Hi all - I am rebuilding/repainting a '51 3100. Question please - what is the stock under the hood paint - is it mat black or should it match body paint? Thank you in advance!
Hey Scott, my 54 GMC under hood was black with lots of chrome yellow overspray. The truck exterior is chrome yellow. I painted the hood underside yellow with the horizontal pieces gloss black. I e seen others similar. Basically black primer with exterior color overspray. Same with fenders. The factory paint quality was not the best. You’ll find that out as you peel back the layers. Have fun with it.
Hoods,fenders & doors were all originally painted a satin black primer at the factory.
I have seen a lot of hood undersides that had varying amounts body color overspray on top of the black primer but, I have never seen one that had a completely painted underside from the factory.
And don't forget about all the dealers that liberally shot undercoating on the undersides of the hoods.
I have satin black chip guard on my underhood and most of the underbody. Not exactly original but it doesn't show minor scratches, imperfections etc. It's held up very well for 18+ years.
FYI, the underhood color on my 1954 3604 is black, looks to be a satin black and the hood part numbers are (were) still visible on each side. Now I suppose the hood may have been replaced at some point but it did have what appeared to be the same multiple colors that I sanded through to get to bare metal as the rest of the cab.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
FYI, the underhood color on my 1954 3604 is black, looks to be a satin black and the hood part numbers are (were) still visible on each side. Now I suppose the hood may have been replaced at some point but it did have what appeared to be the same multiple colors that I sanded through to get to bare metal as the rest of the cab.
I have a 54 3104 that has been in the family for many years and after careful study when tearing down, I found the following...Apparently, the factory used a black sealer coat prior to paint. Under the door hinge bolt access plates, was the black color. Rubbing through the dash trim behind windshield showed the same. Under the hood (which has factory grease pencil writing showing "transport" which was original lower body color) was same black with slight overspray from painting edges of hood where rubber bumpers are. Now the interior of my truck is the deluxe two tone blue but I assume the standard option interiors had the same treatment. My assumption is as mentioned before, the black sealer coat which was actually the final coat on the underside of the hood. Prior years the same? MT has torn down and studied many trucks. I trust his input.
Sounds like black primer is what they came with. That's what I went back with (actually black epoxy primer) . I wish I could have preserved those yellow part numbers.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
Here's a pic of the underside of my '51 hood. Black primer with Omaha Orange overspray.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
