Topic: Early 64 1/2 metal door plug finish

[ChrisV289]

I was wondering if these were painted or not on the car?  I was looking at this photograph below of the assembly line and you can see that they aren't painted.  What is usually found, are they or are they not painted and does it depend on the factory/production month?

[CharlesTurner]

First month or so of production in '64 were left un-painted. 

[DM_1964]

Bringing up an old topic.
Just curious as to what the finish they would've been
By the looks I'm thinking its zinc dichromate

[CharlesTurner]

Yes, zinc w/dichromate. 

Would not expect to see these natural on cars built after around the middle of April '64.

[DM_1964]

Thanks Charles

[Hawkeye]

Gonna have to remember that when I take it in for paint in a few months.

[jwc66k]

Gonna have to remember that when I take it in for paint in a few months.

Yes, zinc w/dichromate. 
Would not expect to see these natural on cars built after around the middle of April '64.

Pay attention to the dates.
Jim

[Hawkeye]

Pay attention to the dates.
Jim

Since the door tag was removed by someone during a previous repaint, I don't have the exact (guestimated) build date, but based on VINs, I'm putting it at Mar 23, 1964, so, if I've read correctly, should be the natural finish.

[CharlesTurner]

Since the door tag was removed by someone during a previous repaint, I don't have the exact (guestimated) build date, but based on VINs, I'm putting it at Mar 23, 1964, so, if I've read correctly, should be the natural finish.

Yes, shouldn't be any issues with that approx. build date.  Of course, if you have pics to back it up, that would be ideal.  For concours showing, personally, I might be inclined to spray another set with body color and have them available in case a judge decides they don't want to accept them as non-painted.

[Hawkeye]

Yes, shouldn't be any issues with that approx. build date.  Of course, if you have pics to back it up, that would be ideal.  For concours showing, personally, I might be inclined to spray another set with body color and have them available in case a judge decides they don't want to accept them as non-painted.

Fortunately, judging isn't something that is gonna happen very often, and it's too far gone to get to concours standards, but if I can keep little things like this close to original, then I'm game for that.

[CharlesTurner]

I'd think you could go either way then, with the caveat that we don't know when exactly the switch was made to painted plugs.

[CW4macret]

Date on my 64.5 is 12F (June 12th) and the plugs where not painted. Was not planning to paint them when I reassemble.

[CharlesTurner]

Date on my 64.5 is 12F (June 12th) and the plugs where not painted. Was not planning to paint them when I reassemble.

Not typical at all for that time period.  Probably could find many examples of cars with these painted then.