Restoration correctness?

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dartfreak75

dartfreak75

Restore it, Dont part it!
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I have some questions about originality on dodge darts particularly 1975 models. Let me start by saying I'm not doing a true restoration but I do want it to be as close as possible within reason and my limited skill set. My question is was there any part of the body IE radiator support, inner fenders, frame rails etc that was painted a different color than the body? Was it all the body color or did they black it out? I know the engine bay is body color but I'm not sure about the inner fenders I see alot of ppl black it out. I want it to look like it would have when it was bought new in 1975! Thanks for your help
 
Inner fenders - body color.

The blackout would go after body color was sprayed on the front part of the radiator support. This would hide the body color from being seen through the grille & the lower part visible below the front bumper also.
 
Alaskan_TA said:
Inner fenders - body color.

The blackout would go after body color was sprayed on the front part of the radiator support. This would hide the body color from being seen through the grille & the lower part visible below the front bumper also.
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Ok thanks was it on the outside of the radiator support only or inside also?
 
Outside only as far as i know. Aperantly on dark colored cars no black would be used at all.
 
Outside.

The darker paint color cars could be excluded as mentioned above, it was allowed.

BUT!

I have a dark green car with blackout & I have also seen it on original paint survivor cars in dark green, dark blue & yes, even black.
 
my 74'. no black out

DSC00499.JPG


don't have a good pic if the 68' valiant (close to the same green), but it was blacked out. different years, different brands and different plants, different shift at the same plant, who knows, it's probably correct both ways :BangHead:
personally, i like em' blacked out
 
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Lots of overspray and missed areas as well!
 
Check out the engine bay picture in my Photo Garage for what it looked like in 1975. Aside from the battery, larger 4bbl air cleaner and fewer emission hoses around the intake, it’s all stock. Mine does not have the front of the rad support blacked out. It’s body color.
 
Depending on how "correct" you intend to go with the black out, it would be sprayed in an upward fashion from below (like in a pit as the body passes over) and areas that would be in the spray shadow would not have gotten blackout. (IE if the area faces up it would not get blackout on it, or if there was something sticking out anything behind it would not get paint to reach it like a shadow)

Found this
Core support "Blackout"

This is my 67. The lower area directly below the radiator I believe had blackout at one time but it is exposed to the road derbies so I think it has warn away over time.

Note the the side facing up on the same piece does not have blackout it would have been in the spray shadow.

Core support 1.JPG
core support 2.JPG
core support 3.JPG
 
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Thanks for the replies guys very helpful. My car was t5 I dont think it had that I repainted the car black back in 03 and I don't remember that part being blacked out.
 
kursplat said:
you ain't lyin'. blacking out the grill area on the line wasn't so much a job as a drinking game :steering:
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Yeah I think my guy was ready to go on break or lunch. LOL. And sort of sprayed black at it. But I imagine it has worn away some over the years. But this is factory.
00D0D_29InNqvOnn8_1200x900.jpg
 
I have seen some I thought were factory blackouts but have never been able to confirm it. They sure looked factory, but these cars are so old now, anything is possible. I say do it like you want to. It's your car and it's your labor and money. I always thought they looked good blacked out, but some guys say that's a Chevy thing. I never really gave a **** about all that.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I have seen some I thought were factory blackouts but have never been able to confirm it. They sure looked factory, but these cars are so old now, anything is possible. I say do it like you want to. It's your car and it's your labor and money. I always thought they looked good blacked out, but some guys say that's a Chevy thing. I never really gave a **** about all that.
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All depended on the body color and grille design. Every B3, B5 or B7 car I have seen was sprayed. The owner of the Hemi B5 RR I have been helping said no way I have owned it since 69. His car was wrecked in the front shortly after he got it and the core replaced. He still has the original core and was glad to show him it is blacked out. He always thought it was dirt!
 
I recommend this product. It lays down nice and flat/smooth and thinly.

1160C539-8C49-4583-A42D-038227F83A9F.jpeg
 
QUOTE="kursplat, post: 1972244063, member: 16192"]you ain't lyin'. blacking out the grill area on the line wasn't so much a job as a drinking game :steering:[/QUOTE]

Very good way to describe it and maybe not a bad way to apply it! :lol:
 
1969383S said:
QUOTE="kursplat, post: 1972244063, member: 16192"]you ain't lyin'. blacking out the grill area on the line wasn't so much a job as a drinking game :steering:
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Very good way to describe it and maybe not a bad way to apply it! :lol:[/QUOTE]

i can see the invitation to your next resto project. "Please join us for a night of heavy drinking and radiator support black out" :)
 
Seriously though it is not neat and should be approached from a low upward angle and thinly applied. I would recommend having the hood propped or even open when applying sparingly!
 
dartfreak75 said:
I have some questions about originality on dodge darts particularly 1975 models. Let me start by saying I'm not doing a true restoration but I do want it to be as close as possible within reason and my limited skill set. My question is was there any part of the body IE radiator support, inner fenders, frame rails etc that was painted a different color than the body? Was it all the body color or did they black it out? I know the engine bay is body color but I'm not sure about the inner fenders I see alot of ppl black it out. I want it to look like it would have when it was bought new in 1975! Thanks for your help
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On all of the A-Bodies i've seen, 1975 was the only year that i noticed that the paint in the engine compartment was absolutely terrible.
This is the only year that in the engine compartment, only the top part (maybe i foot) was painted body color, and the rest was bare dark greenish primer.
If you want an accurate finish, sadly, that's it.
The floors were painted similarly as well.
 
Here's a pic of an original engine compartment of a '75 Dart Sport 360 car with the engine removed.

PB250135.JPG
 
That is very interesting they must have forgotten to paint that one before the engine was put in and when back or something lol. Mine was not like that but I dont remember the wheel wells being body color.
 
One thing to remember, as Mother Mopar got further into the 70's, lets face it, quality control went downhill FAST> Just read on the F body forums. (77-80 cars). We love the suckers, BUT I admit I am lucky to have one that lived in a dry climate and never rusted!
If you can see body color thru the grill, personally I would black it out. No big deal as I see it.
 
barbee6043 said:
One thing to remember, as Mother Mopar got further into the 70's, lets face it, quality control went downhill FAST> Just read on the F body forums. (77-80 cars). We love the suckers, BUT I admit I am lucky to have one that lived in a dry climate and never rusted!
If you can see body color thru the grill, personally I would black it out. No big deal as I see it.
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Yea I will just play it out and see if it I can see it thru the grille if I can I will black it out
 
dartfreak75 said:
That is very interesting they must have forgotten to paint that one before the engine was put in and when back or something lol. Mine was not like that but I dont remember the wheel wells being body color.
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I think it was more about the fact to save paint, the painters were instructed to only paint the tops of the engine compartment, or what you could see after the engine was installed.
I have 5 '75 cars, and they are all like this.
 
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