Lightbar and other items paint color

[jdupay]

I am painting my headlight bar, fender braces and my horn. Does anyone know what type of finish those get? The car is black but I don't know if those pieces get the same as the body color or a flat black. This is not a points car, strictly a driver, but I don't want to be totally wrong....

[jw hash]

gloss black on head light bar fender braces and horn

[Kevin in NJ]

Headlight bar and fender braces were dipped gloss black enamel just like the fenders.

Horns would have come prepainted some type of gloss black from the vender.

Not that is really matters, but it turns out there are lots of different blacks. The reflectivity depends on the type of paint and color depends on the whats in the paint. Today you can find blacks with a yellow under tone, blue undertone and red undertone and I guess a bunch of others. They all look good and black till you know what to look for then you can see a difference.

A great read is the paint Handbook by the clubs. Even if you are not going for points it is just interesting to read how the paint sequence was done on the car.

[dnkcurtis]

I had mine powder coated and it sure looks great Gloss Black and no chips and wipes off like new. Wheels also if you can find the right color.
DRC

[jdupay]

Originally Posted by dnkcurtis

I had mine powder coated and it sure looks great Gloss Black and no chips and wipes off like new. Wheels also if you can find the right color.
DRC

That's a great idea. I did have the wheels powder coated. If I can get the powder coat black to match the body black, that would be great. I'll have to talk to my powder coat guy.

[CarlG]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I had my headlight bar powder coated also. (when I finally got the correct bar for a '31)

[denniskliesen]

Make sure you keep the acetone away from that powder coat.

[Kevin in NJ]

Powder coating is not always the way to go. Too thick too hard.

Remember to mask off the ball sockets for the lights and the bumps at the ends so you have ground paths.

Also keep in mind the light bar should allow a business card to go under it all around.

[Neil Wilson]

Originally Posted by Kevin in NJ

Remember to mask off the ball sockets for the lights and the bumps at the ends so you have ground paths.

Also keep in mind the light bar should allow a business card to go under it all around.

Kevin,

What are "bumps at the ends"? I don't understand the card statement - the ends of headlamp bar are bolted to the fender bracket (with fenders between the two parts)?

[jdupay]

Originally Posted by Neil Wilson

Kevin,

What are "bumps at the ends"? I don't understand the card statement - the ends of headlamp bar are bolted to the fender bracket (with fenders between the two parts)?

Same question about the bumps and the card statement. Also, if you put rubber pads under the light bar, where is the ground path - the bolts, I guess?

[Kevin in NJ]

The bars never came with rubber pads on the ends.

If you look at the ends you will find raised areas where the bolt holes are. These raised areas go into the dimples on the fender (you do have the dimples on fenders? They should be there but are sometimes lost in repairs). So the contact area is only just the spot where the dimples are. If the contact area were wider then the fenders would deform around the bar contact areas and eventually tear with normal flex.

Go to my website below and I talk about how I got mine to fit correct.

[jdupay]

Originally Posted by Kevin in NJ

The bars never came with rubber pads on the ends.

If you look at the ends you will find raised areas where the bolt holes are. These raised areas go into the dimples on the fender (you do have the dimples on fenders? They should be there but are sometimes lost in repairs). So the contact area is only just the spot where the dimples are. If the contact area were wider then the fenders would deform around the bar contact areas and eventually tear with normal flex.

Go to my website below and I talk about how I got mine to fit correct.

Thanks! That site was very helpful.

[Y-Blockhead]

For a "driver" I would recommend using the rubber pads on the light bar. Eliminates the heartburn of chipped paint on the fender and the end of the light bar. I like the lipped ones from Bert's.

If you do decide to use the pads, ensure you have a good ground for the lights and horn.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Kevin in NJ

Powder coating is not always the way to go. Too thick too hard.

Personally I do not understand the appeal of Power Coating.

I find once it starts lifting at the edges and moisture gets underneath games over. Then the metal starts corroding and lifting off.