torsion bars, too anal ??

[hemi68charger]

Hey gang...
Just got through giving my torsion bars for my '68 Hemi Charger a coat of black paint.. Wanted to get as close as possible with emphasis on the ole' wallet... From the factory, they had drip marks, so I sanded all the old paint down and tried to keep the original drips with a smooth transition.. Here's what I have now.. I'll repaint the brown paint daps via MMC Detroit...

The bottom pic is the "before" I started to clean them up..

[Big Lebowski]

  I can understand that, I've spent 3 weeks under a car before, but those details are a good thing for a 100% resto.

[hemigeno]

Looking good, Troy!

Someone mentioned in a thread on Moparts that the brown paint daubs you showed in your picture should always be facing down towards the ground when installed - under the theory that the marks were put on the bars when installed.  However, I've always assumed that the marks were on the bars (while in the supply racks at the assembly line) to help the workers quickly identify which bars were which, and keep the L/R parts straight as well.  In other words, I didn't think the brown marks were inspection marks at all.  If that's the case, the daubs could have been oriented almost any way possible.

Any thoughts on that?

[suntech]

Hehe !! Yes, to the question on the thread!!!! 
Naaaaaaa just kiddin!!! If they are like that from the factory, and it should be easy to get them like that (after all it is just sloppy work from the factory back then) i agree that you should do like that.

Gotta idmit that i don´t understand it really though, since i am not really in to 100% resto, but i respect the ones that are

[hemi68charger]

Looking good, Troy!

Someone mentioned in a thread on Moparts that the brown paint daubs you showed in your picture should always be facing down towards the ground when installed - under the theory that the marks were put on the bars when installed.  However, I've always assumed that the marks were on the bars (while in the supply racks at the assembly line) to help the workers quickly identify which bars were which, and keep the L/R parts straight as well.  In other words, I didn't think the brown marks were inspection marks at all.  If that's the case, the daubs could have been oriented almost any way possible.

Any thoughts on that?

My thoughts are like yours Geno, I was always under the impression the paint marks were to distinguish one bar from others.. Maybe they were pointed somewhat down so further QC'ing down the assembly line  could be done.......

suntech: I really don't understand why I go to the extremes as well on certain things.. Sometimes it's a source of frustration.. I do it because I enjoy the challenge of being able to do it, not win some major prize.. Heck, I rarely get to the Mega-Mopar shows where it would make a difference...

Troy

[bill440rt]

Nice attention to detail!   
Most cars I've seen had the drips facing down, don't know why, that's just what I've observed.

Also, the brown color indicates that they are 440/Hemi torsion bars. My '68 (originally a 318 car), has the heavy duty suspension package & as such got the 383 bars. Which, BTW, had SILVER inspection marks!! The paint marks were not facing directly down on these bars for some reason.

I agree, I think they colors were assembly line indicators to distinguish the parts from one another.

[hemi68charger]

Thanks guys... Who knows what's going to happen with Hemi (either sell to help get this R6 Daytona I know about, get a Superbird or keep forever). But, if my name's attached to any part of the restoration, it'll be as good as my wallet will allow.. But, it's these little things that don't cost a whole lot... Luckily, age has been a teacher to me via experience. I've always wondered how much more I would know if this internet forum stuff was around during the 80's.. lol

If I recall, the drips were in a downward orientation when I took them out of the car.. Now, were they supposed to be that way? No clue.. but, the drip marks I'm sure have nothing to do with installation orientation. It's just a function of the coating process.........

Troy

[Charger-Bodie]

they look great !! and too anal NO! make that sucker as close to right as you can!!

[chargerman68]

looks great troy 

[suntech]

Hey Troy
I really admire you guys that goes to those extends, to figure out how things were done then, and digging up histories etc.
I think it is great that some are so committed to the history of these great cars!
Think much of the reason for some of the differences is that in the US the car is a part of the youth of many of you, to a bigger degree than us here in Europe.
I have liked the Charger for 20 some years before i bought one, but nobody even in my family had something like that. My interest for these cars started with watching movies.
Guess that is why i am not that hung up about matching # og 100% original restoration.

[6pkrunner]

Certainly can understand it Troy. If one is going through the effort to restore a vehicle, might as well make it as close as possible to the condition it was when it left the factory. Doesn't take that much more effort while its apart to do it as they did. Funny, one takes so much time, effort, and coins to replicate the sloppiness of the factory. The crudely sprayed matte areas and orange peel in the paint are the tough ones to live with....well unless you also go for the poorly aligned sheet metal. Ahhh, mass production and the multitude of corners that were cut..........

[hemi68charger]

Certainly can understand it Troy. If one is going through the effort to restore a vehicle, might as well make it as close as possible to the condition it was when it left the factory. Doesn't take that much more effort while its apart to do it as they did. Funny, one takes so much time, effort, and coins to replicate the sloppiness of the factory. The crudely sprayed matte areas and orange peel in the paint are the tough ones to live with....well unless you also go for the poorly aligned sheet metal. Ahhh, mass production and the multitude of corners that were cut..........

Hey Mike !!!!!

Yeap, there are some things I won't duplicate.. lol  Hope all's well in your world...........

[6pkrunner]

Troy - just ragging ya on the orange peel and hastily sprayed matte. However the torsion bars are a must to simulate that dripped look. Never thought of sanding around[/b] the drips. I just dropped mine in a long tray filled with black. Very very messy. Your idea is pure brilliance. Plus you got the original drips in the factory location[/b]!!!! Top that Gibson!!!


**EDIT** Any updated pictures of the mass of parts? Haven't seen one in quite some time now.

[hemi68charger]

Troy - just ragging ya on the orange peel and hastily sprayed matte. However the torsion bars are a must to simulate that dripped look. Never thought of sanding around[/b] the drips. I just dropped mine in a long tray filled with black. Very very messy. Your idea is pure brilliance. Plus you got the original drips in the factory location[/b]!!!! Top that Gibson!!!


**EDIT** Any updated pictures of the mass of parts? Haven't seen one in quite some time now.

Mike,
Here's a photo album I have with a collection of pictures of the car....

Troy's Hemi Charger photo album... clickee here

[69_500]

If your really trying to replicate the painting of the torsion bars, its my understanding that they were dipped in the paint, and then hung up to dry, thus the reason for the many run's in the paint. Some restorers I've talked to have said that they try to replicate it by hanging the torsion bars, by each end horizontally, and then coating them with several heavy coats of paint and allowing it to run off of the bars.

Gene, side note here, there is a section in those video's on the Daytona that deals with painting these, and the reasoning for the brown paint daubs. Not sure if you made yourself a copy of those or not, but its on tape 2.

[moparstuart]

Troy - just ragging ya on the orange peel and hastily sprayed matte. However the torsion bars are a must to simulate that dripped look. Never thought of sanding around[/b] the drips. I just dropped mine in a long tray filled with black. Very very messy. Your idea is pure brilliance. Plus you got the original drips in the factory location[/b]!!!! Top that Gibson!!!


**EDIT** Any updated pictures of the mass of parts? Haven't seen one in quite some time now.

Mike,
Here's a photo album I have with a collection of pictures of the car....

Troy's Hemi Charger photo album... clickee here

nice solid car   will make a great car

[hemigeno]

Gene, side note here, there is a section in those video's on the Daytona that deals with painting these, and the reasoning for the brown paint daubs. Not sure if you made yourself a copy of those or not, but its on tape 2.

Nope, I did not keep a copy.  I'm waiting for the full-out production release from DEL Productions...   

[69_500]

That could be a while.

[six-tee-nine]

I like quality restorations where every part gets redone, but i personally like to add improvements also to a car to make it better than it ever rolled out of the factory, so on my bars the drips will go off.

But further nothing than respect for your torsion bars...