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Wheel Well Color

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by ITLKSEZ, May 1, 2019.

  1. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Re sprayed or dipped, I'm not sure about the older Jeeps, but the later ones were e-coated (dipped) for primer, then the body color was sprayed. The underside was bare e-coat. I presume a similar practice was used for the earlier Jeeps, but maybe less high-tech than e-coat.

    Net search reveals that PPG invented e-coat in 1961. PPG also claims that the first commercial e-coat of auto bodies was in 1976, which suggests to me that before that the bodies were sprayed with primer. Maybe the hidden areas were sprayed with weld-through, or not at all?
     
  2. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tonk was body colour all over, I'm inclined to believe he was dipped.
     
  3. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Somehow I remember taking the front fenders off ca 1975 and there being bare steel on the exposed firewall. This would suggest that they put the bodies together and spray-primered them, at least in that time frame. Seems possible, considering how easily they rusted.
     
  4. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    The '67 tub I diss-memebered one time showed signs of being a different colour on the top rather than the bottom so spraying may have been a later process. I have noted that all the very early 3 digit sn 5's seen to have been "beryl green", that would make sense if they had a paint tank set up. I believe, at least for the larger companaies, dipping was used up into the 60's at least- i remember car ads showing the process.
     
    zeppy likes this.
  5. Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

    1973 CJ5
    Bare rust between fenders and tub.
    Bare rust under hood hinges.
    Attempts to seal fenders and hinges with rope caulk, kind of worked.
    Light gray primer/sealer under tub.
    Body color inside fenders, but not a very thorough attempt.
    Rope caulk between tub and removable pieces around tranny.
     
  6. sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    body color is easier and presents a finished look. black is a used car lot thing...a few cheap flat black spray bombs underneath and a quart of tire shine on everything else under hood and sell that sucker.
     
    Lockman likes this.
  7. zeppy

    zeppy New Member

    Hello Howard, I have a 1955 CJ5 serial number 180 it is original paint Beryl Green. The windshield frame and transmission floor covers are also painted body color. I have located 5 other very early CJ5'S all 3 digit serial number and painted Beryl Green body and windshield frames. Do you have any information on this?
     
  8. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Nothing other than my own observations which are the same as yours.

    SN 184 popped up on ebay about 6 years ago advertised as being all original although from the pics I suspect it got touched up at some point, same thing-

    serial number 184_1.jpg

    serial number 184_4.jpg

    serial number 184_2.jpg

    serial number 184_3.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    zeppy likes this.
  9. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Factory body color. I painted mine black in the wheel wells because rattle can and the Jeep went through several colors (rattle can) since high school then because of trail and race damage. My bone stock ‘57 was factory sprayed. In the under seat tool box you could still see the red primer spray pattern. Wish I could have kept it. It was a time capsule.