1970 Nova underbody color
 

Hello,

Is there any information about the color of paint that was used on the underbody of 1970 Novas? I am getting ready to redo mine. There is Black over spray from when they blacked out the three sides of the gas tank, there is undercoating on the tank and wheel wells. The body color over spray shows up. the rest looks rusty. In a few places I get a good glimpse of what looks like red oxide primer? Does that sound correct?

The body is Gobi Beige.


Thanks,
Greg

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Gregg;
The normal underbody primer color is black, however, a few '70 Novas have been found with Rudy Red-Oxide Primer. It is not known why they have this, but shortage of the normal color is suspected. The NNN club restored a '70 Shadow Gray L78 car a few years ago, and the Rudy Red primer was found on the car - quite unusual, but not wrong. When the Rudy Red is used, you have to paint the firewall black of course, but only down to where the floor boards come into the firewall. Keep it messy and uneven.

The rear wheel wells were painted body color, but not very neat. Then the 'blobby' undercoating was sprayed from the rear frame rails out. Coverage was spotty, so when you are finished, you should be able to look into the wheelwell, closest to the wheel-lip, and see the Rudy Red primer, then body color starting, then the undercoating blown on top.

The gas tanks were reportedly painted with black from the mid-seam down to prevent headlight glare from behind (?). However, because so few Nova judges know about this, it can be incorrectly deducted at a show. (Rowdy Rat will know about this than I).

Hope this helps,
Let me know if you need the PPG recipe for Gobi Beige. I had the original paint from under my decklid computer scanned and matched.
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Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Marlin
Was that the 1970 L-78 Nova given away in a raffle through the NNN a few years ago?
If so I know the winner.Jeremy Newton here in Ill. won it.It was restored by a man who lives in Washington Ill.
I forgot his name,but a BIG Nova fan.
We were parked together at SuperChevy Joliet.
Great resto to,but Jeremy sold it two years ago and went to school.
Rick

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Rick,
That is the car, Jeremy was like 19 years old when he won it. The car was purchased by the NNN club from a guy in Wisconsin, and a frame off resto was done by Wayne Bushey who runs the club here in York, PA. I went down to see it one time when it was on the body roller. Good resto, beautiful car.

I don't know who in Washington has the car, or did any resto work to it.

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Marlin;

Thanks, I followed that restore and did not catch the color. I will look it up. This is great help. The Body is already painted. At first I did not think the underside looked that bad. That was awhile ago. This is the only area except the seam on the firewall that needs attention. Any Ideas on how to reproduce the firewall seam? I tried the seam seal from eastwood. It is too much like bondo and to hard to form. Great if you are just looking to slap it on, that is unless I am doing to wrong.

Greg

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Greg;
I used actual Seam Seal from a can that I purchased from NAPA - I think it was Seynor or 3M brand. It was expensive, but well worth it. I put it on with a 1" wide paint brush that I cut the bristles down to about 1/2" long. It looks good.

Boy did I ever want that Shadow Gray car, bought a bunch of chances for it, even went to the drawing in York - bummer!!

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Greg, depending on the job I am doing and other circumstances, I either use 3M's seal caulk or acrylic window caulk. The seam caulk is water based and very easy to use. First prime the firewall. Then I simply lay a 1/4 bead along the weld seam and smear with a finger. Once you get the hange of it, it leaves the exact same appearance as the factory after final painting.

On Chevelles, particularly along the upper cowl joint, I use the acrylic caulk and a wooden stir stick with grooves cut in it. It too should be applied after priming and looks factory original when painted over.
Rick

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

On 1970 Norwood(Ohio) Camaros they had the underbody primered with the Red Oxide Primer. For several years now I thought PPG DP-50(??) would be considered correct....Does anybody know what SPECIFIC primer/paint formula code is considered Concurs correct??????? ........ Chuck Sharin/Seattle

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Chuck;
I believe that is what the NNN club used when restoring the Shadow Gray car, but I think Wayne mixed in a little DP90-Black to darken it a little and make a better match.

Re: 1970 Nova underbody color
 

Marlin
Dennis Quinn is the man I am thinking of.He lives in Washington Il.,and is a BIG Nova Man.My friend bought a 1970 L-78 Fathom Blue Nova he Frame off restored.A Great Nova that I have many pictures of.We sold it at Midwest car Exchange later on.
I got my Novas mixed up.

I had a 4000 mile Survivor LS-6 Chevelle recently.It was full of Red Oxide Primer,and was built at the Arlington Tx. Plant.

Do you believe Jeremy bought ONE raffle ticket,and won that Nova!
He tells me that story over and over..:)