Gas Tank Welting - Painted Or Not ?

[Conaway2]

As I start to wrap up body work on my 1929 Sport Coupe, I’m planning how I will prime and paint the cowl, body and doors.

How were coupe bodies painted at time of manufacture - gas tank installed or not ? I can’t find anything in the RG&JS that says whether or not the tank welting is painted.

Thanks - Jim

[Jim/GA]

Ford painted them as assembled car bodies, and then only buffed out the lacquer on the exterior surfaces of the cars (extra cost to have a truck buffed out). The rest was left dull-ish.

Your gas tank welting should be painted. You can assemble and paint, as Ford did, or you can paint parts individually (including painting the welting in advance of assembly) and then assemble. Use a thin paint layer or it will crack as you install welting.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by Jim/GA

Ford painted them as assembled car bodies, and then only buffed out the lacquer on the exterior surfaces of the cars (extra cost to have a truck buffed out). The rest was left dull-ish.

Your gas tank welting should be painted. You can assemble and paint, as Ford did, or you can paint parts individually (including painting the welting in advance of assembly) and then assemble. Use a thin paint layer or it will crack as you install welting.

With our 29 Sport Coupe, we painted body before assembly, we left all welting un painted (black) including gas tank door posts under wind shield fenders front and rear.

I like the defining look.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by WHN

With our 29 Sport Coupe, we painted body before assembly, we left all welting un painted (black) including gas tank door posts under wind shield fenders front and rear.

I like the defining look.

In some ways, while not authentic, leaving unpainted is probably best if you are using the reproduction plastic-coated anti-squeak. I sure wish I could find a manufacturer of Pyroxylin-coated cloth today so I could make the correct type of welting.

[Conaway2]

Thanks for all responses !

Painting is still 2-3 months away, so I have time to think about this. It’s tempting to assemble the tank to the body prior to painting…but I can probably do a better job painting the tank if it’s out of the car….but then I may ding it during installation. Maybe there’s a happy medium; I could paint the back, bottom and front of the tank out of the car, install the tank, and then paint the outer surfaces of the tank and cowl as a unit. I need to think through this….

I really appreciate the information- Jim

[tmiller6]

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Brent,

Is this place a possible source for cloth? They appear to be near your shop.

https://holliston.com/wp-content/upl...0/Sturdite.pdf

[townsedan29]

I had been getting the pyroxylin welting from roy nacewicz now third gen automotive they still list both sizes on there web site the last time I bought was about 3-4 years ago may be worth a try

[desotoguy]

Just did a search for roy nacewicz, company is now Third Gen Automotive, Roy has died.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by townsedan29

I had been getting the pyroxylin welting from roy nacewicz now third gen automotive they still list both sizes on there web site the last time I bought was about 3-4 years ago may be worth a try

Originally Posted by desotoguy

Just did a search for roy nacewicz, company is now Third Gen Automotive, Roy has died.

Thanks guys but Michael at 3rd Gen tells me there is no more material. All he ever had was just what Roy had purchased before he passed.

So back to the original question, ...where can I buy lacquer-coated cloth that looks authentic?? If I can source the fabric, I can make the welt.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Conaway2

Thanks for all responses !

Painting is still 2-3 months away, so I have time to think about this. It’s tempting to assemble the tank to the body prior to painting…but I can probably do a better job painting the tank if it’s out of the car….but then I may ding it during installation. Maybe there’s a happy medium; I could paint the back, bottom and front of the tank out of the car, install the tank, and then paint the outer surfaces of the tank and cowl as a unit. I need to think through this….

I really appreciate the information- Jim

This guy did a video series on the gas tank that might help you out – lots of detail and he talks about the mistakes he made.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...pbg9OEG4ijEauw