The 1960 - 1966 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Factory Correct Restoration Thread

[60-66]

Heres a few pictures showing the remains of the paper that covered the bed floor. This is a 1962 with 900 miles.





Then here is a pictures showing the runs in the paint on the wood.Notice how they run to the passenger side,

[yelmer]

Good Info Jon , On my green 66 from fremont the rear section between the tailgate and wood was painted black . That looks much better than then being painted black

[LT1 Burb]

That's amazing the paper is still there, so are the 4 rear bolts just natural zinc.

[60-66]

The cam bolts holding the bed down were put in after everything was painted and the bed attached to the frame. So yes they stayed natural or zink plated. On GMCs all or most of the perimeter bolts that hold the wood to the sheet metal were zink. Here on the Chevy you see they are painted. Notice on this truck the very front of the bed wood to bed panel bolts are on top of the paper and end up body color. Ill find some examples of GMC bolts. I believe we need some bed detail pictures from OEMforme's 66 Chevy ! Like Yelmer mentioned also there will be some differences plant to plant. I've noticed a mix of painted and plated bolts on all of these trucks. If you look at picture one of the blue inner fender the one next to the bedside is still natural while the rest are painted. This particular truck I had the chance to see in person. Original tires , original everything.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by 60-66

I believe we need some bed detail pictures from OEMforme's 66 Chevy !

I'll gladly get some reference shots next time I have the truck out, Jon.
So weird that GMC had a totally different approach, even with trucks coming off the same line?
Just curious on some of the incredible details that blue '62 shows. With the bits of paper remaining, I'm guessing the side panel and wheel tub sealant was applied on top the masking paper before sheet metal assembly, and then torn out after completion?

[60-66]

Originally Posted by oem4me

So weird that GMC had a totally different approach, even with trucks coming off the same line?

Im pretty sure Chevy and GMCs done on the same assembly lines were all done the same Bruce, those GMCs had body colored rear inner fenders. Its the GMCs with Black inner fenders that seem to be assembled in pieces already painted. My red 66 GMC has the black rear inner fenders and every bolt for the front bed panel is still zink/cad plated. many of the bolts holding the sheetmetal to the wood floor are plated and some are black against the red paint. I think we are going to find several variables on this subject from plant to plant. This is the only picture I have of the bed from the 62 GMC 1700 mile truck showing that detail.



[QUOTE=oem4me;Just curious on some of the incredible details that blue '62 shows. With the bits of paper remaining, I'm guessing the side panel and wheel tub sealant was applied on top the masking paper before sheet metal assembly, and then torn out after completion? [/QUOTE]

Yes, another thought might be they applied it to the flange of the inner fender instead of the paper ? Hard to say.

[aotte1]

Jon,
Thanks for the additional information on primer /paint process.

Following is from what I found on well worn '64 built in St Louis.

It seems to follow what you know. Front fenders black primer; whole doors black primer, along with outside of door and jam area red primer ( can not say whole jam red primer, at least have it some areas; center part of door inside is black). On the cab, looks like red primer on outside under painted areas and bottom of floor pan, inside of cab black?? Firewall - black ??. Again this is a well work truck.

Les

[5Win]

This one

Originally Posted by 60-66

The cam bolts holding the bed down were put in after everything was painted and the bed attached to the frame. So yes they stayed natural or zink plated. On GMCs all or most of the perimeter bolts that hold the wood to the sheet metal were zink. Here on the Chevy you see they are painted. Notice on this truck the very front of the bed wood to bed panel bolts are on top of the paper and end up body color. Ill find some examples of GMC bolts. I believe we need some bed detail pictures from OEMforme's 66 Chevy ! Like Yelmer mentioned also there will be some differences plant to plant. I've noticed a mix of painted and plated bolts on all of these trucks. If you look at picture one of the blue inner fender the one next to the bedside is still natural while the rest are painted. This particular truck I had the chance to see in person. Original tires , original everything.

[Submariner616]

I'm getting close to paint time on my 60 C10 and need some guidance from you factory original guys! I was wondering if the underside of the hood is body color or black. Also, under the front and rear fenders, and underside of cab, is it black or body color?

[Isaiah92260]

I found a picture of the 1961 interior interior from a brochure. Does anyone know where we could find a close or similar pattern material to reupholster the bench seats?

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by Isaiah92260

I found a picture of the 1961 interior interior from a brochure. Does anyone know where we could find a close or similar pattern material to reupholster the bench seats?

Check with SMS Auto Fabrics

[f66]

Originally Posted by Submariner616

I'm getting close to paint time on my 60 C10 and need some guidance from you factory original guys! I was wondering if the underside of the hood is body color or black. Also, under the front and rear fenders, and underside of cab, is it black or body color?

My original paint 1966 is painted black on the underside of the hood.

[1962K10]

I really enjoy seeing these nostalgic brochures and seeing just how much detail they put in these trucks. Sub'd, Thank you!

[f66]

Originally Posted by Submariner616

I'm getting close to paint time on my 60 C10 and need some guidance from you factory original guys! I was wondering if the underside of the hood is body color or black. Also, under the front and rear fenders, and underside of cab, is it black or body color?

I have added some answers about my 1966. Submariner616, we might also need some input from anyone who owns an original paint 1960 or knows.... did they change paint processes between 1960 and 1966? Were their variations in paint processes between the various factories? Want to make sure you get the best most accurate answers.

Frank

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by f66

I have added some answers about my 1966. Submariner616, we might also need some input from anyone who owns an original paint 1960 or knows.... did they change paint processes between 1960 and 1966? Were their variations in paint processes between the various factories? Want to make sure you get the best most accurate answers.
Frank

Frank have you looked at this thread all the way through?

[aotte1]

Jon,

Thanks for sharing very useful information, on how the bed was painted.

Do you have similar knowledge on how the cabs, hood, doors, and fenders were primed and painted. Have found black primer on some of these parts too.

Les

[60-66]

Originally Posted by aotte1

Jon,

Thanks for sharing very useful information, on how the bed was painted.

Do you have similar knowledge on how the cabs, hood, doors, and fenders were primed and painted. Have found black primer on some of these parts too.

Les

That's still a learning process Les. What I do know, again, is that everything was dipped in black primer just like buying NOS parts. The complete front end was painted over the black primer. Now the cab is where that changes. Every one I have seen, the cab and doors where the paint fades off of factory paint its red oxide underneath. I know from cutting cabs apart that these cabs were not dipped as there's bare metal between the layers. Doors however , I have several NOS doors in black primer. Im guessing the doors were shot in red oxide primer over the black while the cabs were being prepped, then painted in body color with the doors mounted to the cab.

Every book I have from Chevrolet and GMC states these trucks were factory painted in Enamel while the touch up paint you find from this era for these trucks is a can of Lacquer . The old saying was , " You can spray lacquer over enamel but you cant spray enamel over lacquer.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Every book I have from Chevrolet and GMC states these trucks were factory painted in Enamel while the touch up paint you find from this era for these trucks is a can of Lacquer . The old saying was , " You can spray lacquer over enamel but you cant spray enamel over lacquer.

Yep, all GM cars were spayed with "Magic Mirror" acrylic lacquer as I remember, but the trucks got enamel. This is one reason trucks display the most killer patina from that era. When lacquer ages, it cracks or "checks" which can lead to an alligator skin look, where as trucks and their enamel paint jobs fade evenly and thin out to zero without flaking off.
I did not know that saying about painting one over the other. In fact, from my experience painting cars, I know lacquer is chemically much "hotter" than enamel, which would mean enamel can go over lacquer, but not the other way. In most cases lacquer will lift underlying enamel unless a sealer is applied first.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Yep, all GM cars were spayed with "Magic Mirror" acrylic lacquer as I remember, but the trucks got enamel. This is one reason trucks display the most killer patina from that era. When lacquer ages, it cracks or "checks" which can lead to an alligator skin look, where as trucks and their enamel paint jobs fade evenly and thin out to zero without flaking off.
I did not know that saying about painting one over the other. In fact, from my experience painting cars, I know lacquer is chemically much "hotter" than enamel, which would mean enamel can go over lacquer, but not the other way. In most cases lacquer will lift underlying enamel unless a sealer is applied first.

Maybe I have it backward ?

[Todd Ugine]

Hello All,

Does anyone have any formulation information for the acrylic primers for GM cars and trucks during the years 1965-1967? I have an old code or two that I'm interested in learning more about GM-3, and GM-44. I believe the first code is for an acrylic primer, and the second is for an actual paint.

Any and all information would be extremely helpful.

Todd

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 60-66

That's still a learning process Les. What I do know, again, is that everything was dipped in black primer just like buying NOS parts. The complete front end was painted over the black primer. Now the cab is where that changes. Every one I have seen, the cab and doors where the paint fades off of factory paint its red oxide underneath. I know from cutting cabs apart that these cabs were not dipped as there's bare metal between the layers. Doors however , I have several NOS doors in black primer. Im guessing the doors were shot in red oxide primer over the black while the cabs were being prepped, then painted in body color with the doors mounted to the cab.

Every book I have from Chevrolet and GMC states these trucks were factory painted in Enamel while the touch up paint you find from this era for these trucks is a can of Lacquer . The old saying was , " You can spray lacquer over enamel but you cant spray enamel over lacquer.

From my time as the editor of a Mopar magazine, the guys in the Mopar hobby taught me a LOT about how things were painted from the factory, versus the replacement parts market. Over the years I also picked up stuff from the guys at Muscle Car Review.

For instance, chassis components as-installed were dipped in black to a certain point, then bare metal, while parts for the replacement market were fully coated. That way they didn't rust on the shelf.

The factories stamped body panels for the crash market long after the model year ended, so your NOS doors weren't necessarily painted as they would have been on assembly-line assembled cabs.

I would guess the factory-installed doors were painted with red oxide, like the cab, not pre-primed in black.

-Brad

[60-66]

Originally Posted by Brad54

From my time as the editor of a Mopar magazine, the guys in the Mopar hobby taught me a LOT about how things were painted from the factory, versus the replacement parts market. Over the years I also picked up stuff from the guys at Muscle Car Review.

For instance, chassis components as-installed were dipped in black to a certain point, then bare metal, while parts for the replacement market were fully coated. That way they didn't rust on the shelf.

The factories stamped body panels for the crash market long after the model year ended, so your NOS doors weren't necessarily painted as they would have been on assembly-line assembled cabs.

I would guess the factory-installed doors were painted with red oxide, like the cab, not pre-primed in black.

-Brad

Great points Brad ! And very accurate .I had to go look inside several doors. One low mile base 66 GMC , lots of bare metal no undercoating, some interior color over spray. One Chevy 1966 C20 , this one it looks like the outer skin is painted but not the frame of the door, this one is undercoated in the middle of the skin and the paint extends to both front and rear edges.
Removed and Looked under some door hinges on cabs and doors, no paint on either, just light surface rust.

It seems as though hoods may have been dipped but then you look at the very front edge and you see surface rust again but not inside the rear of the hood between the rear brace, thats all black. Looked up under some bed sides in between panels and they are black. Would be nice if we could find pictures or films on the painting process .

[Brad54]

Sooooo glad I asked this!
I thought I've seen somewhere that the paper was staple-gunned to the top of the bed wood? Maybe it was on stepside beds, where there isn't an inner fender.
I remember that the staples were still stuck in the wood on that truck. Maybe it was that beige or fawn stepside with the aluminum camper shell. ?

-Brad

[60-66]

Originally Posted by Brad54

Sooooo glad I asked this!
I thought I've seen somewhere that the paper was staple-gunned to the top of the bed wood? Maybe it was on stepside beds, where there isn't an inner fender.
I remember that the staples were still stuck in the wood on that truck. Maybe it was that beige or fawn stepside with the aluminum camper shell. ?

-Brad

I cant speak for stepsides as to what was stapled where but I can say in the blue truck above there are still staples in the wood at the rear of the floor. You can just make it out in the last picture showing the runs , just behind the one floor to frame bolt.

[60-66]

Heres the picture of that lacquer touch up paint.