Topic: Help With Undercariage Finish - June 69 Dearborn

[ddonzella]

Hi,

I am to the point now of applying the finish to the bottom of my June 12, 1969 Dearborn GT350. I have seen some pictures on the site for the bottom of the front frame rails in Red Oxide. I am puzzled on the transition from outside fender fire wall (body color) to rear of shock tower, as well as the transition points from where slop gray chassis paint ends and satin black engine compartment starts. Also on the bottom of the frame rails as they meet with the (not sure what you call them) pieces of flat steal attaching to the rails and the face of the fire wall. (kinda shaped like a triangle. The emergency brake cable goes through the drivers side plate. Does anyone have a front bottom picture and a lower front firewall picture of a typical paint layout for my June Dearborn car to help me with paint beginnings and ends? I saw the black Jade example posted also but I can't make out the color transitions.

Thank you!!

[J_Speegle]

Didn't notice before by your VIN is interesting seeing that you have a June 12th completion date from Dearborn. Would have expected a much larger/later Shelby number

I am to the point now of applying the finish to the bottom of my June 12, 1969 Dearborn GT350. I have seen some pictures on the site for the bottom of the front frame rails in Red Oxide. I am puzzled on the transition from outside fender fire wall (body color) to rear of shock tower, as well as the transition points from where slop gray chassis paint ends and satin black engine compartment starts.

If you have the typical red oxide front section (firewall forward) the batch floor (firewall rearward) would have typically never been sprayed far enough forward to be applied into the front wheel wells. Now the lower section of the firewall to floor transition is a different thing

Also on the bottom of the frame rails as they meet with the (not sure what you call them) pieces of flat steal attaching to the rails and the face of the fire wall. (kinda shaped like a triangle.

These structural panels are often referred to as the torque boxes

The emergency brake cable goes through the drivers side plate. Does anyone have a front bottom picture and a lower front firewall picture of a typical paint layout for my June Dearborn car to help me with paint beginnings and ends? I saw the black Jade example posted also but I can't make out the color transitions.

Part of the challenge here is that since Mustangs had a coat of sound deadener applied (which the Shelbys didn't) over all or most of those surfaces clear pictures of the painted surfaces are difficult to find.

Here are some examples that might help. Sorry the exterior and red oxide colors do not contrast more or the illustration of spray patterns. Body color just tapered away at the bottom (frame section) if the worker choose not to bend over much on that car to more color on the owner face if they did.



Here is a Mustang example

Notice on the drivers side there is very little body color on that rear panel and none on the lower section and frame while on the passenger side the painter applied allot more paint and forward into the shock tower area

Hope this helps

[ddonzella]

That is helpful.  Thank You. What about the bottom of the frame rails and torque box view? Red Oxide to Batch color transition view?

[J_Speegle]

That is helpful.  Thank You. What about the bottom of the frame rails and torque box view? Red Oxide to Batch color transition view?

Will see what I have that might be usable.

Transition is normally right at the front edge of the torque boxes - across the frame rail and into the floor to firewall transition. Sometimes 3-4" forward

[ddonzella]

Thank You.

[J_Speegle]

Looking at some pictures this weekend (imagine that    I noticed I had and example from that plant (69-70) that indicated that the floor was shot first then the front frame rails (wheel wells) after. That would make the most sense IMHO since it would allow the human painter to fill any gaps left by the stationary jets that painted the firewall rearward.