69 F Body Rear Axle Color *Latest Consensus*

[turbo69bird]

A freind and I were just discussing this the other day. Would appear on this car the black was sprayed after , coating the ends of the exhaust when hap hazardous eating from behind? As per the assembly manual the area around the brake drum ti backing plate is not supposed to get any paint in it so they stopped around the bolt in flange . Axles ends should be free of paint. This is my understanding anyway

[turbo69bird]

Top is an unrestored 69 bird
Next two the low low 9k mileage camaro recently on this site,
Last on was an assembly line photo from
CRG.
Don’t necessarily match up w that red bird assembly line photo.

[turbo69bird]

Some other pictures I had in files

This was the blue 69 vert bird much as described which is how I’d have done it at one time myself. It’s a nice clean look but maybe not correct. I also like to see the welds made to look like a welded/ heated color if it’s supposed to look like natural steel, Looks really good but again maybe not correct.

[William]

That's correct for a Firebird, not a Camaro.

Camaro axles, backing plates and drums were painted by the axle plant. There are several other vintage road test pics that show this.

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by William

That's correct for a Firebird, not a Camaro.

Camaro axles, backing plates and drums were painted by the axle plant. There are several other vintage road test pics that show this.

Painted separately or as a unit?

Top pic is unrestored bird has black backing plates all the way out where the red one has unpainted but over sprayed backing plates. Assembly manual shows that joint from backing plate to drum should be clear of paint and over spray . But that unrestored bird rear looks an awful lot like how the Camaro diff looks . Differnt plants? Maybe I could look at date and plant of that particular unrestored firebird

Lordstown 11C

[turbo69bird]

And yes this is 69 bird assembly manual .if anyone has camaro please post it.

[SS427]

Originally Posted by William

Probably.

Chevy axles came from the gear and axle plant. Far as I know, all were painted.

I cannot speak for F bodies but some of the A body plants received differentials that were not painted. I commonly see Baltimore, Arlington and Atlanta cars that are all natural and have a fairly large database showing this.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by turbo69bird

Painted separately or as a unit?

Top pic is unrestored bird has black backing plates all the way out where the red one has unpainted but over sprayed backing plates. Assembly manual shows that joint from backing plate to drum should be clear of paint and over spray . But that unrestored bird rear looks an awful lot like how the Camaro diff looks . Differnt plants? Maybe I could look at date and plant of that particular unrestored firebird

Lordstown 11C

Good... You are on the right track.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by SS427

I cannot speak for F bodies but some of the A body plants received differentials that were not painted. I commonly see Baltimore, Arlington and Atlanta cars that are all natural and have a fairly large database showing this.

This is a very important point.

The amount of coverage is going to vary by final assembly location (to a large degree) and by the individual operator (by a lesser degree).

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by turbo69bird

A freind and I were just discussing this the other day. Would appear on this car the black was sprayed after , coating the ends of the exhaust when hap hazardous eating from behind? As per the assembly manual the area around the brake drum ti backing plate is not supposed to get any paint in it so they stopped around the bolt in flange . Axles ends should be free of paint. This is my understanding anyway

There was a small paint booth before body drop where the completed chassis received a spattering of "chassis black".

The chassis black was a really thin, watery "paint" that was drizzled in the general direction of the chassis as it went by. The operator shot from above, so the top outboard surfaces received the most paint, with the bottom surfaces and inboard surfaces generally missing out because that would take too much effort to bend over or reach around 500 times per day.

(Oldsmobile in Lansing plant, shown as an example)