Evaporator box Recondition

Discussion in 'Chassis restoration' started by Rob Swenton, Jan 13, 2020.

  1. Rob Swenton

    Rob Swenton Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone
    I am in the process of restoring the evaporator box on my 70 GS 455. The one I took off was painted with tons of black which looked like it was put on with a brush!. I got it all off and the box halves are now down to the original brown fiber looking plastic.
    My question is was the box painted at the factory and if so what color?
    If it was not painted then I will need to do something about the areas where it was scuffed because the shine is gone from those spots. Is there a clear coating to spray on to cover those scuffed spots?
    Thanks for the help!!!
     
  2. NZ GS 400

    NZ GS 400 Gold Level Contributor

    Not painted as far as I know. For sure unpainted in 67.
     
  3. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    I lightly sanded them before then hit them with Satin clear. Originals were gray not brown. If yours was painted and is now brown the correct finish may be lost forever. I would look for a new one. There are a ton of those out there.
     
  4. NZ GS 400

    NZ GS 400 Gold Level Contributor

    Here is a picture of mine.
     

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  5. pglade

    pglade Well-Known Member

    Dave - He's correct in his description of it being "brown".....when compared to a '72 AC firewall box which is a lighter shade and positively gray in color. These earlier boxes are what I would describe as "brown"....at least that's what it looks like to me. It's not a pure gray like the '72 box. Is the '70 box TECHNICALLY brown???....I don't know. I'm a bit color blind when it comes to some darker greens and browns but my bet is he's seeing it the same way I am. This is probably just an "eye of the beholder" difference in description. Doubtful anyone painted it brown in the past....what he has is more likely....a bare box that was on a firewall some past owner hosed down with black paint as part of a half-a## underhood "resto".
     
  6. Rob Swenton

    Rob Swenton Well-Known Member

    It just seems funny that GM would place a brown housing on a black firewall. Anyway I want to keep it looking original but I want to try and put "something" on there to hide the scuff marks. Maybe some sort of penetrating sealer that I can wipe on and wipe off the excess so it just ends up with that satin appearance???
     
  7. pglade

    pglade Well-Known Member

    As Dave mentioned above.....Satin Clear. You could try dabbing the scuff spots with the paint....try just one area and see what result you get.
     
  8. Freakazoid

    Freakazoid Gold Level Contributor

    I basically did the same. I used a red scotchbright. Then clear. But not satin. Mine is a bit glossy. Wish I did use satin.
    Still looks decent. The clear does make the box look more dark
     

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  9. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    I just checked the one off a 71 I have and to me it is definitely gray. I’m not color blind but you are right color is highly subjective. 72 is definitely a lighter shade than 70-71.
     
  10. pglade

    pglade Well-Known Member

    It's just the way I describe them.......I see a pure gray when I look at a '72 firewall box and then I see something much darker with a "tinge" of something other than gray on the pre-72 boxes. We're on the same wavelength. I just picked up a real nice '72 box and have been cleaning it up and comparing it to a '70 box.
     

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