Topic: Front wheel well paint - 67 NJ - recommendation for how much

[mtinkham]

I am working on a July 1967 NJ coupe.  Getting ready to paint the engine compartment and outer front wheel wells.  Because much of the original paint (and metal!) was gone, I am seeking your advice on how much of the outer front wheel wells should be painted black.

Should I cover all the outer wheel well or leave some of the frame rail/aprons/shock tower not painted?  I know the amount of paint was controlled by a human and varied on a daily/hourly basis, but I was wondering if there is a general area of coverage.

Pictures would be appreciated.  Thank you in advance Mark.

[J_Speegle]

Start at one side where the rear splash shield will attach and apply black to the outer surfaces (firewall, inner fender panels, shock tower, frame rail and radiator support) all  the way around the front end to the other side - where the other splash shield will attach

This is applied over the red oxide sealer that would have been applied to the front end before the black. This allows the bottom of the frame and pockets where the black will not reach  (inner lower a arm mount pocket for example) to retain the red oxide with a soft edge or light over spray. There will me many of these pockets and shadows

Pretty much just like San Jose that year

Will see what I've got in the picture collection.

[mtinkham]

Thank you Jeff.  I wasn't sure how much coverage to put in areas like inside the shock tower, backside of radiator support, and firewall section.  But it sounds like you are recommending full coverage in the front wheel well area.  Inside the engine compartment was pretty well preserved so I will replicate what I documented.  Thanks again.

[J_Speegle]

The front and back surfaces (inside the shock tower depression) can some times be thinner (less paint) but believe it was coated originally. Just rusts through quicker, some times, than the back surface also the top of the pocket (up where the top of the spring sits ) can be thin or lack much paint at all (red oxide or black) since many painters didn't aim the gun up showering the paint down on the engine compartment or body  though its very difficult to see once the car is assembled


Not the greatest pictures - and allot of the surfaces are covered by the sound deadener but you can make out (where the sound deadener missed or has fallen away) the black around the edges and under

[67gtasanjose]

Jeff, is that one in the middle a 68 or possibly a convertible?  (valve covers, torque box ~Looking again, I edit my original question, looks like 67 strut rods)

And, since I am chiming in on the thread, the UCA's on the 67 look half dipped, is that a "plant specific" or "time frame" thing?

[gtamustang]

All UCAs for the 67-68 Mustang model production were bare steel (and 4 rivet ball joints); none were dipped in black paint in any way. The pictures that Jeff is using are not necessarily 100% unrestored cars, rather they are just examples that he finds in wrecking yards. This one in particular had the UCAs replaced at some point before it met it's demise at the wrecking yard.

Regards,
Pete Morgan

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, is that one in the middle a 68 or possibly a convertible?  (valve covers, torque box ~Looking again, I edit my original question, looks like 67 strut rods)

Middle picture removed - thanks for the catch. Moved to my 68 NJ file

And, since I am chiming in on the thread, the UCA's on the 67 look half dipped, is that a "plant specific" or "time frame" thing?

Not unusual for the front aa arms to be replaced fairly early in life of a car with Ford service units that were dipped unlike assemble line. With that said - have not documented or taken the effort to see if any very early 67's came dipped so at this point - go with the no paint as mentioned above