I am looking at my 75 air cleaner base with original paint and it looks like it’s a grayish/black gloss hammer type finish. Everything I have found says to use semi gloss black but it will not look like the factory finish. My 72 air cleaner looked the same.
Am I crazy? Any suggestions?

 

Hi I,
During 70-72 production the air-cleaner base, whether open or closed type, was painted black and the sheen was close to gloss.
I'm thinking that continued in the following years to include your 75.
I don't think a Hammer Tone type finish was used.
Regards,
Alan

 

The finish texture is very pronounced orange peel then. Both years seem identical.

 

For what it is worth:

I have yet to see a factory air cleaner base or lid that was painted...to have any texture to it. Those parts were painted and GM's process caused it to have a very slick finish. The same process used is like that what GM uses when they paint steel parts using the black e-coat primer.

I have seen numerous air cleaners that someone did paint using aerosol paint and did not get it prepped and cleaned correctly and it was really orange peely and has excessive texture due to they painted over apart that still issues wrong with the prep.

I honestly do not think I would go by those two references myself....and that is only due to the numerous air cleaners I have seen that look nothing like you described.

DUB

 

My original 75 is all black.

 

[huQUOTE=jd1a;1597004522]My original 75 is all black.[/QUOTE]

The black color I get but the texture and finish is not what you get from a spray can. Both the air cleaners I described are original. This

 

more photos.

 

That's bad prep work!!!

 

Sure looks like an original label stuck on there.

 

Hi I,
That paint doesn't seem to have the appearance of the paint that was typically used on air cleaner bases originally.
Regards,
Alan

73-75 air cleaner base finish.

 

My 72 had the exact same finish as my 75, the picture of the air cleaner above is what it would look like if I stripped it and repainted with black semi/gloss.

 

Just noticed a 75 convertible on EBay with the same paint finish on the air cleaner.

 

Hi I,
You have every right to think that the paint in the photos you posted are what the air cleaner bases looked like when they left St.Louis.
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks Alan, I know I am not crazy, have seen too many to be a coincidence.

 

 

I agree that the FIRST PHOTO in POST #6 is facotry correct due to I have seen them looking like that. That light texture does not constitute 'orange peel'. And the 'black' actually having a dark greenish tone to it is normal also where the coating was applied on light when it went down the paint line.

BUT...no matter how much you fell that the texture in the lid and on the top of the snorkel area that is in the photo of POST #7 being factory. I seriously doubt it. Because that DOES constitute calling that 'orange peel'.

And as for the decal that is on the side..I have painted so many air cleaners that had that decal. Taping it off to protect it is not an impossible task.... and for me...is not a contributing factor. Not only that...we can not see the texture in the side of the air cleaner base in the photo.

I can CLEARLY see that the sheen and the lack of texture in the photo in POST#15 is what a facotry air cleaner looks like.

Though Alan wrote that you have every right to think that they are correct...I guess he is correct. So if you feel that your air cleaners are painted correctly with that texture....then there is nothing more to say....or even me taking the time to post photos of original air cleaners on the Corvettes I have in my shop that can clearly show you differently. Your mind is made up.

And for what it is worth. A person who knows how to paint can achieve that texture in your air cleaner just by knowing and understanding the properties of the aerosol paint they are using. Because if you think GM wasted texture coating on air cleaners...you are highly mistaken.

DUB

 

I have an original '75 air cleaner base in my garage. No orange peel. The finish is smooth and slightly less than glossy.

Cheers.

 

Me too.

 

Guess their is no hard and fast standard on C3 air cleaners because I know the 72 and 75 have not been refinished. Wonder how the judges at NCRS handle this since they are so particular on stuff.

 

Hi I,
The NCRS is quite clear on the finish on 68-72 air cleaner bases.
The bases were sprayed gloss black.
The finish was applied while the base was hung on a hook. While the layer of paint was thin, it was typically very smooth.
I'd think the finish on the base of a 75 car would be the same.
The finish on the base in your photos doesn't appear to be typical of the finish one would expect to see on an original base... not in color nor in texture.
Regards,
Alan