After this Exxon Valdez of a 70 GS was steam cleaned underneath. Car built Nov.69 at Kansas City. The majority of underside cleaned up well and of course some factory paint came off. But the transmission support when closely examined I can see no real signs of any chassis black at all. One would think if a piece is 5+ feet in length there would be some left? Is this the way they were or has anyone seen this before ? This being a South west clean, no rust car the evidence seems to point to it being au natural. Also on this car the found hood hinge springs were black. Any advice or opinions are appreciated. Thanx Dave
Probably should have been black, my 67 is. Maybe it all got sand blasted off in the Southwest??? o No:
My Flint built 72 was so greasy and covered with undercoating I couldn't see any black either. Two hours of degreasing/ scraping to remove all the undercoating and all I was left with was clean metal. Cali car most of its life, but I can't see the crossmember being raw, so original or not, I just painted it semi-gloss black for protection.
I am not doing this car for concurs show judging ,but then again I want to do it correct. I can paint it semi chassis black. I just simply do not see any evidence it was ever like that.o No: Thanx Dave
Some of my cars have been bare metal and some have had chassis paint on them. I suspect that the chassis paint was simply overspray from the assembly or undercoating process. I do paint my crossmembers chassis black when I do restoration for two reasons: 1) it looks better than bare surface rusted metal on a restoration, and 2) it does give a level of protection against the elements. I have done then with POR-15 and then topcoated with Eastwood Chassis Black.
I was going to paint it steel silver if it was original steel to keep it from rusting of I have blasted stuff before and just cleared it well. Then dry clear it later to cut down on the sheen. Is anyone know what the concurs guys have on their cars ?
It should be black that is the way they were painted. Over the years they get blasted off. I have never seen a bare steel one. I have never seen a restored concoruse car that was not painted black either. Check Out Jims restored car posts......That is a very exposed piece. I am not that experienced with KC cars but I do not think GM would leave an important support like that unpainted. The hood hinges should be gray phosphate.
I don't know if Buick was like some of the other GM makes (like Oldsmobile), but some of the chassis components were touched up, if not outright painted, with "black-out," which was a thin, tar-like paint which never really dried. It often washes off with very little elbow grease and some Simple Green or solvent. Steam cleaning might have removed yours, if Buick used the stuff.
Well I guess the support goes black then. Looks like I may have blown the black off of it. Copperhead: My hinges were gray phosphate, but the spring were black. Ya think someone changed them or maybe a Kansas City thing ? Dave
