Hinges & Springs - Painting or not? ?

[Deleted User]

I thought I read on here recently that the springs and hinges are not to be painted. I am thinking specifically of the hinges for the trunk and hood. If they are not to be painted are you guys using any kind of a protective coating to prevent surface rust. ? I live in the pacific northwest and there is a lot of moisture in the air.



Thanks,

Doug

RL Chilton

Consensus seems to be about 50/50. Some paint with Silver. A good choice is Argent Silver by Krylon (rattle can). Other option is to simply spray with a good clear coat (after cleaning, of course). That's one of those "restorer's preference" kind of things. I'm assuming, this is for a step-down.

[Deleted User]

dougc_portland wrote:

I thought I read on here recently that the springs and hinges are not to be painted. I am thinking specifically of the hinges for the trunk and hood. If they are not to be painted are you guys using any kind of a protective coating to prevent surface rust. ? I live in the pacific northwest and there is a lot of moisture in the air.



Thanks,

Doug

Paint with a good chassis black. That's the way they came from the factory. Walt.

SuperDave

walt's garage-53 wrote:

Paint with a good chassis black. That's the way they came from the factory. Walt.

Really? All the hood hinges and supports I have seen has, what looked like, Cadmium plating some have weathered and had a slight amount of surface rust. I don't ever recall seeing black hood hardware unless some one rattle canned them.:)

[Deleted User]

I painted mine w/ Duplicolor aluminum color engine paint. They seem to be holding up well.

[Deleted User]

I agree with SuperDave. My parts car is a 54 Hornet and the car I am restoring is a 54 Special. In both cars the trunk and hood hinges show no sign of being painted other than some overspray from the body being repainted.

Sarah Young

We painted the underside of the hood black, so it only made sense to make the hinges match. That's what we did on the Jet anyways.

Unknown

dougc_portland wrote:

I thought I read on here recently that the springs and hinges are not to be painted. I am thinking specifically of the hinges for the trunk and hood. If they are not to be painted are you guys using any kind of a protective coating to prevent surface rust. ? I live in the pacific northwest and there is a lot of moisture in the air.



Thanks,

Doug

What I've done in the past is sandblast them real well, give them a good laquer thinner bath and then spray them with several light coats of clear enamel (krylon).



I think rattle-can silver looks a little cheapie, and the clear seems to allow a little more of an original look and patina to show through the clear.

[Deleted User]

Clear powder coating is another option looks really good.

Unknown

51hornetA wrote:

Clear powder coating is another option looks really good.

CLEARLY the best idea yet:D

J Spencer

51hornetA wrote:

Clear powder coating is another option looks really good.

Is powder coating a good Idea? Are todays methods better than 20 years ago? The man I bought my 51 Pacemaker from had the hood supports and springs powder coated (black) and the heat from baking took the temper out of the springs, so he had to get new springs. What say you??



Jim Spencer

RL Chilton

That was my take on it as well. Powder coating is achieved at temps from 500-550-degrees F. Very well could remove enough temper in the small springs to render them ineffective. I would not choose to go this route, myself for this very reason.

[Deleted User]

Seen it done on loads of cars without any ill effect. Went to show recently and saw hinges and springs done with this. Asked the guy how he did he said he made a jig to open spring to powder coat seemed to be holding up the hood of his 57 Caddy just fine.



I have also seen Hudsons with the Hood hinges done this way and zero problems. Also normal cure temp for powder coating is 390F

onerare39

rpmonroe wrote:

What I've done in the past is sandblast them real well, give them a good laquer thinner bath and then spray them with several light coats of clear enamel (krylon).



I think rattle-can silver looks a little cheapie, and the clear seems to allow a little more of an original look and patina to show through the clear.

I have to agree with Rick. I glass beaded these items and then clear coated. It leaves a nice patina. The only thing I didn't do were the hinges and springs for the hood... hey, it's a driver.

Unknown

onerare39 wrote:

I have to agree with Rick. I glass beaded these items and then clear coated. It leaves a nice patina. The only thing I didn't do were the hinges and springs for the hood... hey, it's a driver.

The soft sheen and the patina just makes me warm-n-fuzzy all over:D



Nice pics onerare39.........that's what I'm talkin' bout!