colors needed
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 569
Likes: 20
From: Milford, CT
colors needed
I want the rear end of my 77 to look original. I have the service manual an the AIM manual but it doesn't mention what colors everything needs to be under the chassis. For instance...
I need to know what colors the following needs to be..
half shafts
leaf spring
differential
lower strut arms (I think they are supposed to be black but are they flat, satin, semi or gloss)
brake calipers
frame rails
rear frame that goes across the back where the tail light are
I need to know what colors the following needs to be..
half shafts
leaf spring
differential
lower strut arms (I think they are supposed to be black but are they flat, satin, semi or gloss)
brake calipers
frame rails
rear frame that goes across the back where the tail light are
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
My advice would be to purchase the NCRS Technical Information and Judging Guide for 1977. In the rear of the Guide, there is a list of stock finishes.
Looking under you car, you are apt to find vestiges of the original factory finishes for painted items. Finding no paint of any type is a hint the part was probably raw metal.
Looking under you car, you are apt to find vestiges of the original factory finishes for painted items. Finding no paint of any type is a hint the part was probably raw metal.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,640
Likes: 3,102
From: Shamong, NJ
Generally, cast iron parts were left natural, and stamped steel parts were painted either semi-flat, semi-gloss or gloss black.
Half shafts - Were left their natural spun steel finish, and the yokes were in their natural forged finish.
Leaf spring - The rear spring was painted a light gray, including the plastic spring liners.
Differential - Natural cast iron finish, including the rear cover. The front mount was painted semi-gloss black.
Lower strut arms - These were not painted, but instead were left in their natural cast finish.
Brake calipers - Calipers were painted a semi-flat black. They were machined after painting, so machined surfaces had an unpainted machined finish. Calipers usually had a red, orange or white paint dab inspection mark on them.
Frame rails - The frame was painted with GM Chassis Black, which is probably somewhere between a semi-flat and a semi-gloss finish. Either will work, and look close enough to pass as correct.
Rear frame - The same GM Chassis Black was used on the whole frame. Frames were painted as a whole unit, and then hung from the front, so runs are often found in the paint at the rear of the frame.
Trailing arms - The stamped arm was painted semi-gloss black, with all of the cast parts left natural, as was the front mount bushings. The caliper backing plates were gold chromate plated finish.
Half shafts - Were left their natural spun steel finish, and the yokes were in their natural forged finish.
Leaf spring - The rear spring was painted a light gray, including the plastic spring liners.
Differential - Natural cast iron finish, including the rear cover. The front mount was painted semi-gloss black.
Lower strut arms - These were not painted, but instead were left in their natural cast finish.
Brake calipers - Calipers were painted a semi-flat black. They were machined after painting, so machined surfaces had an unpainted machined finish. Calipers usually had a red, orange or white paint dab inspection mark on them.
Frame rails - The frame was painted with GM Chassis Black, which is probably somewhere between a semi-flat and a semi-gloss finish. Either will work, and look close enough to pass as correct.
Rear frame - The same GM Chassis Black was used on the whole frame. Frames were painted as a whole unit, and then hung from the front, so runs are often found in the paint at the rear of the frame.
Trailing arms - The stamped arm was painted semi-gloss black, with all of the cast parts left natural, as was the front mount bushings. The caliper backing plates were gold chromate plated finish.
