Paint Color of Rear Spring

[Jeffrey A.]

Does anyone know what color for the rear spring be painted for a 68 427/390 that they could either post a picture or point me in the right direction. Thank Jeff

[Gene M.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Jeff
color is gray, same appearance as primer gray.

[Jeffrey A.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Thanks Gene
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

If you're anal retentive, Quanta sells the exact same paint as used originally.
One can is enough to do a few springs.

Patrick

[Jeffrey A.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Pat
Thanks I will give a call, I do want as close as possible

Thanks for the info
Jeff

[Jamie F.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Was the whole spring painted gray, liner and leafs after assembly?
Or just the leafs and then assembled with the liners and fastners left natural?

[Terry M.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Liners were uncoated and fasteners natural.

You might do a little more checking. The original coating was NOT paint. It was a lubricant and rust preventative (I have forgotten the name, but it begins with an INK???), and for most of the leaves was only applied to the bottom of the leaf. Obviously (or maybe not) before the leaves were assembled. The reason I say most of the leaves is because I am not so sure the main (lower) leaf was coated -- but that might depend on what year we are talking about.

[Jamie F.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Wow Terry that's new info to me.
I was going to restore a spring this weekend and fully intended to paint it with the gray primer paint that everyone sells. Is that not correct???

[Terry M.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

I don't think it is correct -- but it IS what everyone does.

I never could understand why we can get so anal about clamps, fastener head marks, and stamp pads; but EVERYONE lets the gray primer on the rear spring slide. I have a lot of sympathy for the chassis judges (years ago I used to judge chassis), and the difficulty of seeing things in that black hole -- but TFP is TFP.

Added to that, I don't think the actual material they used on the rear spring is commonly available, and -- well -- gray primer (even though it is slight off in color) is all over the place. I have had no communication with Quanta, so I am not sure what is actually in the cans they sell -- but as I read the application process the material doesn't sound like it would go into a spray can.

Lest you think this information is a secret -- Gary Beaupre (who posts on here from time to time) has authored a series of articles about the 1963 and newer Corvette rear spring. I printed some of them when I was editor, and I believe my successor even printed one. Anyway -- the correct information is in one or more of those articles.

[Jamie F.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Great info Terry! Now you got me thinking... I'll go look up those articles and take a closer look at my spring. It didn't look like paint and now that you've clear it up it makes sense!

[Keith B.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Quanta Grey spray paint. Used it with new liners (kit), also. Looks perfect.No deducts on my Top Flight.........http://www.quantaproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=28-02

[Jamie F.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Terry, I just looked up Gary's article.
Here's what he states is the Engineering spec from the drawings:
"APPLY 3783188 PRIMER (IONOKLAD 200J OR EQUIVILANT) ON TENSION SIDE AND EDGES OF LEAVES, MIN COATING .00015"
He speculates from this that the tops were not coated.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Does anyone know what color for the rear spring be painted for a 68 427/390 that they could either post a picture or point me in the right direction. Thank Jeff

Hopefully the picture I attempted to attach to this post came through.

My original 68 leafs had remnants of a grey paint/primer coating.

If the picture didn't come through Jeff, send me a private e-message and I'll send you all my related pictures.

Chuck

[Patrick H.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

Terry, I just looked up Gary's article.
Here's what he states is the Engineering spec from the drawings:
"APPLY 3783188 PRIMER (IONOKLAD 200J OR EQUIVILANT) ON TENSION SIDE AND EDGES OF LEAVES, MIN COATING .00015"
He speculates from this that the tops were not coated.

Ionoklad is (was) what Quanta has been selling for years in a pint sized can. It's like thick oatmeal consistency.

http://www.quantaproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=28-02

Yes, you can cheat and use gray spray primer, but it's NOT the same stuff.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Paint Color of Rear Spring

There you go. Life is a series of choices. Enjoy.

Thanks to all of you for the references