Topic: 65 SJ Fastback Rear Valance

[G Wood]

I have determined that the rear valance on my car is incorrect (early 80's FORD replacement) as it has back-up lights and my wire harness does not have a provision to accept b/u lights. I have acquired a new Ford tooling valance, is the inside of the valance primer, body colour, or primer with over spray?

Thanks

[CharlesTurner]

The rear valence would have been primed with an epoxy-style primer before being shipped to the assy. plant.  I believe it would have been installed on the car with 2 screws (SJ technique) after the unibody was also epoxy-primed.  It was done after epoxy prime, but before final sealer prime was applied to the exterior facing panels on the rest of the unibody and bolt-on parts.

I have seen the rear valence typically red-oxide.  So, what you would see is red-oxide on the reverse (not necessarily the same shade as the rest of the car.)  Then a light gray sealer primer would be sprayed on the outer facing portion, once attached to the unibody.  Then exterior color applied.  There most likely would be very little over spray from gray sealer primer and body color on the reverse of the valence.  Obviously some around the sides and bottoms.

[G Wood]

Thanks Charles

Garth

[G Wood]

Charles:

The bottom side of my car is black or dark grey from the factory, would the backside of the valance still be red oxide or would it match the floor board color?

[CharlesTurner]

The bottom side of my car is black or dark grey from the factory, would the backside of the valance still be red oxide or would it match the floor board color?

The rear valence was typically either red-oxide or gray primer.  It would be highly unlikely that it would be an exact match with the underside of the car.

[J_Speegle]

Charles:

The bottom side of my car is black or dark grey from the factory, would the backside of the valance still be red oxide or would it match the floor board color?

Agree with Charles - consider that the rear valance arrived at the plant already primed so its color (red oxide) had nothing to do with the undercarriage color

Guessing your car is from the black period at San Jose - from  approx end of Dec of 64 through the first little part of 65

[ChrisV289]

Jeff,

What's the black period you are referring to?

[J_Speegle]

Jeff,

What's the black period you are referring to?

It's a short period of time we've identified (in general terms since we don't know the real build date of any of the early cars) at San Jose where they used black rather than red oxide which was the predominate color used there on the undercarriage, through 64-68 production

[ChrisV289]

Undercarriage of the whole car or just under the main body?  Before we discussed my car and how I didn't find red oxide under the floor boards or rear of the car but did find it under the engine compartment...build date 10/29/64.  Car was bought 11/6/64 according to the owner's manual

[G Wood]

My car is a Nov 64 car. There is a small amount of red primer from the firewall transition to the floor board. From that area to the back, it is all black/dark charcoal color.

[CharlesTurner]

Yes, black from the firewall to the back of the car and red-oxide from the firewall forward.  We've discussed why this was done several times.  The K convertible I'm restoring was an early Feb '65 SJ car and it had this detail (which was replicated.)