39 Zephyr under carriage finish

I need some input in regard to how the bottom of the car should be finished. The body of the car is going to be black,should the "frame rails" be gloss black and the floorpan chassis black,or all chassis black or what? Any and all input is GREATLY appreciated.THANK YOU,diz <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Diz,

Great question. I want to know the answer as well. My is covered with very, very old undercoating right now.

Ace

Dale -

I'm not sure on the actual glossiness, but I can't imagine that the framerails would have been a different color from the underbody -- they should have been painted all at one time. Also, the pieces I have looked at are definitely not gloss black. I would describe it more as an eggshell -- glossier than flat but not quite satin.

With regard to Ace's question, my own car as well as my readings indicate that the unibody was undercoated with what looks to be Body Schultz *prior* to be welded to the frame. So you will see that hard sound deadener stuff along the bottom (up to the firewall), and inside the car along the trunk sides, inside doors, kick panels, and inside quarters. But you will NOT see it on the framerails or the fenders.

Lincoln Zephyrs were built as a "sort of" uni-body car. That is the car did have a frame just like all cars of it's time, but the body was bolted and welded to the frame. When it was time to paint the car, the frame was not masked off, it got painted as the body was painted. Prior to finish paint, the frame and body floor was painted with chassis black. Chassis black is a dull finish and will wash off with gasoline or kerosene. Any oil that splashed on to the bottom of the car during its lifetime would also loosen or disolve chassis black. The engine compartment was painted body color to cover the firewall and inner fenders. The brake lines were already installed by this point and so got painted along with the brackets. More than likely, the "new guy" got started by working these areas, so runs are common.

Front and rear axle assemblies were not on the car yet, so they should be painted black. I believe these assemblies were painted with an enamel. The shock absorbors were on the car and were painted body color.

The frame/body were on a bench or jig when they were painted and the fenders were not on the car. As a general rule, if an item is welded to the body then it was painted with the body.Check old issues of The Way of The Zephyr, and look for pictures taken by the factory of cars on the assembly line.

Although the pictures are in black and white, light color cars show better what was painted body color.

Bill

Dear V-12 Bill,Thanks for your input.diz <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />