel itself and appears to be quite uniform in thickness, even in the center section of the wheel. This material is EXTREMELY hard, I'm impressed with whatever K-H used! I still wonder why K-H did'nt finish the face of the wheel this way, that would've been awesome.

THANKS for your input.

Marty

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

SAL & CHUCK-

I just finished my 2nd rear wheel and I am not noticing any evidence (dipping, pooling or dripping) that the 1974 wheels were primed in this fashion and hung to dry. The coating is very equal on both surfaces of the front and rear of the wheel itself and appears to be quite uniform in thickness, even in the center section of the wheel. This material is EXTREMELY hard, I'm impressed with whatever K-H used! I still wonder why K-H did'nt finish the face of the wheel this way, that would've been awesome.

THANKS for your input.

Marty

Dip primed parts have a nice uniform coverage. The GM primer was thin and formulated specifically for dip painting...it literally "sheets" off the part.

I don't remember finding any evidence of drips or runs elsewhere; only pooling at the lowest point on the BACKSIDE of the wheel. The amount of pooling may vary depending on the season when the part was primed, and the weathering of the primer in the barrel. My original production wheels were made in July 1970, about the hottest time of the year. Paint setup would have been quick, before the last remnant could drain off.

BTW...It's impossible to dip prime a wheel without finishing the front face in that manner. I can't explain why some have found no black primer behind the silver, but to apply the silver directly to the steel doesn't make sense in the context of what I have observed. It's possible they had changed processes by 1974, but I highly doubt it would have been to spraying...too much material lost, too much time taken, too much mess to clean up, too many unnecessary health hazards. Spraying would have been a backwards step.

That does not mean, however, that you should try to duplicate the pooling for authenticity. I drew the line at having to buy 30-40 gallons of paint in order to dip my wheels in a 55 gallon drum.

My recommendation on the primer remains the same...PPG DP90LF.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

All-----


I totally agree that it makes sense that the wheels were primed and, certainly, if they were dip-primed the entire wheel had to be coated. I just observed that I've never seen a wheel where the argent silver paint was chipped showing through the black primer beneath.

[Terry M.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

Chuck there is a way to dip prime without 30-40 gallons of paint. It has been posted here before.

[John H.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

Production wheels were received raw (and oiled), by the thousands, piled herringbone-style in rail cars; the least-favorite job for material handlers was unloading a "wheel car".

They were hot-degreased, phosphated, dip-primed (or flow-coated, depending on the plant), baked, then the front face of the wheel was painted with wheel enamel, and they were baked again.

Service wheels were primed in gray by Kelsey-Hayes prior to shipment to the Regional Depots so they wouldn't rust in depot storage.

[Martin N.]

Re: C-3 Rallye Wheel Primer

JOHN-

I suspected 'baked' because the material is very hard. Thanks for the insight, a little history goes along way.

Marty