Getting ready to paint-Question about Fender Hardware

[WayOutWest]

Getting ready to have a paint restoration done on my 71 Chevy Short Fleet (Dark Olive). I can't seem to find any information on what the fender hardware looked like when the truck was new. What I am wondering is if the hardware was originally a black oxide, raw, or painted the body color as it is now. The paint on the truck now is a "Maaco" (quick) type paint job, so I doubt they were worried about where the paint ended up.

I would like to have the engine compartment clean as possible even though I am not restoring the Truck to original specs everywhere. I finally realized this was probably the site that could help me with this question. Thanks in advance for any help you all can give.

Jason West (first time poster)

[71K20chevy]

AFAIK all the body panel bolts were black oxide. I just painted mine flat black, but Eastwood sells a kit to do it the right way.
http://www.eastwood.com/metal-blacke...ond-clear.html

[WayOutWest]

Cool, thanks for the information. It's the attention to details that stand out to me. I appreciate the help.

-Jay West

[WIDESIDE72]

I have parted several original paint trucks in the past. Bolts attaching the inner fenders to fenders were black. Bolts attaching fender to cab were body color. Rule of thumb seemed to be if both surfaces being mated were finished color, bolt was also that same color red truck, red bolts). If one piece was painted finished color and the other was black, then bolt was black.

[WIDESIDE72]

The two bolts that attach fender to cab (under cowl) and bolt at bottom rear of fender attaching fender to cab were body color. IIRC all else were black.

[DeadheadNM]

Look into a local plating company for phosphate coating (Parkerizing). It's what GM did and it's inexpensive. You take a box of greasy parts like bolts, hood latches, hood hinges and get back what look like brand new parts. Best of all, the paint won't flake when you wrench on the bolts. I am so glad I went this route on my K20.

[WayOutWest]

Thanks for the help with this. One more question for anyone who might be able to help.

- What was the treatment on the hood hinges? I was thinking that I would sand blast them then paint them with a clear (Dupli-Color Ceramic Clear Engine Paint). I have seen them painted black or even body colored. How were they on the trucks from the factory?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by WayOutWest

Thanks for the help with this. One more question for anyone who might be able to help.

- What was the treatment on the hood hinges? I was thinking that I would sand blast them then paint them with a clear (Dupli-Color Ceramic Clear Engine Paint). I have seen them painted black or even body colored. How were they on the trucks from the factory?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

These were Parkerized by GM as per my last post...paint will flake eventually with the wear

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Look into a local plating company for phosphate coating (Parkerizing). It's what GM did and it's inexpensive. You take a box of greasy parts like bolts, hood latches, hood hinges and get back what look like brand new parts. Best of all, the paint won't flake when you wrench on the bolts. I am so glad I went this route on my K20.

This is what I did, turned out great.