57 Underbody blackout concensus

[Tom S.]

This is probably covered in the archives somewhere, but I'm trying to find a shortcut in determining which way to freshen my underbody for the upcoming season...total blackout, partail or total raw. Slnce Section 22 and 23 in the JM does not address this, I went to 2 of my favourite sites for photo proof of what top awarded cars have done. Example 1 at PRO-TEAM # 1078C Black car...total raw. Example 2 at Greg Wyatt's...a red Duntov car...total blackout. I've seen lots of partials on the judging field and always felt the floor area under the seats to the kick up area under the gas tank should at least be raw except where overspay from wheelwell blackout is present. I would rather not have to remove my blacked out floor (been on there forver) if concensus proves otherwise or what is known from an original car.

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

Tom,

Refer you to the Underbody paragraph in Section 21 Underbody and Wheelhouses on page 45 in the 5th Edition of the 56-7 JM.

Underbody condition is definetely addressed.

Using previously Judged cars one would have to read the scoresheets comments and deductions.

Gary
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[Mike G.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

mine is mostly raw. spots of black here and there. mine is a tripple crown carDSC00553.jpgDSC00554.jpg

[Rod K.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

My Nov '56 built car was basically all black except the floor under the pass compartment. Blackout from engine compartment down the firewall to where it leveled out at the bottom of the toe board, then black from the bottom of the bulkhead behind the seats to the rear, top to bottom and side to side. Some color overspray inside the rockers on the floor, not the same on both sides. It all looked like factory applied.

I took photos after cleaning but before stripping (which left it a little spotty) and showed them to Ken Kayser at Kissimmee several years ago. He opined it could well be origianl due to the random nature of application, etc., and advised to do it like it was and keep photos for reference when judged.

[Mike M.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

i agree with rod. mike

[Tom S.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

Thanks Gary,
Right church...wrong pew. Mike aand Ron confirm the partial theory but with annomolies that have surfaced over thhe years is there any possible way most of the floor could have been covered in a certain instance outside the norm ??? SO, anything other than this, do we consider this to be dealer or shop or owner applied in 1956 for protective purposes after it left St.Louis.

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

Tom,

Never owned a '56. About 15 years ago helped a friend restore a very late '56. This '56 was an original car, engine, etc. and all there. It had been rode hard and put up wet. The underbody wasn't painted except for the normal black out areas.

Gary
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[Tom S.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

In reading Rod's post from Nov.4, 2006 I'm finding a lot of similiar conditions to his and my vin is a few hundred after his. I see lots of old blackout without the asphalt base texture from the center "x" rearward to the back crossmember and lots with it in the wheelhouse areas. I remember telling my former owner in the late 80's to tidy it up a bit and that's when the more forward area probably got touched up but not overly. I love the "raw" look but don't look forward to some unecessary removal if I don't have to. Just for grins....whats the usual point deduct for .....Excessive blackout or Lack of raw.....what are we calling it these days.

[Wayne G.]

Re: 57 Underbody blackout concensus

Tom,
My low mile original '57 has very little black out on the underside of the body. There is some black out on the spare tire tub and in the rear wheel well, but the bottom is raw fiberglass.

Wayne