ConcoursMustang Forums

Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Body, Paint & Sealers => Topic started by: Fullbasement on August 13, 2013, 09:50:44 PM

Title: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: Fullbasement on August 13, 2013, 09:50:44 PM
My radiator support has been painted several times in its sad life. I'm replacing it since it's taken a hard shot to the cross member. If I use paint stripper to remove the layers is there a good chance the assembly line grease pencil marks or paint marks will survive enough that I can see them? Or is there some other process where I might uncover them with melting them?
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: rockhouse66 on August 13, 2013, 10:03:07 PM
Soda blasting will remove the paint and leave the markings visible.  Or at least it did when we stripped my '66 car.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: DM_1964 on August 13, 2013, 11:30:31 PM
I used paint stripper with success...
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: rodster on August 14, 2013, 01:23:50 AM
Just carefully sanded the area on mine.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: Fullbasement on August 14, 2013, 10:02:21 AM
Rodster,
Yours looks like it was under the chassis black, while DM's looks to be on top. I assumed these were over the chassis paint.
And what color are these usually. I have a 195 in white grease pencil that is crossed out with a wavy line on my cross member, but the numbers you guys are showing look to be a wide brush or marker.
I don't have my specs with me, but pretty sure this is a Metuchen car, C code 1966 convertible, delivered to ATL.

Thanks for the pictures
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: rodster on August 14, 2013, 01:07:07 PM

My understanding is the markings are found under the chassis black paint. Sometimes they are slightly visible depending on the angle you view it but I don't recall anyone finding these radiator support markings over the paint.  Not sure about DM's picture, looks to be blue paint on the rad support?

There are some smaller grease pencil markings found on the lower rad support.  Sounds like what you found in white grease pencil.

Can you post a picture?
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: CharlesTurner on August 14, 2013, 02:05:46 PM
DM's picture is showing aging of the markings, which can come up through the paint as the metal rusts.  Whatever was used to make the markings didn't allow the paint to bond like the surrounding metal.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: Ivygreen65 on August 14, 2013, 02:42:38 PM
The radiator support markings should be under the black paint
(http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL847/1785303/3437215/403837132.jpg)


The number on the crossmember is probably the rotation number written in grease pencil after the black paint was applied
(http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL847/1785303/3437215/403837130.jpg)

Are you sure yours is a Metuchen car and not a Dearborn car?  I would have thought that a Metuchen car would have a buck tag, making the radiator support markings unnecessary.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: J_Speegle on August 14, 2013, 10:15:22 PM
Yours looks like it was under the chassis black, while DM's looks to be on top. I assumed these were over the chassis paint.
And what color are these usually. I have a 195 in white grease pencil that is crossed out with a wavy line on my cross member, but the numbers you guys are showing look to be a wide brush or marker.

If you check older threads there are marks applied to bare metal (done in the first half of production - body & trim) and those applied over the black and other colors during the second half of production. Each with similar or different writing tools

Most of the ones posted are the ones applied to bare metal with a wax/oil based large crayon that (as Charles mentioned) bonded into the metal making it difficult, over time, for the paint applied over it to adhere to that spot

Your #195 was likely your cars second rotation number and may be found in other parts of the car.

As for the original request - normally the more forceful methods of stripping paint have the greatest chance to removed especially those makrs applied over paint. The ones under paint (if you car even received those - not all plants and years did) seem to last the best since they are "in the metal"  rather than on it ;)
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: Stangly on August 14, 2013, 10:38:15 PM
Not to get off thread but what exactly do the rotation numbers refer to.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: Fullbasement on August 14, 2013, 10:39:55 PM
Yea, it has a buck tag, so perhaps it doesn't have marking under the chassis black. That's why I'm here, to learn. It does have a grease pencil rotation number.
Hey Jeff, I have a paint mark detail sheet you made up for me many years ago that I will be using as a guide.
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e240/TNshadetree/1966%20Mustang%20Convertible/DSCN0718.jpg)
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: J_Speegle on August 14, 2013, 10:59:22 PM
Not to get off thread but what exactly do the rotation numbers refer to.

But you are getting off thread :) - just this one time

Since the cars were not built in sequential order, workers needed to identify the cars in some way so they (bodies or cars) were assigned a number before the build was started. After the first half of the build the cars moved into a holding area where they were reorganized (new order assigned) in order, new number assigned, with focus this time given to difficulty of assembly (number of options and engine size) so that the line could be kept moving at a reasonable speed.

Once the end of the numbering system (most years and plants 001-999 were used) the numbers started over again. Neither the smallest or largest number  normally coincided with the beginning/end of a day, shift or any other point in time - just a way of tracking cars in a particular order.

If your car came from a plant and year with a buck tag the first rotation number can be found there, for the second half of the build that rotation number can be found on the buildsheet > Both numbers can be found, sometimes, still on certain parts or locations of the cars after all these years
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: Stangly on August 15, 2013, 01:19:13 AM
Pretty cool thank you,  I hope to discover this on my new project.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: specialed on August 18, 2013, 11:27:26 PM
jeff on a Dearborn car should # on lower rad support match the buildsheet or bucktag?
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: J_Speegle on August 19, 2013, 09:58:16 PM
jeff on a Dearborn car should # on lower rad support match the buildsheet or bucktag?

Buildsheet - its the second rotation number ;)
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: specialed on August 21, 2013, 11:29:42 AM
Hard to make out # on lower rad support on most cars I work on have oil coolers & lower mount bracket covers # up & it gets messed up when oil cooler bracket gets installed.  What about the markings by right side horn area on some 69s  & on 70 model marking behind hood latch support mounting bracket at top white marking with lite black overspray maybe build sheet covered them up on Dearborn cars anyway?
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: J_Speegle on August 21, 2013, 10:13:46 PM
Hard to make out # on lower rad support on most cars I work on have oil coolers & lower mount bracket covers # up & it gets messed up when oil cooler bracket gets installed.  What about the markings by right side horn area on some 69s  & on 70 model marking behind hood latch support mounting bracket at top white marking with lite black overspray maybe build sheet covered them up on Dearborn cars anyway?

Think your referring to the writing applied before black was added - rather than after.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: specialed on August 22, 2013, 01:05:03 AM
yeah but anybdy know what it stands for?
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: J_Speegle on August 22, 2013, 02:20:51 AM
yeah but anybdy know what it stands for?

Ed not sure what "it" is. If your referring to the markings on the passenger or drivers side radiator support of a 69-70 Dearborn car or the section over the top where the hood latch support attaches

I suggest that you clarify and start a new thread (specific year and plant is not what this thread is focusing on) and we'll see if we can figure out an answer or at least a good guess. 

That Boss I 'm putting back together (69 - B302) had two sets on the passenger side and 5-6 sets of marking the drivers.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: 66RavenGTCoupe on August 27, 2013, 10:31:20 PM
Are you sure yours is a Metuchen car and not a Dearborn car?  I would have thought that a Metuchen car would have a buck tag, making the radiator support markings unnecessary.

I also have a Metuchen car. It's a Dec 65 build with a buck tag still attached and I have grease pencil markings on my rad support. One of the numbers on the drivers side is the same as the rotation number on my build sheet. Anyone know what the other one may be? Ivygreen65, are you reffering to the grease pencil markings or the under paint markings when you say that the radiatior support markings may not be present? Just wondering because I am literally in the process of stripping the paint off my engine bay at the moment. I was looking forward to seeing them so as I could add to the pool of information here. I suppose I'll find out soon enough. 
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: J_Speegle on August 28, 2013, 12:11:02 AM
I also have a Metuchen car. It's a Dec 65 build with a buck tag still attached and I have grease pencil markings on my rad support. One of the numbers on the drivers side is the same as the rotation number on my build sheet. Anyone know what the other one may be? ................

Guessing that the second rotation number you found that matched your buildsheet was on top of the black

As for figuring out the marks you found I suggest that you start a thread (with a picture of your findings) in the 65-66 section since this discussion is more a generic one about discovering them rather than deciphering them ;)

Keeps things like and tidy as well as easier for others to find discussions easier when looking for them
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: 66RavenGTCoupe on August 28, 2013, 05:23:47 AM
I agree. Will do.
Title: Re: Best way to strip radiator support to find factory markings
Post by: ruppstang on August 28, 2013, 09:30:47 AM
I found these on our 7-16 68 San Jose High Country Special.