Author Topic: tank restoration  (Read 21156 times)

Matt f

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tank restoration
« on: March 23, 2014, 09:57:17 AM »
Hey lads,

Just doing a bit of freshening up of the underside of the car and wondering on the colour of a few items:

Tank
Tank straps
Diff
Multi leaf springs
shocks

Etc etc

If anyone has some pictures of restored camaros that'll be cool too

cheers

janobyte

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2014, 12:53:59 PM »
type  " under hood finishes " in search....you'll find what you are looking for in a few minutes.
68 Z/28  born with: 302, drive line, etc..

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2014, 03:15:08 PM »
  What year and plant is your car from? One thing to watch for in regards to gas tanks is that LOS used to spray them black, at least in '67 for a period.
The tank straps are black too for both NOR and LOS. My 67 springs (mono) are gray and so are the shocks.
Here is a link to finishes. It's accurate but there are some deviations that do exist based on feedback from original owners, appraisers and people who were actually there at the time. But, it's a good start to go by.
http://www.67z28.com/finishes.htm

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

Charley

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2014, 03:59:51 PM »
I have never heard of LOS painting them black. ??

69Z28-RS

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2014, 05:52:24 PM »
Nor I, Charley... 
... it makes me wonder if someone may have confused an 'overly enthusiastic' new dealer undercoating job, with 'black painted tanks??
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
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Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2014, 06:26:38 PM »
 Nope....it is definitely black paint. Been that way since I owned the car since 1980 and the car has no undercoat.
Check this past discussion out:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=5577.120

Look at my reply starting #129 and Kurt's #131 then follow #132-133

Mike

PS. I am trying to find the site location stating LOS tanks were sprayed black but I did stumble across this link:
http://camaropacecars.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6211035326/m/3141013846?r=6921033846#6921033846
« Last Edit: March 23, 2014, 07:26:44 PM by Mike S »
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

Matt f

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2014, 10:49:01 AM »
Black, really.

On this particular car the previous owner went crazy with gloss black paint in a can
he didn't even mask anything up or even try and make it look neat.  He even tried to paint the engine bay with the can any got over-spray on top of the guard
and if wasn't over-spray it was coating the trunk floor with splatter paint again a hopeless attempt! Really people need a license to use these paints.

Sorry about that just aggravating to see bad workmanship. So black on my car is in the bad books for me at the mo.






cook_dw

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2014, 11:43:45 AM »
Here is the my tank I finished up a couple weeks ago.   Its not perfect but I think its as close as Ill be able to get it.




Charley

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2014, 01:41:52 PM »
Kurt did you ever find that pic you mentioned ?

Mark

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2014, 06:44:36 PM »
Like this one?  67 LOS Camaro

Mark C.
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

69Z28-RS

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2014, 07:07:15 PM »
LOS gas tank doesn't look black in that one......   
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

Mark

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2014, 07:48:01 PM »
Look at the overspray on the exhaust manifolds on the car behind the Camaro, makes it look like a hemi.  Theres a picture somewhere of one of the workers standing under the back end of a Camaro spraying undercoat in the rear wheel wells of a Camaro.  Need to find that one, but they were only suppossed to spray the wheel wells, not the tank.  Maybe a few went crazy from the fumes and sprayed everything.
Mark C.
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2014, 09:42:22 PM »
 Mine is definitely paint on the tank, no undercoating except the wheel wells. The covering is a typical factory application in that it has a lot of large runs at the bottom of the tanks lowest shape so application technique was quick and not exact. It most certainly is not a well masked off and carefully applied spray job that one would usually do if painting themselves. I'll take some picture and post later.

 Any other LOS Camaro owners out there -or- appraisers who have black sprayed tanks?

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

KurtS

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #13 on: March 26, 2014, 05:39:11 AM »
Jon had it on his 67 Z's tank, IIRC.
Charley, no, I haven't found that pic yet.
Kurt S
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Matt f

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #14 on: March 26, 2014, 06:29:20 AM »
Hey that silver tank looks great with those black straps

It breaks all the black up under the car

ZLP955

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2014, 08:59:58 AM »
Matt, whereabouts in Aus are you?
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Matt f

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2014, 09:51:25 AM »
Hey tim is it?

Im in South Australia.

The state with all the laws against driving LHD vehicles on the road

Pretty much anywayz

ZLP955

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #17 on: March 26, 2014, 09:36:01 PM »
Yep, they do seem to be unnecessarily strict in SA on things that really shouldn't matter....
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #18 on: March 26, 2014, 10:46:21 PM »
Mine is definitely paint on the tank, no undercoating except the wheel wells. The covering is a typical factory application in that it has a lot of large runs at the bottom of the tanks lowest shape so application technique was quick and not exact. It most certainly is not a well masked off and carefully applied spray job that one would usually do if painting themselves. I'll take some picture and post later.

 Any other LOS Camaro owners out there -or- appraisers who have black sprayed tanks?

Mike

 Attached are images of my 67 4B LOS tank that is painted black. Due to the flash and dried dirt on the tank, it looks lighter but I can assure you it is black. I looked closely and used my fingernail and is definitely paint and not undercoating. As you can see it was applied in a typical production line fashion freehand. No masking at all. The paint stops on the edges of the tanks visible bottom. You can clearly see the overspray on the springs including dried drips with some overlapping the remaining gray paint of the spring. The bottom of the tank has the largest amount of runs that gravitated to the lowest parts. It is obvious the paint has been on the tank for a long time and not some carefully applied job that one would expect to do if painted after delivery.
  Any members from the Camaro Pace Car group present and care to chime in? I know you have seen this before.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

69Z28-RS

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #19 on: March 27, 2014, 02:24:31 AM »
That lumpy 'paint' you refer to, sure looks like the old undercoating I've seen on many many cars..  :)
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

ZLP955

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #20 on: March 27, 2014, 09:09:15 AM »
I parted out an 01B of 1969 Los Angeles car late last year and the underside of the gas tank is painted black; will take and post some pictures tomorrow.
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #21 on: March 27, 2014, 12:00:52 PM »
That lumpy 'paint' you refer to, sure looks like the old undercoating I've seen on many many cars..  :)

You have to see it in person to realize it is paint. The upper portions of the tank have a smooth black covering and only the lower portions where wet thick paint would gravitate to are lumpy. Same type of lumpy paint runs I have on the firewall cowl edge and inner door jambs. If it were undercoating then why stop at the tank and not do the whole underside? The floor boards are not coated with anything aside from years of grime. I can leave my fingernail imprint in the undercoating in the wheel wells and it still has that  tar texture, but the tank drips are hard and I can't leave any nail prints.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

69Z28-RS

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #22 on: March 27, 2014, 02:51:35 PM »
Mike, Did you buy your car new?  if so, then I won't argue with you..  but I can assure you from having scraped it off the bottom of many old chevys, 25yr old undercoating is HARD as a rock (unless it gets soaked by a solvent like gasoline etc).  That 'lumpy' crap on the lower portion of your gas tank doesn't look like any 'paint drip' I've ever seen; paint runs and drips off and doesn't lump up like that.   Undercoating is much more likely to lump up.   

....Scrape some off and do a test .....?
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

janobyte

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #23 on: March 27, 2014, 03:09:38 PM »
Uggg...undercoat scraping brings back horrible memories of what I was doing last year ! After the first 40 hours ,the thrill was long gone. And that was working under a lift.
68 Z/28  born with: 302, drive line, etc..

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #24 on: March 27, 2014, 03:47:56 PM »
 No, I am not the original owner but I did buy it from him in 1980 after it sat in his garage covered with beach chairs for 6 years prior.
Like I said, you have to see it up close to see it is just thick paint buildup in those areas. The shadows from the flash exaggerate it to look more pronounced.
The runs don't look any thicker than those in the cowl and door areas.
Putting the runs aside, it still shows a black painted tank that apparently LOS did.
I hope Kurt can get the photo he stated.

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #25 on: March 27, 2014, 11:24:45 PM »
 Using a gas soaked rag and rubbing for several minutes I cleaned off a section of the tank (now the rest of the car looks like poop).
What is shown is a thick film of dried paint. It looks very much like the runs you would see on a parts that were flow coated with runs that collected and dried, though we know the tanks were not flow coated.
 I noticed in the vast majority of the dried droplets there appears to be what looks like solvent popping. Typical of a paint film going on too thick and something undercoating doesn't do. I included a rear shot of the car (excuse the flat tires) to show the age and patina.
  Maybe this should be a new topic and a poll taken?

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

ZLP955

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #26 on: March 28, 2014, 08:12:37 AM »
I parted out an 01B of 1969 Los Angeles car late last year and the underside of the gas tank is painted black; will take and post some pictures tomorrow.
Here's a picture of that tank, you can see where there is no paint where the tank straps were. This is not undercoating. The tank was original to the car:
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Mark

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #27 on: March 28, 2014, 11:30:28 AM »
Obviously the tank was painted after it was installed.  Wouldn't think there was anywhere on the line left where painting could happen by the time the tank was installed.  Body was already fully assembled and painted, drivetrain got installed just after the gas tank was installed, and the whole assembly was about to be dropped onto its wheels.
Mark C.
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

69Z28-RS

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #28 on: March 28, 2014, 06:11:42 PM »
That was my next question as well, Mark...   When?  and WHY?   in the assembly process.....
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69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

Charley

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #29 on: March 28, 2014, 06:34:29 PM »
I can remember years ago spray painting gas tanks  and tons of other areas under the car black. What is to say somebody like the first owner didn't spray black paint on the make it look better ? Interesting subject.

janobyte

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #30 on: March 28, 2014, 08:52:24 PM »
Matter of opinion I suppose. Used to like the tanks blacked out ,now I like the detail. In the debate ,nothing says the dealer didn't do it to spice it up a bit ,just a thought.
68 Z/28  born with: 302, drive line, etc..

janobyte

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #31 on: March 28, 2014, 09:23:57 PM »
Off topic but the original owner told me he removed the pump and plugged the exhaust manifolds (still in them) the day he picked the car up....in the lot. He also had the dealer install a few items (on my shelves) So who is to say what took place before delivery except the one who picked it up.

Goes as far as another old post of mine. Guy's dad worked in a dealership so he had a special order SS Chevelle delivered without the 396 but ordered a 427 and installed it at the dealership. I was a little kid when I first heard the story, and witnessed a few heated debates over it. He still owns it, had no reason lie. If anything, at the time he wanted the car a sleeper.

But, I understand a very definite line between how it rolled out of the factory, and rolled out of the dealership.
68 Z/28  born with: 302, drive line, etc..

Mike S

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #32 on: March 29, 2014, 02:07:34 AM »
I parted out an 01B of 1969 Los Angeles car late last year and the underside of the gas tank is painted black; will take and post some pictures tomorrow.
Here's a picture of that tank, you can see where there is no paint where the tank straps were. This is not undercoating. The tank was original to the car:


Tim,
  Are those dried paint runs at the lowest points I see?

Mike
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

ZLP955

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #33 on: March 29, 2014, 09:09:45 AM »
Tim,
Are those dried paint runs at the lowest points I see?
Mike
Mike, those dark areas are just local wet spots; it had been raining before I took the tank outside to take the picture, and the bottom edge got damp when I put it down to turn over. There is a couple of minor paint runs, but they don't show up in the picture.
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Matt f

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #34 on: March 29, 2014, 09:43:21 AM »
Hey,

Thats so interesting to hear about stories of the era.  Only if we could go back in time and
get a brand new Camaro or hottie just how we wanted it and for the same price lol

janobyte

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Re: tank restoration
« Reply #35 on: March 29, 2014, 12:43:41 PM »
Pretty sure it was always bring your checkbook ( or wallet for the hottie , lol ) Anything of beauty tends to be a little high maintenance :D



I do know the older we all get ,the better-faster-stronger we all were !  correct? ;)
68 Z/28  born with: 302, drive line, etc..