Paint/finish question

[Jurassic-1]

This may be able to be answered by the original low mile survivor truck owners.What finish is used on 1964 -1966 threshold trim? Are they Chrome or painted? Also how glossy are NOS radiators?

[cru_zn_29]

My 65 C20 sill plates are chrome. The radiator appears to be Glossy. Hope that helps maybe someone else will chime in.

[60-66]

From what I have seen on original low mile trucks is the 1966 models were the only ones with Chrome sill plates from the factory. All other years 1960-1965 were cad plated silver. The chrome sill plates are or were the only ones available after a certain time early and are the most used for replacement parts. Paint under the hood on many things depends on Chevy or GMC. Chevy had glossy radiators and air cleaners like GMC. But, GMC used a more glossy paint on inner fenders etc. than Chevy did. The gloss however was not pure gloss but was more semi gloss if that makes sense ? I see many over done finishes under the hood on restorations. Edit : In March of 1966 the silver cad sill plates 3763219 were discontinued and replaced by the 3882418 chrome that was used for 1966 production.

[rideblue00]

learn something new every time i get on here, thanks!

[Jurassic-1]

Wow great information. We are shooting for the closest restored example to original so this helps to get it right. Thanks for your time.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by cru_zn_29

My 65 C20 sill plates are chrome. The radiator appears to be Glossy. Hope that helps maybe someone else will chime in.

Originally Posted by 60-66

From what I have seen on original low mile trucks is the 1966 models were the only ones with Chrome sill plates from the factory. All other years 1960-1965 were cad plated silver. The chrome sill plates are or were the only ones available after a certain time early and are the most used for replacement parts. Paint under the hood on many things depends on Chevy or GMC. Chevy had glossy radiators and air cleaners like GMC. But, GMC used a more glossy paint on inner fenders etc. than Chevy did. The gloss however was not pure gloss but was more semi gloss if that makes sense ? I see many over done finishes under the hood on restorations. Edit : In March of 1966 the silver cad sill plates 3763219 were discontinued and replaced by the 3882418 chrome that was used for 1966 production.

Not to doubt you guys, but chrome? as in bumper or hubcap chrome? Not that I can see. I always thought that the sill plates on my low mile '66 were just pretty bright cad or zinc. If they ARE chrome, they're not polished, and the base metal was a little rough before plating. My '65 Suburban's sills look almost the same, but also has five times the miles.
I personally think the level of gloss in the engine compartment and other chassis stuff might not have been all that consistent. I've seen some shiny original engine bays, and some not so shiny. Generally speaking, how does 70% gloss sound? 100% being mirror-like wet paint, 0% being dead flat.

[60-66]

Guess we should post some pictures. Yes the 1966 and up are what I call "flash" chrome . Was done just as a bright finish. I have a couple NOS early sills, but, even NOS never used, they already look like crap as that cad finish dulled very easy. The chrome was much harder than cad but still would rust easy since it was not prepped the same as a bumper.

Paints, if you've ever had NOS air cleaners, radiators and compared to NOS inner fenders, the radiator , heater boxes and air cleaners were much shinier but probably 80% gloss as compared to egg shell on the inner fenders and the rest of a Chevy under hood which I feel is more like 60-65% gloss. But even those dull paints will polish up some. I know the paint process for these items differed also. Air cleaners and radiators were sprayed while inner fenders radiator supports, suspension pieces etc were all Dipped in paint. That's why on many of these items you will see runs or un even layers of paint.

Now, move to GMC and look at their NOS parts and they are as glossy as the radiator and air cleaner. My red 66 GMC I really never cleaned other than a dusting and the gloss is very obvious

[cru_zn_29]

The chrome on my sill plates on my 65 C20 37000 mile & my 66 C10 400.000 mile truck are not shinning like a bumper the metal was not polished before plating so it has lo luster. Industrial plating ? 70 % sounds about right on the black.

[60-66]

Heres the NOS Samples to see the difference. 3 of these are the 3763219 cad plated. You can see the degrees of condition lost and all are New Old Stock. The bottom or Left sill is the 3882418 that started use somewhere in late 1965 for 1966 production. Silver VS flash chrome is basically all it is.

[60-66]

This picture shows an early 1965 dated GM Parts book, lists only the 3763219 number. My December 1966 parts book only lists the 3882418 Chrome version.

[oem4me]

Well, there it is. Pretty cool. You know, if we were documenting this kind of stuff in a common place where we could see what changes were made at what times and at which plant, we'd be doing what some Corvette owners were doing about 25 years ago. That's how the NCRS and Bloomington Gold got started.
Maybe we are pioneering a movement toward accuracy in the truck world and don't realize the importance yet. Ya think?
Who knows, maybe in a few years we can all openly ridicule the uncouth ignoramus who shows up at a show with chrome sill plates on his late 1964 truck.

[60-66]

Maybe we need a new section in this area for restored and original trucks with its own fact section.

[Jurassic-1]

That would be a great idea and resource for those who are trying to do restorations. The 60s had some transitions throughout production which makes it hard to get information on them. This Website has many experts on these trucks.

[collins10672]

to the best of my knowledge the sill plates were nickel plated.that was to keep them from rusting but were not chrome plated as they did not have a high luster finish.