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Correct finish for leaf springs #2453704 02/18/18 11:52 PM 02/18/18 11:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio 76orangewagon OP member
76orangewagon OP member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio	Yesterday I started stripping off the black paint on the 3400044 leaf springs I just picked up for my 1971 Cuda and found that someone had painted them white at one time and under that was bare metal. I have read they came either painted black or bare steel. I soaked the front eyelet in Evaporust overnight and it brought out the paint marks...looks like a yellow and white swipe on each, I love finding factory paint marks !!! My question is: What finish looks closest to a bare/natural finish set of leaf springs? I had some parts powder coated in cast steel but it doesn't look like close enough to an OEM finish for my taste.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2453723 02/19/18 12:14 AM 02/19/18 12:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington	The black paint used on leaf springs was usually very thin. They were dipped as a completed unit all at once, are you sure they weren't painted black? Sure looks like little specs of black paint in your pics?

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #2453726 02/19/18 12:25 AM 02/19/18 12:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio 76orangewagon OP member
76orangewagon OP member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio	Originally Posted By ScottSmith_Harms The black paint used on leaf springs was usually very thin. They were dipped as a completed unit all at once, are you sure they weren't painted black? Sure looks like little specs of black paint in your pics? Scott, When I stripped the top coat of Black paint off there was a heavy coat of White paint that looked brushed on, once I stripped that off it was bare metal, I see the specks of black your referring too but I assume those are left over paint on the white because there wasn't any large patches of OEM black visable. Were they always black ?

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2453727 02/19/18 12:29 AM 02/19/18 12:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington	No they weren't always black, but a lot were and the paint was so thin and low quality most wore off in short order so you really need to have a keen eye to spot remnants on a car that's seen a lot of miles or weather.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2453733 02/19/18 12:40 AM 02/19/18 12:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,914 Calgary, Alberta Canada a12rag master
a12rag master Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,914 Calgary, Alberta Canada	Shouldn't the part numbers be one even and one odd at the end (44) . . . left & right ??

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2453739 02/19/18 01:09 AM 02/19/18 01:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,451 So Cal autoxcuda Too Many Posts
autoxcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,451 So Cal	Wonder if that white is pastel pink? Seen that color on them.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2453759 02/19/18 02:08 AM 02/19/18 02:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,106 Chicago Blackhawks H hemicar1971 master
hemicar1971 master H Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,106 Chicago Blackhawks	Likely a none axle package Cuda with an automatic. Last edited by hemicar1971; 02/19/18 02:24 AM. 1971 HEMI E BODY REGISTRY

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2453765 02/19/18 02:23 AM 02/19/18 02:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 29,650 Hamtramck, PA A Alaskan_TA Fluffy Balladeer
Alaskan_TA Fluffy Balladeer A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 29,650 Hamtramck, PA	Black or bare. The other colors were for the 'parts pickers' at the plant as a quick visual ID to get the parts they needed.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: hemicar1971] #2453835 02/19/18 11:26 AM 02/19/18 11:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio 76orangewagon OP member
76orangewagon OP member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio	Originally Posted By hemicar1971 Likely a none axle package Cuda with an automatic. Close...its just a standard 3.23 S/G with a 4 speed. Last edited by 76orangewagon; 02/19/18 11:30 AM.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: autoxcuda] #2453837 02/19/18 11:35 AM 02/19/18 11:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 892 MA steve70 super stock
steve70 super stock Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 892 MA	Originally Posted By autoxcuda Wonder if that white is pastel pink? Seen that color on them. Here's a couple pics of an original T/A's leaf springs 1970 Challenger T/A 4 speed

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: autoxcuda] #2453838 02/19/18 11:36 AM 02/19/18 11:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio 76orangewagon OP member
76orangewagon OP member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio	Originally Posted By autoxcuda Wonder if that white is pastel pink? Seen that color on them. I will try to research that a little more I don't have the greatest original marks to go off of and had to up the saturation levels of the color to pull what I have out...I'm just happy I found something to use but I do want to accurately reapply them. I know it's not what the original post should be but does anyone have a better picture of what the paint marks should be ?

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2454094 02/19/18 07:52 PM 02/19/18 07:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio 76orangewagon OP member
76orangewagon OP member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio	I took the leaf springs apart today to look for more evidence of original black paint between the leafs, I found nothing to indicate they were black from the factory. So I'm back to my original question: What is the best way to get the bare metal look? I did some searching and there was an article on Mopar Connection magazine from a few years back it recommended using RPM or Seymour's Stainless Steel paint, Has anybody tried this? Since they are getting sandblasted I would think that the RPM coating won't be an option. http://moparconnectionmagazine.com/gallery-get-sprung-restoring-your-leaf-springs/

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2454127 02/19/18 08:55 PM 02/19/18 08:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms Mr Wizzard Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington	Since they were painted as an assembly there will be very little black paint between the leaves. Either way, skip sand blasting them and soak them in a PVC pipe full of Evaporust. Once dipped any remaining black paint (if any) will be much easier to spot as the Evaporust won't remove it. Scrub off any remaining residue with a scotch brite pad and rinse them in thinner as opposed to water to clean up the residue. Once done you should have a nice natural bare steel. Originals that were unpainted had nothing on them, so anything you paint them with will be considered "wrong" at the O.E. level. If you don't care about that then there are tons of paint choices, use your eye to best match the natural color of the clean metal. .02

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #2454129 02/19/18 09:01 PM 02/19/18 09:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio 76orangewagon OP member
76orangewagon OP member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Akron, ohio	Thanks Scott

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2454136 02/19/18 09:11 PM 02/19/18 09:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 29,650 Hamtramck, PA A Alaskan_TA Fluffy Balladeer
Alaskan_TA Fluffy Balladeer A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 29,650 Hamtramck, PA	Evaporust can & will remove paint if the parts are left in too long. Been there, done that. So for marks / paint research, I learned to soak for an hour, check, photograph. Check again in an hour, inspect, photograph, etc. Repeat as needed. The more rust removed, go with shorter times in between to soak, inspect & photograph. It is amazing what details can be seen if caught at the right time. Make sure that any parts are degreased first too, so the ER can work on the rust without fighting any residue.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2454163 02/19/18 10:08 PM 02/19/18 10:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 18,880 - R RSNOMO Moparts Torchbearer
RSNOMO Moparts Torchbearer R Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 18,880 -	Originally Posted By 76orangewagon Seymour's Stainless Steel paint (Doesn't hold-up...

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: 76orangewagon] #2454451 02/20/18 10:51 AM 02/20/18 10:51 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 591 Pa K koak mopar
koak mopar K Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 591 Pa	Those weren't the OP's pics they were examples of black springs. There was someone on here who refinished "bare" springs using some gun bluing? They looked very nice and I would like to see them again with the process as I am planning on refinishing mine. Anyone? Ditto on the Seymoure's paint as well. Looks good, but I wouldn't use it unless on small brackets or with some serious primer underneath. Last edited by koak; 02/20/18 10:53 AM.

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: RSNOMO] #2454464 02/20/18 11:31 AM 02/20/18 11:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,632 Nashville, TN M MOPARMIKE69 master
MOPARMIKE69 master M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,632 Nashville, TN	Originally Posted By RS23U1G Originally Posted By 76orangewagon Seymour's Stainless Steel paint (Doesn't hold-up... Really? I have a road runner convertible I did the springs with this paint 20 years ago. They still look great. 69 Road Runner vert 69 GTX hard top 70 Road Runner 4 speed 70 Hemi Cuda vert

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: MOPARMIKE69] #2454571 02/20/18 02:58 PM 02/20/18 02:58 PM
Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 18,880 - R RSNOMO Moparts Torchbearer
RSNOMO Moparts Torchbearer R Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 18,880 -	If we're talking Seymour rattle-can SS paint, absolutely nothing I sprayed it on held-up... Even a clean, primed license-plate bracket bled through with rust... I'd never use it again... Got road time on this RR drop-top??? I got 23 years of road time on this car... My springs are sprayed black... Got to touch 'em up pretty much every year...

Re: Correct finish for leaf springs [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #2454635 02/20/18 04:20 PM 02/20/18 04:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 299 Hinckley, Ohio KWF340 enthusiast
KWF340 enthusiast Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 299 Hinckley, Ohio	Originally Posted By ScottSmith_Harms Since they were painted as an assembly there will be very little black paint between the leaves. Either way, skip sand blasting them and soak them in a PVC pipe full of Evaporust. Once dipped any remaining black paint (if any) will be much easier to spot as the Evaporust won't remove it. Scrub off any remaining residue with a scotch brite pad and rinse them in thinner as opposed to water to clean up the residue. Once done you should have a nice natural bare steel. Originals that were unpainted had nothing on them, so anything you paint them with will be considered "wrong" at the O.E. level. If you don't care about that then there are tons of paint choices, use your eye to best match the natural color of the clean metal. .02 I agree. Instead of paint, before assembly I put RPM on on each leaf. They still look great after 2 years. BTW - I'm working on the set of springs I purchased from you back in November. Currently soaking in ER.

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