vettebuyer6369

OK, so I bought new redlines and when getting them installed, one of my wheels needed replacing. Turns out painting it to match the other original '69 wheels was a challenge. I see Paragon has a Rally Argent silver thats described as correct for 67, 71-72 and 75-82. Corvette Central has Argent Silver for most 71-82.

CC also has Corvette Argent Silver Green for 67-71.

The NCRS JG says 68-69 Rallys are painted "an unusual silver color with a pale greenish hue" and that the insides are semi flat black with signs of the pale greenish silver overspray.

Anyone have a line on correct paint for '69? Any color pictures where the color can be seen?

7T1vette

If you need it for NCRS judging, you should contact NCRS to find out what they say is correct. Otherwise, get the Argent Silver spray can and shoot all of the wheels. That way, they will all match.

P.S. Clean the backside of the wheel rim. If needed, repaint the backside with whatever color they are (usually semi-gloss black); then spray the Argent Silver without masking the holes in the wheel. GM didn't mask them, so some silver overspray was around those holes on the backside.

But, I preferred to mask the holes and not have the overspray.

marshal135

I painted mine the exact way.
Overspray is correct but quickly is masked by all the brake dust.
Marshal

Alan 71

Hi vb,
In reading the DB archives it appears there WERE 2 sources for a good match for a paint with the greenish tint…. Quanta and OEM Paints.
But, neither seems to be an option anymore.
People then began talking about having the original formula and having it mixed.
I don't know if you'd want to pursue that or not?
Since 70 cars still had the 'tint' maybe you'd want to contact Rowdy Rat to hear what he's using since I believe he's played with a 70 or two over the years.
Regards,
Alan

Faster Rat

Steve

This is the original spare tire and un-touched rim from my '69. The back side does not appear black with some overspray...it was painted pretty much the same. Maybe the painter was feeling a little more ambitious that day?

I don't know where you would get the paint...other than having it mixed. I gave up and went with too many spray cans of the regular argent silver on the other four rims.

Dennis

Don Rickles

I'd contact OEM see if they can help. I purchased their silver matte paint for the front grills, it was a perfect factory match. This was years ago but it looks like they're still in business.

http://www.oempaints.com/

Revi

While your 69 does require the "greenish" paint, I don't believe anyone makes the correct greenish shade in a spray can anymore. (It use to be available.) I've looked and ordered a few cans over the years, but they all ended up being the "silver" argent silver.

I have an old quart can from Quanta that is the greenish argent silver (you need a spray gun), but I don't believe Quanta sells it any more either.

Here's my original 70 spare with the greenish argent silver.

Alan 71

Hi Dennis,
I wouldn't typically expect to see the back of the wheel with that much silver paint on it…..but….it appears they got some GREAT runs/sags going on around the openings on the FRONT side while painting the back side!!!!
Regards,
Alan

jhudec

Here are some paint codes that I picked up along the way, I have not tried any of them, so use at your own risk, but if you do, please post back the results. I have 2 original 69' wheels, 1 dated later 68' and one dated late 69' I need to paint my 69' wheels also and I was going to take these to the ppg automotive store to them analyzed for paint. I was also going to take the paint codes to see if they made sense to them.
Ditzler/PPG DDL 8586
DuPont 9692L

Green tint (Grass Green lacquer)
Ditzler/PPG DE8586
DuPont 42153
R-M AT 114

Joe

vettebuyer6369

This is helpful info guys, thanks.

When my '69 was painted, apparently my painter actually had some of the color already mixed and did my wheels at that time. Now that I need to match a wheel, thats no longer available.

I just ordered a couple cans of CC's Argent Silver Green and will see how that goes. If its a strikeout, Ill have to look at getting it mixed. I'll report back on how that works out.

Its not for judging, and yes I should just paint them silver and forget about it, but I have a mental disorder.

7T1vette

Yes, you do. But, some of us are just absolutely **** about the simple stuff. The difference with me is that I want the car to "look" original...but how I get that done might be something entirely different than what the factory did. And I try not to leave ANY bare metal anywhere on my car. [I hate rust!!!]

ed427vette

One other thing I would like to add is the level of gloss. I have a set of unrestored original rims on my 69 roadster, all dated Dec 20 1968. The rims are dirty but all the paint is still fairly nice underneath the grime. Some spots need touch up. They have a slight sheen to them. I have also seen that slight shine on other original rims. They are not totally flat, like some of the silver/Argent paints that come in a can. I have heard someone say it "should" be 20% flattener?

I also need to paint the rims for my 69 coupe and eventually maybe on the roadster (hate to paint the original rims). I was going to take an original and have it scanned for the correct shade.

Please update this thread with results when you decide to go whichever route because I really have no idea what the right color combination/ratio would be as I'm sure it would be of interest to others as well. I've tried several canned paints and was not satisfied with the results at all.

Also, I'm having the sides and back powder coated satin black. I think it looks the best and the guy I use does a great job.

marshal135

Is it possible the all silver spare was an original over the counter replacement?
My 5 rims May 68 7" rims are silver front, blacked out rear.
The inside covered by the tire when mounted is silver as well.
I mounted my new tires so I remember looking them over.
Marshal

vettebuyer6369

Marshall, are they silver or silver/green?

7T1vette

Note to the poster who is having rims powdercoated:

One caution: Powdercoating is sometimes very thick (compared to just regular paint). If you powdercoat the tapered recess for the lug nuts, the nuts will tighten down fine...initially. But, with that thick paint coating and constant flexing/movement of the tires/wheels, that paint can start to erode under the nut and it can lose torque. Ask me how I know.

You can either ask the coater to mask the nut seating areas off or have him (or you) use a power tool and sanding bit to chew it off later. But, you should know that powdercoating is VERY tough and takes a lot of effort to get rid of it.

Just a 'word to the wise'.....

ed427vette

Thank you for the tip.

The powder coating will be on the back, not the front where the bolts will tighten down. That area will be painted as its needs to match the correct color. I guess even on the back the pressure could erode the coating. I'll pay attention to see what happens.

Thanks again,
Ed

Faster Rat

Absolutely. I bought the car in 2004 and can only vouch for what I have done to it. Many things could have happened in the prior 35 years and only the car knows the truth.

Don 68

You can get the correct base coat paint for the green tint argent silver paint at Ben's Paint On Orange Blossom Trail, Route 441 just north of state route 50 in Florida. Talk to *****. I used a flattening agent for the clear coat and it turned out just about right.


I repainted mine almost two years ago and they turned out nice. I don't have their phone number so you will have to look it up.



This is the paint, clear and flattening agent I used.


These are the 10 AG wheels I painted. The rest of the wheels were painted with GM Black. From my understanding the wheels were first dipped in black from Kelsey-Hayes before being shipped to GM. This caused the runs when the excess paint dripped off. Then GM painted the green tinted argent paint on the face of the wheels not masking the holes.
Don

ed427vette

Thanks Don,
The phone number is on the can of paint.

vettebuyer6369

Ok, so people asked me to report back. We used the spray can from Corvette Central (argent silver green, 68-74) and it kinda looked like the picture Don posted. Unfortunately to me, not sure if it's the photo, but I'm not seeing all that much green in it. Compared to another wheel in the shop which was clearly a brighter, lighter color Argent Silver, it's different, darker, but not particularly "green."

I'm not sure exactly what I'm supposed to be seeing in person, but it was time to put the wheels and new tires on today, so they are on and the car looks good.

I think I'll look at cars at Bloomington and compare colors better in person.