The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Do I paint thr trim screws?

All those screws that hold the windsheild garnish trim in and the headliner and the windlace screws. Should they be painted of left "bright"
Truck is an early 49 GMC COE.
Thanks

bright.....but its your choice at this point!

on my 6100 and 350 they are SS unpainted. on my 40 i painted the the cab color.

Thanks for the insight. I think I`m going to paint them being as they contrast so much with the interior sdark grey color.
If I did the truck again I would have done the interior a lighter shade of grey. Kinda dark in there.
Thanks again, John

I'd like to know what color the interior trim screws were on a 1946. Since the trim was painted separately than the cab then the screws were likely not painted, is that a good assumption? I bought a lot of clutch head screws that are black. Would that be the correct color? Does anyone know? Thanks!

In a '46, the interior screws were painted the same color as the interior panels. Black is incorrect.

What do you base that on? Have you seen an original interior with painted screws? If I had to judge by this picture of a 42 with less than 10k miles I would say the screws were not painted. Does anyone else have an opinion?

\\http://barnfinds.com/twin-engine-fire-truck-1942-chevrolet/

Stainless does not hold paint well without prep, screw paint will chip when installing. Paint gathers in the head recess, PITA. Just use the unpainted screws.
As far as original look: They would NOT have pre painted screws and probably did not paint after screws in place. But others can state if they were or were not painted. Can't paint after headliner in place at factory. I'm not sure screws were stainless steel back then either. Do you have any of the old screws that were in it?

I've had a few Art Deco pickups and one Suburban in original condition. In my trucks, the screws were originally painted interior color before assembly.

Here is a picture of an original truck in excellent condition: Click

Notice that the shiny screws in the fire truck were recent replacements, likely installed when the weatherstripping was replaced.

Pretty convincing, If that is an original from the same era, I am surprised and my theory was wrong.
I would still use unpainted unless this COE is going to Barrett-Jackson.

Very nice photo. Thanks! I would have bet money they didn't paint those screws due to the parts being painted prior to assembly.

I agree with Bogart, it would be a quality control nightmare for GMC to have to touch up chipped paint on painted screw heads.

So, the question I would ask is, where the parts painted before or after factory assembly (I'm not familiar with GMC COE's)? If before they get painted, if after they don't.

Mike B

That's why I was so sure and skeptical. My manufacturing training told me no one would paint screws and keep them in a bin to get chipped. Handle them, screw them on and get chipped, touch them up.
I realize now that maybe back then it was not seen as a big deal to touch up. They did not refine mfg techniques. Cost cutting was not in the mix yet. Sales, beating the competition and quality was. I figure they didn't want the carbon steel hardware to rust? Craftsmen don't build/paint cars now, assemblers and robots do.
Today it's black anodize or stainless steel or plastic caps covering screws.....or snap on trim with push on's.
I have to admit, I have painted some hardware during an old truck build. Mostly motor stuff.

I was responding to Bogart, who asked about a 1946 Chevy truck, not late 40s GMC COEs.

I doubt Chevy was too concerned about a few chips in the paint.

Yesterday I installed a bunch of painted interior screws in my 1941 Chevy pickup, and none chipped. These screws had been sandblasted and painted with a thin coat of paint.

Funny thing is that I have a 46 GMC half ton. I asked about a Chevy because i figured I'd get an answer that applied to the GMC as well. Thanks to everyone for the discussion.